Angela O’Leary AG Associates Accountants – “I couldn’t be Cork Business Woman of the Year 2018 without my team.”

What does it mean to you and the team to win The Cork Business Woman of the Year 2018?

We are all just delighted. It was a wonderful surprise to win and the level of talent in the category was phenomenal. And while it’s a personal award for me, I see it as an award for the team. I couldn’t be Cork Business Woman of the Year 2018 without my team.

I come up with the strategy of the business and I rely on my team to support the growth of AG Associates Accountants.

How did you and your team celebrate?

Paddy, Kirsty and I celebrated late into the night on Saturday, for what was a fantastic evening at the Cork Business Awards. We had clients of ours attending the event also so it was great to celebrate with them as well as meet with the other guests at such a fabulous event.

We have been eating celebrations all week in the office and have a night out planned for all staff to celebrate. 

What’s next for your organisation?

I firmly believe in innovation and customer service so I’m looking at innovative ways to serve our clients. We will also continue to promote Clarity, our online accountancy and bookkeeping service. Anyone can use an online accounting software but with our service Clarity, our clients work with their assigned accountant in AG Associates to take a holistic approach to their accounts.

What our clients particularly love about Clarity is that yes, it’s an online service, however, it’s not a faceless one. We’ve integrated the relationship between the business owner and us, the accountant, making it easy to see at any time, how you’re doing financially.

What projects over the last 12 months are you most proud of?

I’m so proud of the launch of Clarity, our online accountancy service. We are helping more and more businesses of all sizes maximise their accountancy information – and our clients are growing as a result. Some have reported extra sales, others have extra time on their hands. My personal favourite is those clients who use their financial key performance indicators (KPIs) to make decisions about new opportunities.

And that is what we are so proud of.

How/where will you be displaying the award?

Well we certainly won’t be like Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet and Sean Connery who claim to keep their Oscar in the bathroom! It will be displayed with pride in our reception.

Is there anything your organisation is doing that you’d like to promote at this time?

There is one thing that I’d like to say to all businesses – it’s okay to change accountants! Some businesses file returns at the end of October and are now assessing whether or not they’re happy. If there is an inkling of doubt, change accountants.

In order to grow a business, you need to know your financials on a regular basis. Not an annual basis. Our philosophy here at AG Associates is that you can make informed decisions when you know your numbers inside and out. We’re here to help with that.

Ever the accountant, I’d like to point out that PAYE Modernisation is coming and if you are an employer, no matter your size, you need to make it a priority. Please talk to your accountant or pick up the phone to us and we can talk you through your obligations.

What motivates you and your team?

The growth of our clients. It sounds nerdy, I know, but we are accountants. We love numbers. Finances are at the heart of every business – cashflow, assets, debtors days, credit terms, payroll, money available for research or marketing. To grow a business, you need a handle on your accounts and that’s what motivates us. Helping our clients run their best business makes us happy.

Is there anyone you would like to thank?

There are so many people to thank that if I were to name them, I would forget someone. I would just like to say that sometimes it’s a few words that you exchange with someone that can make a difference in someone’s life, an ah-ha moment can go on at any time. So to all the people who inspire me, thank you.