Associate Director

UHY Farrelly Dawe White Limited; Balbriggan; On-site; EUR 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading accountancy firm in Balbriggan is seeking an ambitious Associate Director to lead the Audit & Accounts team. The role offers a clear path to Directorship and involves managing a diverse client portfolio. Required qualifications include being a fully qualified accountant and having significant audit experience. The firm promotes a supportive culture and offers competitive compensation along with various benefits, including flexible hours and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Paid Professional Membership

Generous holiday allowance

Training and continuous learning

Wellbeing programme

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualified experience in audit and accounts.
• Experience in leading teams and managing complex audits.
• Tech-savvy and comfortable with cloud-based platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the Audit & Accounts team.
• Act as a key point of contact for a diverse portfolio of clients.
• Oversee and review statutory audits and financial statements.

Skills

Leadership skills

Client management

Technical knowledge of accounting standards

Strong communication skills

Ability to leverage technology

Education

Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent)

Job description

Job Title: Associate Director (Audit and Accounts) – Location: Balbriggan

UHY Farrelly Dawe White Limited is a leading Top 20 accountancy and taxation practice in the Northeast of Ireland and a member of the global accountancy network UHY, ranked in the Top 20 networks worldwide. UHY FDW has evolved significantly in the past decade to become one of the most modern and cutting‑edge firms in today’s market. It enjoys a significant market share and presence across the north‑east, attributed to its exceptionally talented workforce, strategic planning and adoption of new technologies & methodologies, positioning it as a trendsetter within the sector.

We pride ourselves on being people‑focused, attracting and retaining the highest calibre individuals. Our team of 7 directors and 80 staff delivers first‑class service across 4 offices to a diverse range of clients locally, nationally and internationally. We are committed to our purpose "Achieve a Better Future Together" and are excited to expand our team with individuals who will help us fulfil this purpose.

Role Overview

We are seeking an ambitious and commercially minded Associate Director to lead our Audit & Accounts team in Balbriggan. This key leadership role offers a clear path to Directorship, with progression built into your development journey and ongoing strategic involvement in the firm’s growth.

You’ll work closely with the Board of Directors, leading a talented team and managing a strong portfolio of clients across a variety of sectors. This role offers a clear path to Directorship, with progression built into your development journey and ongoing strategic involvement in the firm’s growth.

Why Join Us?

• Leadership role with genuine progression to Director level
• Direct exposure to firm strategy and decision‑making
• Supportive, collaborative culture with ongoing CPD and leadership development
• Diverse client base across a wide range of industries
• Modern, tech‑enabled working environment
• Competitive salary and benefits package

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & People Development

• Lead and mentor the Audit & Accounts team to consistently deliver high‑quality results within allocated timeframes.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and identify individual development plans.
• Provide training and professional development opportunities for the team.
• Create a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and collaboration.
• Attend staff meetings and training development programmes as required.
• Uphold the firm’s code of ethics and business conduct.

Client Relationship Management

• Act as a key point of contact for a diverse portfolio of clients.
• Build and maintain long‑term client relationships.
• Identify client needs and deliver tailored, commercial solutions.
• Actively cross‑sell additional services (tax, advisory, etc.) to drive client success.

Audit & Compliance Oversight

• Oversee and review statutory audits and financial statements for a wide range of entities.
• Review corporation tax returns and ensure filings are made in accordance with deadlines.
• Ensure all engagements meet professional, ethical and regulatory standards (UK GAAP, FRS 102, IFRS, ISAs).
• Maintain an advanced level of technical knowledge through reading and course attendance, and fulfil the Institute’s CPD requirements.

Business Strategy & Growth

• Collaborate with Directors to shape and deliver departmental and firm‑wide strategic goals.
• Contribute to business development, including proposal preparation, pitching and onboarding new clients.
• Liaise with all other departments to ensure all potential client needs are identified and serviced accordingly.
• Monitor work in progress and drive strong commercial outcomes through effective fee recovery and resource management.
• Assist with ad‑hoc business consultancy.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Embrace and implement digital solutions to improve team efficiency and client experience.
• Encourage a tech‑forward approach across the department.
• Support internal initiatives to streamline processes and enhance service delivery.

About You

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent)
• Significant post‑qualified experience in audit, accounts, and client management
• Proven success in leading teams and managing complex audits
• Strong technical knowledge of Irish/UK accounting and auditing standards
• Commercially astute, with a strategic mindset and entrepreneurial outlook
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Tech‑savvy and comfortable leveraging cloud‑based platforms and digital tools
• Organised, detail‑oriented and adaptable in a fast‑paced environment
• A natural leader who thrives on developing others and driving business success

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on your experience
• Flexible working hours, with a four‑and‑a‑half‑day week
• UHY Network firm – Network & Travel opportunities
• Paid Professional Membership
• Generous holiday allowance with additional company days for Christmas and Easter holidays
• Ability to build up 5 additional days of annual leave per annum
• Additional days of annual leave after 5 years of service
• Travel Insurance
• Volunteering day to spend one day each year dedicated to a cause you care about
• Training and continuous learning & Funded CPD hours programme/tuition
• Free parking
• CSR, ESG and Social Committees offering funded social events
• Wellbeing programme & discount platform for gyms, hotel bookings and more
• Commission for introducing new clients and new team members
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Great teammates & diverse and inclusive culture
• On‑site Food Truck & Games Room

Our Values

Our firm and entire team are committed to our purpose "Achieve a Better Future Together" and we have aligned our core values to support us all in achieving this. Our core values are: Integrity, Teamwork, Respect, Be Engaged & Be Passionate.

Salary Level

Salary commensurate with experience.