dmg media Ireland has selected 40 brilliant young minds in the accountancy industry as part of the 40 Under 40 series

Brendan Murphy - partner, Baker Tilly Ireland

Brendan Murphy brings nearly two decades of experience as a tax advisor, adeptly serving both corporate and individual clients with efficient tax planning and comprehensive compliance solutions.

His expertise encompasses a wide range of corporate tax advisory services, including group restructuring, financing strategies, IP planning, mergers and acquisitions, and international expansion.

Murphy also offers valuable guidance to business shareholders on matters such as exit strategies, succession planning, growth initiatives, and investment opportunities. 

He has successfully assisted numerous international companies in relocating to Ireland, focusing on funding, employee relocation, and transfer pricing.

Murphy also has substantial experience advising clients across various industries, including technology, financial services, manufacturing, construction, start-ups, and renewable energy.

Murphy achieved becoming a partner at just 34 years old, and now, only a few years later, heads up the tax team at Baker Tilly Ireland.

He is integral to the development of the firm's relationship with the other Baker Tilly members across the globe, and has also recently taken on the role of one of the two marketing partners to support the growth, ambitions and development of the firm's presence in Ireland. 

• Hobbies: Given a Longford man’s GAA season is often ended too quickly, I would often swap one blue jersey for another to cheer on Leinster rugby. I can also be occasionally found at the side of a racetrack!
• Best piece of advice you've ever received: “There is nobody better or worse than you in this world, so treat everyone as your equal and make sure everyone treats you as their equal too” – from a brilliant Irish mother who always kept me on the straight and narrow!
• Why you love your job: I enjoy an initial meeting with a new client to find out about their business and see the angles where we can help. Entrepreneurs and business owners have such great stories to tell and are rightly so proud of their achievements that it is great to just sit and listen to these people, and if we can offer some valuable advice, then all the better!
• Motto for life: “Always get back on the horse”.

Mark O'Brien - assistant tax manager, Dains Ireland

Mark O’Brien works with business owners and finance teams to simplify tax matters and give them clarity and control. Known for his calm, steady approach, O'Brien is someone clients trust to deliver reliable advice and keep things on track.

Based in Swords, he supports a wide range of clients across compliance, planning and ongoing Revenue engagement. He enjoys working with SMEs in particular, where the relationships are personal and the work really matters.

Now living in Garristown, O'Brien has grown his career with the firm through its transition from McInerney Saunders to Dains Ireland. He understands the pace of change in both business and regulation and brings a practical, people-first mindset to his work every day.

O'Brien is thoughtful, grounded and consistent. He focuses on doing the job well and being someone others can rely on. That is what makes him such a strong part of the Dains Ireland team.

• Hobbies: I have always loved sport. I still play football and follow the game closely. I also run a few times a week. It helps me clear my head and keeps me focused, especially when things are busy.
• Best piece of advice you've ever received: No one knows everything, so do not be afraid to ask questions. That advice has stayed with me. It makes you more open, more curious and much easier to work with.
• Why you love your job: It comes down to people. I get to work with great clients and a supportive team. I enjoy making things clearer for others and helping them make better decisions. That is where I get the most satisfaction.
• Motto for life: Life is a succession of lessons that must be lived to be understood.

Emma McLoughlin – director, assurance, EY

Emma McLoughlin is a director in EY Ireland’s Assurance practice, with over ten years' experience working with clients across Ireland and the US.

A graduate of Trinity College, she has built her career within EY, progressing from graduate to director with a strong track record in client delivery and leadership.​

McLoughlin services clients across a broad range of industries, from life science and pharmaceuticals to the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. Her portfolio spans listed entities, large privately held groups and dynamic scale-ups, where she brings deep sector knowledge and a practical, solutions-focused approach.​

Alongside her client work, McLoughlin is a strong advocate for talent development and inclusive leadership, playing an active role in delivering on EY’s people agenda.​

McLoughlin is a Chartered Accountant with a qualification from Chartered Accountants Ireland. She is deeply committed to mentoring and helping younger team members find their voice and confidence.

For McLoughlin, leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about asking the right questions, empowering others, and creating space for people to thrive.

• Hobbies: I love to travel and explore different cultures and cuisines – most recently on a safari in Kenya! I also enjoy reading, and I’m eagerly awaiting the release of the latest book in Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series.
• Best piece of advice you've ever received: “Never forget where you came from, but always remember where you are going.” Having grown up in a family business in the West of Ireland, my parents always reminded me to stay grounded and appreciate my roots while striving for the future.
• Why you love your job: No two days are the same. The pace of change, the variety of clients, the continuous learning, and the opportunity to mentor talented people make every day rewarding. ​
• Motto for life: “Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.”

Marie Mannion - partner, Grant Thornton

Marie Mannion is a partner in the advisory department at Grant Thornton Ireland, where she leads the firm’s internal audit offering across the financial services sector.

With a career spanning over 15 years, Mannion is recognised for her strategic leadership, deep sector expertise, and ability to deliver impactful solutions in a dynamic regulatory environment.

Mannion began her career with Grant Thornton in 2009 as a trainee accountant. After gaining valuable industry experience during four years with Irish Life, she returned to the firm in 2018 with a broadened perspective and renewed focus.

Since then, she has played a key role in Grant Thornton’s continued growth, particularly within the provision of internal audit services.

Now leading a team of 100+ internal audit professionals, Mannion is committed to driving continuous improvements in service quality, innovation, and client value across the firm’s risk and internal audit offering.

• Hobbies Being outdoors with my family and makes the most of living beside the greenway in Athlone. Travelling, staying active and hitting the gym
• Best piece of advice you've ever received Time and effort reduce the role luck plays in your life.
• Why you love your job There’s a real sense of care and connection, both among colleagues and with our clients. The personal relationships you build are genuinely rewarding, and the variety of clients makes every day interesting.
• Motto for life Dreams don’t work unless you do.

Seán McGovern - partner, Ifac

A DCU graduate, Seán McGovern holds a BA in Accounting and Finance. Having completed his degree in 2017, he joined Ifac’s graduate programme, where he completed his professional exams to become an ACCA qualified accountant. 

McGovern's hardworking nature and commitment to clients saw him appointed as Client Relationship Manager post-qualification and appointed Partner of Ifac’s Cavan office in 2022. 

In his role as Partner, McGovern advises clients who are continuously growing their businesses and require advice on a number of issues, from financial to tax planning. He thrives in helping the growth of numerous family farms and local SME’s that have gone from strength to strength.

Along with the rest of the Cavan team at Ifac, McGovern is responsible for a large cohort of clients in the Cavan, Leitrim & Longford area and is their trusted advisor for business.  

McGovern has always been passionate about Irish agriculture and local Irish businesses, with his work in ifac allowing him to act on this each day.  

“I work closely with clients to develop a relationship which creates a level of trust. I feel I have been part of the growth of Ifac over the last 8 years and look forward to continued growth over the next number of years as Ifac continues to be a leader in the Food, Agri & SME sector.” 

• Hobbies: Coming from a family farm myself, that takes up a lot of my spare time. I also play football for my local GAA club. Downtime is spent listening to a podcast or reading. 
• Best piece of advice you've ever received: Embrace every opportunity presented to you because you never know what tomorrow will bring. 
• Why you love your job: Every day I feel I have made a real difference for local businesses and families, I take great joy out of seeing them grow and succeed. That and working with great people. 
• Motto for life: The little things make the biggest impact.