In the latest instalment of the Alumni Spotlight series, we speak to University of Limerick graduate Dan Morrissey, who studied the BA in Law & Accounting at Kemmy Business School. Here, All-Ireland hurling champion Dan shares some of the highlights from his time at UL, including the coop placement that gave him his first step in his career.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm from Lisnagry, which is in the parish of Ahane/Castleconnell in East Limerick, a 10-minute drive from UL. I went to secondary school in Castletroy College and then started in UL in September 2011.
What course/s did you study, and what year/s did you graduate?
I completed a BA in Law & Accounting in UL, graduating in 2015. I then completed a MSc in Accounting in 2015/16.
Why did you choose to study at UL?
Being from Limerick, UL is always going to be a preferred choice of college given the variety and standard of degrees it offers. However, for me the three main reasons I chose UL were:
Coop placement - most courses offer a coop placement, and I was lucky enough to get an eight-month placement in third year, working in Deloitte – one of the “big four” accounting firms. This gave me the experience of what it's like working in a professional services environment and made up my mind that this was the career route I wanted to go down. At the end of my work placement, Deloitte offered to sponsor my Accounting masters and, following completion of the masters, a place on their graduate programme where I would complete my Chartered Accountancy exams and Chartered Tax Exams. If I was in a college that did not offer a coop placement, I might not have had this opportunity; this is why UL students are at such an advantage.
Facilities - UL's sporting and academic facilities are the best in the country. Living close to UL, I would have been down around the UL campus for various events when I was in school. Hurling was always a big part of my life, and I knew given the unrivalled sporting facilities UL has, and the success UL's hurling teams have had over the years, that going to UL would give me the best chance of developing my hurling career.
The campus - I have been to various third level campuses across the country, and I can honestly say that none come close to matching UL's. No matter when you walk through the campus, you get that sense that it is a special place. Today, I regularly go for walks down by the river or go over to Maguire’s Fields and watch anything from GAA to ultimate frisby to archery!
What were the highlights of your course?
I really enjoyed the variety of subjects the Law & Accounting course offered which meant that, upon graduating, there was a wide range of career choices you could take, and you had received a good insight into the different areas. You had modules in Financial Reporting, Management Accounting, Tax, Economics, Corporate Governance, and various law modules. There were about 45 students in my course so, for some modules, it was just our course and you got to know everyone very well. For some of the business modules we were mixed in with the Business Studies course, and for some of the law modules we were mixed in with Law students; so, you had a lot of different classmates who all went into different careers, and I keep in contact with a lot of them still today.
As a KBS student, you had the opportunity to learn from some of the top academic talent, in state-of-the-art facilities. What was your KBS experience like?
I had a great KBS experience. I have great memories from the main KBS lecture hall and sitting in the KBS Cube café discussing group projects with course mates. The calibre of lecturers was top-class, and I always liked the way lecturers and tutors took a keen interest in each individual's progression; they were never too busy to answer questions or meet up if you had an issue. I had some amazing lecturers during my time there. Dr John Heneghan lectured me in Corporate Governance and Auditing & Business Ethics, and things I learned from those classes I still apply in my working life today. I also learned so much from Dr Elaine Doyle when doing my FYP on the Irish Taxation System.
What advice would you offer to students considering studying at UL?
Talk to someone who went to UL and ask them about their experiences. If you can talk to someone who did the course you are considering, that would be even better again. UL offers such a wide range of courses – there is bound to be some course that meets your interests.
Separately, what advice would you offer to students considering studying your course?
The majority of my course mates went down the accountancy route and went on to complete the professional accountancy exams. Accountancy firms have various departments - some people went into audit, some into tax, and others went into corporate finance roles. Some also went into law firms and went on to qualify as solicitors. I have found what I learned in the law modules has stood to me a lot in my career in tax. The modules are a nice mix of numbers and theory, and the skills and topics you learn are very applicable to what you use in the work environment.
You were heavily involved in UL GAA, winning a Fitzgibbon Cup medal. What was that experience like for you?
Winning a Fitzgibbon Cup medal in my final year was one of the biggest highlights of my time in UL. We had a very good team the previous two years but didn't get over the line, so it was a great way to finish my four years in UL.
What are some of your favourite memories from your time at UL?
I have some great memories from hurling with players from all different counties, Christmas Days in the Stables, and class mystery tours.
At UL, we’re known as the ‘Home of Firsts’ – are there any important ‘firsts’ that you experienced as a UL student, that you would like to share?
I lived at home for first year but moved out in second year; it was my first time living out of home. There were six of us in the house, and we had all become friends on the fresher hurling team the year before. We have some great memories from the house that year!
Are there any campus locations that hold special significance to you?
The area outside the library was a really nice part of the campus and, no matter when you walked passed there, you were bound to meet someone you knew. You could spend hours talking to different people there.
How did your course/s and your overall UL experience prepare you for entering the workplace upon graduating?
The way the course was structured, and because of the subjects I learned, the transition into the workforce was very easy. Upon finishing college, I started in the tax department in Deloitte, and because of the eight months coop placement and the modules I studied, I found that I had a good understanding of tax and accounting world.
Could you update us on where you are now in your career?
I started in Deloitte in August 2016. Over the next three years, I completed my Chartered Accountancy (CAI) exams and Chartered Tax exams with the Irish Tax Institute. I worked my way up to Senior Tax Manager in Deloitte's Corporate & International Tax department. In early 2023, I made the move to Industry and now work as a senior tax manager in C&C Group Plc (an Irish manufacturer, marketer and distributor of alcoholic drinks).
What are your hopes and plans for the future?
I really enjoy the challenge of tax, particularly the international tax landscape which has seen huge change over the past few years. Tax is a key consideration in all decisions a business makes, so you get involved in really interesting and varied projects. I hope to continue progressing my career in tax and developing my knowledge in other key areas of business such as treasury, financial reporting and commercial finance.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
I consider my four years in UL as some of the best years of my life. While the course was challenging at times, the friendships and memories I made are things I will always cherish. I have nothing but positive things to say about UL and, if I had my time back in Leaving Cert, I would pick the exact same course in UL again.