EY Cork Reports Strong Sense Of Optimism
Covid-19 and remote working have transformed how EY Cork delivers a number of its services, says John Higgins, EY Cork Partner Lead. He explains that virtual consulting is now the new normal, while assurance teams have changed how they deliver audit services by moving to a state-of-the-art cloud-based audit platform. “This has allowed us to securely share confidential data between clients and audit teams and has been a huge asset for us,” says Higgins.
He adds that EY Cork has experienced strong growth in all areas of the business. “We have seen significant demand for our EY Private offering which offers a bespoke range of services and solutions to entrepreneurs and private enterprises, who have faced unique challenges during this pandemic.
“We have also seen strong growth in our regional consulting practice as business leaders want to accelerate their transformation agenda in the areas of people, technology and innovation. Our domestic and international tax services are also very much in demand across EY’s private and international client base,” Higgins explains. “Interestingly, there is strong growth within our Strategy & Transactions practice, particularly in the area of business selling and buying, as companies take advantage of a buoyant market for transactions.” Higgins believes the business outlook is generally very positive.
“EY’s recent CEO Imperative Study highlighted that 53% of Irish CEOs forecast continued growth over the next three years, with 47% expecting it to remain static. The survey also highlighted that four-fifths of CEOs say their organisation will start a new and comprehensive transformation initiative this year, something which is critical to driving long-term growth.
“Cork businesses have shown exceptional resilience and with the gradual opening up of the tourism, leisure and retail sectors, which undoubtedly have been the most heavily hit, there is a strong sense of optimism in the region.”