Managing Partner's Forum - Practice Management 2013

We ask the managing partners at Ireland's top 20 accountancy firms about on their businesses in 2013. They identify what have been the key areas for their firms in the past year and where to expect growth in 2014. In addition we ask them to discuss Ireland’s political resolve in the face of international pressure on its 12.5 per cent corporation tax rate and its reputation as a stable jurisdiction for international business.

We asked the managing partner's six questions in the Practice Management Forum click on each of the questions to see their responses:

1. Which sectors of your business are doing well at the moment, and why? For example: export services; IT; international financial services; Asia, and Middle East; debt resolution.

2. How important do you think it is for Ireland to maintain its reputation as a country has been seen as a stable jurisdiction for international business, bolstered, for example, by an adherence to the rule of law, and stability in tax commitments, and in legal and property matters? & 3. Given the frequency of local and global publicity targeted at Ireland's tax regime, do you, for example, have any concerns about a future flagging of the strong national political resolve maintained up to now on this front, to the benefit of competing jurisdictions, both within the EU, and wider afield?

4. Which sectors do you see as being most important to the Irish economic recovery, and how do you see your firm/the accounting industry as targeting these sectors?

5. In relation to the business of accountancy, where would you like to see decisive business reform in Ireland?

6. In the areas of financial services reform, including reform of accounting issues, how serious do you feel are the dangers of unintended consequences? e.g. the various proposals under the aegis of FASB, and IASB in relation to banking union, Basle II, Solvency 2, CRD IV.