EisnerAmper Ireland strengthens its financial services practice with the appointment of Cathie Farrell as Partner

EisnerAmper Ireland is strengthening its position as a leading advisor to regulated financial services firms with the appointment of Cathie Farrell as Partner, Governance, Risk & Compliance. 

Cathie joins at a time when financial services organisations are navigating increasing regulatory complexity and heightened expectations around governance and resilience.   With more than two decades of experience, both in industry and professional services, she further enhances EisnerAmper Ireland’s financial services offering and reinforces the Firm’s commitment to providing specialist advice to regulated organisations across banking, insurance, credit unions and wealth management.  

Cathie joins from Grant Thornton, where she was a Director in the Financial Services Advisory practice, having previously spent 17 years with AIB in various roles from corporate banking, compliance, asset finance, deposits and wealth and mortgage arrears.  

She is widely recognised for her leadership on Conduct Risk and Consumer Protection engagements, regulatory remediation programmes and risk and compliance framework design and optimisation, having directed complex transformation and compliance initiatives across some of Ireland’s largest financial institutions.  

Her expertise spans governance, conduct risk, consumer protection, regulatory remediation, operational resilience and strategic transformation.  She has also developed significant experience in applying AI-enabled solutions to regulatory gap analysis, horizon scanning and compliance effectiveness. 

Cathie is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), a Qualified Financial Advisor, a Change Management Practitioner and holds a diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors in Ireland.  She is a member of the Board of the Central Remedial Clinic on a voluntary basis. 

Commenting on her appointment as Partner at EisnerAmper Ireland, Cathie Farrell said:

“Financial services firms are operating in an environment where regulatory expectations, technological change and stakeholder scrutiny are all increasing simultaneously.  Organisations need trusted advisors who combine deep regulatory expertise with practical experience and a genuine understanding of the commercial realities they face. 

What excites me most is the opportunity to help clients respond to that complexity in a way that not only ensures compliance but also strengthens governance, improves customer outcomes and supports sustainable growth.  I’m at my best when I’m working alongside clients on real challenges and helping to deliver solutions to them. EisnerAmper Ireland has built a strong reputation for practical partner-led advice with extensive sector knowledge.  Their commitment to exceptional client service is real, and the calibre of the Partners and the wider team is exceptional.  I am thrilled to be joining the firm at such an exciting stage of its growth journey.”

Attracta van Rensburg, CEO of EisnerAmper Ireland, commented:

“Financial Services continues to be one of our key market sectors, and we are seeing increasing demand for advice that combines governance, risk, compliance and strategic transformation expertise.  Clients want advisers who understand their sector, their regulatory environment and can deliver practical solutions that create real business value. 

At EisnerAmper Ireland, we are committed to investing in the capabilities our clients need to succeed.  Cathie brings valuable financial services experience with a proven track record of delivering complex regulatory and transformation programmes.  Her appointment further strengthens our ability to support clients as they respond to change, build resilience and achieve their strategic objectives.  On behalf of the Firm, I am delighted to welcome Cathie to EisnerAmper Ireland.”   

EisnerAmper Ireland Executive Chair, Alastair Mac Donald, commented: 

“Our ambition is to build a firm that is recognised for the depth of its expertise, the quality of its people and the strength of its client relationships.  We have been deliberate in bringing together senior professionals with significant experience in the sectors we serve, enabling us to provide clients with practical advice grounded in real-world experience. 

Cathie’s appointment reflects that approach.  She is a highly respected leader with an outstanding reputation in the market and a proven track record of helping organisations navigate complex challenges.  Her expertise and leadership will be a valuable addition to our Firm as we continue to grow and invest in the future.” 

About EisnerAmper Ireland  

EisnerAmper Ireland is a specialist professional services firm with a niche focus on financial services, international trade and government. 

The Firm combines deep sector expertise with a partner-led approach, providing clients with direct access to senior leaders across audit, accounting, tax, advisory, internal audit and risk & regulatory services.  EisnerAmper Ireland is known for delivering commercially grounded advice, built on a deep understanding of clients’ businesses and the markets in which they operate. 

Working alongside 5,000 professionals globally, EisnerAmper Ireland supports Irish and international clients, combining global capability with deep local market insight. EisnerAmper Ireland is a founding member of EisnerAmper Global, a New York-headquartered network of independent member firms operating across key international financial and trading centres. 

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