Case Study - Emer Tax Accountant

Supporting Confidence, Capability and Career Transition in a Tax Auditor

Client Context

Emer (32) was a junior tax auditor who had trained and qualified in one of the Big Four firms in Ireland. She was academically strong, highly diligent and accustomed to performing in high-pressure environments. Throughout her career, Emer had relied on hard work and persistence to succeed, consistently achieving strong results.

While successful on paper, Emer experienced sustained pressure in the Big Four environment. The pace, competition and expectations contributed to a sense of constant urgency and internal stress. Although some of this pressure was inherent in the environment, much of it had become self-imposed over time.

Emer wanted to leave the Big Four, but she did not want to abandon the professional investment she had made through years of education and training. Her goal was to continue developing her career in a way that felt sustainable and aligned with her values.

She accepted a role in a small boutique auditing firm, seeking a different working environment while continuing to build on her technical experience. The money was not as good as she was hoping, but she wanted a different way of working more than money at this point in her life.

Presenting Challenges

Following the transition, Emer experienced a significant increase in anxiety. She reported physical symptoms, including nausea before work, persistent fear of failure and a strong sense of imposter syndrome. The new role required her to work directly on complex client scenarios with limited layers of support.

Emer perceived her Big Four experience as broad rather than deep and she questioned her readiness to operate in a smaller firm where expectations felt more immediate and visible. She felt overwhelmed, unsure of what success looked like in the new environment and concerned about meeting the expectations of senior partners.

Our Key Coaching Objectives

The primary objectives of the coaching engagement were to:

• Reduce anxiety and increase emotional regulation

• Build grounded confidence based on evidence rather than reassurance

• Clarify role expectations and success criteria

• Support Emer in navigating a different organisational culture

• Strengthen communication and relationship management with senior stakeholders

• Enable Emer to move from survival mode into confident contribution

Coaching Approach

The coaching engagement took place over six months and focused on practical, reflective and behavioural development.

A key starting point was distinguishing between what was real and what was imagined. Emer was guided to examine assumptions, internal narratives and untested beliefs about failure and competence. This created space for a more accurate interpretation of situations and expectations.

Confidence-building focused on recognising existing capability and translating previous experience into the new context. Rather than positioning confidence as a mindset shift alone, coaching emphasised evidence, preparation, and clarity.

Emer developed skills in having clear and direct conversations, including asking questions rather than making assumptions and requesting clarification when needed. Particular attention was given to asking for help without equating this with weakness.

Breathing and NLP regulation techniques were introduced to support Emer in managing anxiety and remaining present during challenging interactions and decision-making.

A significant element of the coaching involved supporting Emer to formally request a mentor within the business. The purpose of the mentoring relationship was not technical support, but guidance in understanding and navigating the culture of the firm. Through regular conversations with her mentor, Emer gained insight into how decisions were made, how people communicated and what behaviours were valued.

Coaching also focused on understanding the working style of the senior partner. Emer learned how he approached his work, how he prioritised and what effective performance looked like from his perspective. This enabled her to anticipate needs, adapt her communication and engage more confidently.

Outcomes

Over the course of the engagement, Emer reported a noticeable reduction in anxiety and physical stress symptoms. She became more settled and confident in her role, with improved clarity around expectations and priorities.

Emer successfully completed her probation period and was awarded both a pay increase and a bonus. More importantly, she worked collaboratively with her team to develop a clear and realistic career path with defined opportunities for progression.

She also began to contribute proactively to the firm, bringing positive learnings from her corporate background and applying them in a way that added value to the boutique environment.

Impact

The coaching engagement supported Emer to move from a state of survival and self-doubt into one of confidence, contribution and professional growth. While her technical competence had always been present, coaching enabled her to regulate anxiety, build effective relationships and work in alignment with her environment rather than against it.

This case highlights the value of coaching during career transitions, particularly for high-achieving professionals moving from large corporate environments into smaller, more exposed settings.