Partner Profile – Brian Geraghty

Brian joined the firm at the beginning of 2017 when Phelan Prescott + Co merged with Crowe.

I am what would traditionally have been known as a general practitioner in the accountancy world, in that I look to cover all of the financial requirements of a wide variety of clients. My mantra has always centred around the premise that you need to offer clients more than just compliance – they look for that bit of individual thought or innovation in relation to their business or financial affairs that make them feel they are getting something different.

I joined Phelan Prescott + Co in 1982, straight from the 1-year induction or “commencement” course with four other trainees. We were an eclectic bunch and visits to Henry Grattan’s on Baggot Street were a regular Friday occurrence with almost the entire office attending.

I had thought of taking a job with PWC in Milan but decided to stay when offered the promise of partnership with Phelan Prescott + Co, which came to pass in 1990. I have always liked the business development side to the job – both winning new engagements and expanding the work we did with existing clients. I also enjoy the interaction that comes with the work, almost every client becomes a personal friend with many enjoyable social engagements over the years.

My involvement in the establishment of The Little Museum of Dublin with Trevor White and Simon O’Connor is a moment of pride which continues to reward. Apart from consistently being a top 10 tourist attraction in Dublin, with many interesting exhibitions on show, the Museum runs a visitor greeter programme where locals will bring tourists for a pint or a cup of tea and tell them what they love most about Dublin and Ireland. This is a uniquely Irish offering that is manned by 2500 volunteers, who give up their time to make the tourists experience that little bit better. The museum also provides community employment to 20 people and an intern programme for visiting students. I’m also a Non-exec director of Applegreen plc having been auditor previously for 10 years.

My wife Theresa is a physio in St Vincents and we have four children all engaged in many sports including GAA. I have served in various officer positions with Stillorgan Club Kilmacud Crokes, mostly on the hurling side. I help to coach hurling, camogie and ladies football. My daughter currently plays U16 Camogie for Dublin and the second eldest played Fitzgibbon Cup for Trinity this year. The eldest Matthew is a keen skier having spent his third year in college in Vancouver last year. He has set up Freeride Ireland – an association designed to promote ski-jumping. My youngest is a keen hurler, tennis player and footballer. In the last few years I have become a keen sailor in Dun Laoghaire racing every Thursday and Sunday from April to September. I am also part of a Monday evening hill walking group with my erstwhile business partner Andrew O’ Riordan which allows me to get some exercise into the working week.