Johanna McLoughlin is EY Ireland Partner and Life Sciences Lead. Originally from Dublin, McLoughlin studied physiology at Trinity College Dublin before obtaining a master’s degree in sports nutrition from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

She subsequently joined Andersen in London where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

In the years since, McLoughlin has worked in the UK, Spain and the US in senior financial and leadership roles for life science and healthcare companies, such as GSK, Alliance Boots and Kite Pharma, the US-headquartered Gilead Sciences company.

She returned to Dublin in 2021, joining EY Ireland in her current role at the helm of the firm’s life sciences consulting practice.

Q When did you decide to become a Chartered Accountant?

After I obtained my master’s in sports nutrition in 1999, I decided I wanted to combine my scientific grounding with a business discipline.

I wanted a career that would fully reflect my knowledge and interests, setting me on the right path to pursuing many potential career avenues.

Becoming a Chartered Accountant appealed because I knew it was a qualification that could open doors—in finance, leadership and further afield.

I was also attracted to the structure and rigour of the training. Away from the university environment I had known up until then, I found the combination of formal learning and hands-on client experience fascinating.

Q What was your impression of the accountancy profession starting out?

I joined Andersen in London to train as a Chartered Accountant in 2000 with high expectations of the quality of the training I would receive and the calibre of the people I would be working alongside.

I wasn’t disappointed. My training with the firm went far beyond exams and technical accounting.

It was incredibly well-rounded, offering exposure to clients from day one and opportunities to learn from senior leaders, both within the firm and the businesses we supported.

For me, a big part of the appeal was the strength of the qualification as a launchpad for my career—a career that could go in many different directions.

As Chartered Accountants, we don’t just do ‘one thing’. We have a solid grounding in finance, business strategy, commercial thinking and leadership—all skills that can open up a broad spectrum of career paths.

I think this is as true for today’s newly qualified accountants as it was when I started my own career.

Q Did you have a career plan at the outset? What were your early ambitions?

I certainly didn’t have a neatly mapped-out career plan at the outset. My approach has always been to stay curious, take opportunities as they come and gain as much varied experience as possible.

After qualifying, I moved from audit and assurance into M&A advisory and, from there, into industry. Each step has been driven by a desire to keep learning and to forge a path combining my finance training with my background in science.

Looking back, I think the common thread has been my ability to recognise my strengths, lean into them and find roles that align with them.

Early in my career, I don’t think I could have articulated that, one day, I could become a partner in a big four firm. What has stayed constant, however, is my mindset—to be proactive, gain broad experience and enjoy the ride.

Q Tell us about your current role as Life Sciences Leader with EY Ireland.

Life sciences is a critical sector for EY Ireland. Our team brings strategy, transformation and technology capabilities to clients across the life sciences value chain.

We advise on everything from R&D and manufacturing to operating models, commercial execution, tax and finance.

My role as EY Ireland Partner and Life Sciences Lead is to ensure we support our clients in the best way possible.

First is industry and client insight. I stay close to shifting trends in the life sciences sector so I can help clients to manage challenges and unlock opportunities.

Second is connection and collaboration. I stay engaged with industry bodies and stakeholders in the wider market and make sure our team is plugged into EY’s broader life sciences network so we can bring global insights and capabilities to our clients here in Ireland.

And third is building and supporting our people. This includes developing a diverse sector team with deep expertise, ensuring we invest in training and fostering a culture in which people trust that they can bring their authentic selves to work and thrive.

I think teams are strongest when people bring different perspectives, strengths and experiences—and when they feel empowered to be themselves.

Building strong relationships, internally and with clients, is also central to my role as a trusted adviser.

Q How do you expect the role of the Chartered Accountant to evolve in the years ahead?

In the future, I think Chartered Accountants will work far more closely with artificial intelligence (AI), digital analytics and realtime data. We will need strong digital literacy, the ability to think analytically and a mindset centred on continuous learning.

We are living in a time of geopolitical uncertainty which, I think, will also see Chartered Accountants play a bigger role in creating value, managing risk and supporting organisational resilience.

The Chartered Accountant of the future will be strategic, using data to anticipate what’s coming down the line, rather than simply reporting on what has already happened.

This shift will require an aptitude for both creative and systems thinking as well as a strong ability to lead.

Q What have you enjoyed most about your career path to date, and your current role?

I really enjoy working at the intersection of science, business and strategy. The life sciences sector is full of organisations bringing real innovation, impact and value to the market.

This has motivated me throughout my career, working across global markets and leading teams in Europe, Asia and the US.

I have had the opportunity to build a rich career with varied roles spanning finance, strategy, commercial and operational work and large-scale transformation.

Relocating multiple times and adapting to new countries and cultures can be challenging. Each move comes with uncertainty, but I have chosen to view relocation as an opportunity rather than a disruption.

This experience has shaped how I lead today—with openness, positivity and a genuine appreciation for different ways of working and collaborating.

Throughout my career, and in my role now with EY Ireland, curiosity has always been key. To progress, you have to want to learn, to ask questions and understand problems deeply.

Agility is equally important. You will never know 100 percent of everything. Being comfortable with this—and willing to learn, unlearn and relearn—is vital in a fast-changing world, particularly given the impact of AI and digital transformation today.

“AS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS, WE DON’T JUST DO ‘ONE THING’. WE HAVE A SOLID GROUNDING IN FINANCE, BUSINESS STRATEGY, COMMERCIAL THINKING AND LEADERSHIP—ALL SKILLS THAT CAN OPEN UP A BROAD SPECTRUM OF CAREER PATHS”

I would say I have a proactive, gogetter mindset. Being open to stretching yourself and taking opportunities is key to learning, growing and progressing your career.

Q What advice can you offer professionals starting in their career today?

Always be curious and open; treat your early career years as your richest learning ground. Starting your career as a Chartered Accountant, you won’t be expected to know everything from day one, but you will be expected to show up with energy, ambition and a willingness to learn.

Be brave and proactive in seeking out stretch opportunities—as Wayne Gretzky said, you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.