My Career: 'My advice...your career doesn’t have to follow a perfect plan'

Name: Julianne Sullivan

Job title: Audit Partner, Board Member, and Member of the UKI Audit executive

Salary bracket: €60k+

Education background:

I am a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and have a Bachelor of Business Studies (Acc) from MTU (or CIT when I was there).

Hobbies:

I love the GAA, but only as a spectator, and have got my three boys hooked on it.

Describe your job in five words:

Rewarding, collaborative, challenging, analytical and strategic.

Describe yourself in five words:

Caring, adaptable, organised, motivated, and proactive.

Personality needed for this kind of work?

I think you need to be a lot of things, due to being in a client- facing role delivering a service, but also responsible for managing and mentoring a team. Words that spring to mind are collaborative, approachable, decisive, and strategic.

How long are you doing this job?

I started my training contract in June, 2001, when I finished my degree. In ways it seems like yesterday, but it is now 24 +years.

How did you get this job?

My career began when I joined a mid-sized accountancy practice, Paul O’Donovan & Associates, as a trainee accountant. I completed my professional accountancy qualification there, which laid the technical foundation for everything that came afterwards.

During my time here, I progressed to manager level and worked on a range of clients across sectors and provided a broad range of services such as audit, tax, and debt advisory. I learned how to manage tight deadlines and high client expectations.

I gained confidence in dealing with clients at all levels, including financial controllers and business owners.

I started mentoring junior trainees, which became an interest that stayed with me throughout my career. These experiences confirmed that practice work was the right place for me. I enjoyed the mix of analytical work, team collaboration, and client interaction.

I love working with people, and I am generally a curious person (which helps in audit). Before joining Quintas, I moved into a senior manager position in Deloitte Cork. This phase of my career was about strategic contribution, not just technical delivery.

Key achievements included:

Taking on a portfolio of clients and being their go-to adviser.

Supporting business development - tendering for new clients and helping the firm grow.

Leading initiatives around audit quality and technology adoption.

This was when I began to see myself as a future partner. The role required broader thinking, understanding how the firm operated commercially, and strengthening client relationships.

In 2021, I joined Quintas as a Director during a period of exciting transformation in the profession. The firm’s collaborative model, sector expertise, and forward-thinking approach appealed to me. Quintas represented the perfect blend of entrepreneurial spirit and local firm relationships. My move into the firm was motivated by a desire to work somewhere that valued both technical excellence and a people-first culture.

After two years, I became an Audit Partner at Xeinadi, which was the culmination of years of experience, professional growth, and commitment to clients. The role evolved naturally from the work I had already been doing—leading teams, advising clients, driving audit quality, and helping the firm grow.

It’s a role that brings together everything I value: people, problem-solving, continuous learning, and making a real difference to the businesses we serve.

If there is one message I share with aspiring accountants, it’s that your career doesn’t have to follow a perfect plan. What matters is being open, committed, and willing to learn. Each step builds on the last.

I didn’t set out knowing I would become a partner, but I consistently followed opportunities that aligned with my strengths and values. The audit profession rewards curiosity, diligence, and the ability to build relationships - and those qualities can carry you a very long way.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience?

Yes, you need to be a qualified accountant with relevant audit experience.

Describe a day at work:

Overseeing audit engagements and ensuring the highest standards of quality and compliance.

Leading and nurturing our audit teams to support their professional development.

Acting as a trusted adviser to clients, helping them navigate growth, risk, and strategic decisions. Shaping the future direction of our audit offering within Xeinadin.

How many hours do you work a week?

It depends on the week and what deadlines are happening.

Is your industry male or female-dominated?

Probably more male-oriented at partner level, but 50/50 at a trainee level.

Does this affect you in any particular way?

No, it doesn’t.

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1-10:

Sometimes it’s a one, but it can get to 10 on occasion.

Do you work with others or on your own?

I work in a team.

When do you plan to retire or give up working?

I have young kids that I need to get through college, so maybe after that...

Best bits:

Mentoring members of the team so they can develop their careers and see their progression.

Worst bits:

Having to do timesheets.

Advice to those who want your job?

Embrace technology, always do the right thing, and try to get the balance right between home and work.

Any other comments?

Not all accountants are boring.