Managing partners in leading Accountancy & Business Advisory practices discuss activity, in-demand service lines, and the business outlook

ACTIVITY

2024 was another impressive year for Crowe.

We experienced growth across all service lines due to continued robust client demand.

We have seen a particularly strong level of new enquiry for audit services from companies seeking an alternative to the Big Four.

These companies are looking for the reassurance of a global network, but with a tailored service to help them achieve their business and personal objectives.

Our tax team continues to prosper based on its reputation for being commercially-minded, proactive and focused on solutions.

Our Consultancy division experienced increased demand from clients in areas such as ESG, change management, organisational reviews and financial performance reviews.

Meanwhile, our Corporate Finance division actively assisted SME clients in growing, buying and selling their businesses.

DEVELOPMENTS

We continue to invest in high-quality talent to broaden our service offering.

To address our clients’ evolving needs, we have established an ESG Centre of Excellence. Many clients face challenges with the reporting requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and require expert assistance in navigating its complexities.

AI Like most businesses, we are investing in AI solutions to ensure that we continue to provide the best services.

AI undoubtedly has the potential to accelerate innovation and drive success for our clients.

We have appointed leaders in each of our service lines to play a critical role in advancing Crowe’s adoption of AI in our business operations and service delivery.

These modern tools will help our people save time on routine tasks, while they use their experience and expertise to accomplish core business activities.

CONSOLIDATION

At Crowe we are focused on sustainable growth — both organically and via merger opportunities. We are looking for firms that share our values, with a focus on people, relationships and exceptional client service.

CLIENT CHALLENGES

The majority of our clients are SMEs. For many, adopting and effectively leveraging digital technologies remains a critical challenge.

Clients recognise that digital capabilities are a must to remain competitive.

While the lack of in-house expertise can be a constraint, businesses can leverage affordable tools to gain an advantage in their industry.

With near-full employment in Ireland, availability of talent is a common issue for clients across all sectors.

Rising employment costs, with increases in the minimum wage and the introduction of pension auto-enrolment later this year, impact many of our clients in labour intensive businesses such as hospitality and retail.

Other common themes include sustainability and the environment, as well as access to finance to fund investment and growth.

OUTLOOK

We are ambitious for the future and are continuing to invest in our people and technologies to meet our clients’ needs.

We believe that a firm of our size is ideally placed to serve the needs of SME clients seeking to build a trusted and long-lasting relationship.