Chatting with Miss Cork - Why Caroline Crowley wants to be a Chartered Accountant
Author:
Daisy Downes
Caroline Crowley (20) is a second year Accountancy student at University College Cork and Vice-Auditor of the college Accounting & Finance Society. When she has finishes her degree, she plans to do a Masters in Accountancy in Dublin before training as a Chartered Accountant. In the longer term she intends to join her father, Chartered Accountant Charles Crowley, in his practice in Bandon. We asked her to tell us more about her career to date and her ambitions for the future.
Caroline juggles her studies with her modelling career and her Miss Cork duties.
“I began modelling two years ago with Claire Cullinane. Since then my modelling career has taken me as far afield as Los Angeles. as well as on assignments all round Ireland.
“It is hard trying to go to college in Cork during the day and model by night but the lecturers in UCC are really helpful and I believe if you work hard you can achieve anything.”
“My mum suggested I should enter the Miss Cork competition and Ryans Bar in Douglas sponsored me. I got to meet some brilliant girls during the heats, many of whom I am still friends with.
Winning was great because all my family were there on the night.
Over the past year, I have been doing everything from fashion shows to photo shoots to charity work. I have enjoyed every minute of it. I was on ‘Nationwide’, ‘Up for the Match’, and TV3’s ‘Ireland AM’. At the moment Cork is Capital of Culture so events are taking place all the time.
Some of the tabloids had a field day with me when the Miss Ireland organisers explained I was an accountant. Comments such as, “It all adds up”, or “We can count on Caroline” always made me laugh.
“I enjoyed the Miss Ireland competition enormously. I met all the celebs and made it into the final five which was a huge achievement because there was very strong competition. I won the viewers’ TV3 text vote competition which I was delighted about.
“Immediately after Miss Ireland, Assets, the modelling agency, asked me to start working with them. I moved to Dublin where I began modelling and I also started a TV presenting course with RTE producer, Bill Keating, which I have since finished successfully.
“For the moment, I have pressed pause where TV is concerned as I have two years left in my Accounting degree at UCC. I am going to try to balance modelling, my Miss Cork duties, and college for the rest of this year.
People think I am not the stereotypical accountancy student but I enjoy accountancy and hope to join my father’s practice in the future”.
Caroline’s father, Charles Crowley, has a successful practice in Bandon. Caroline would like to specialise in tax as this is what she most enjoys.
In the longer term, Caroline’s ambition is to have her own financial TV programme.
“My ambition over the next 10 years would be to have my own TV programme organising people’s finances and tax problems. I would like to make Accountancy more understandable and more enjoyable while helping people at the same time. I believe there is a niche in the market for this as tax returns, VAT payments and other financial issues can be confusing and baffle many people.”