Personal Profiles

David Smyth
Head of Tax Services

What are your main responsibilities?
National Head of Tax Services and Financial Services Tax Partner.

What is the most interesting thing about your job?
Extremely challenging and constantly changing.

What most prepared you for your current role?
Training with Ernst & Young (been with the Firm since 1986).

What is the current most interesting thing happening in your field?
The channel shift and the market shift.

What was your best subject in school?
Physics.

How long go you spend commuting each day?
On average – 1 hour (1/2 hour each way).

Favourite form of relaxation?
Orienteering.

What is the best book you have ever read?
Lord of the Rings.

What's your favourite film?
Lord of the Rings.

What's your favourite sporting moment?
Ireland soccer team returning home from Italia 90.

What is your pet hate?
Stupidity.

What's your ideal holiday?
A combination of complete relaxation with activity.

If you could meet anyone in the world from any era who would it be? And why?
John F Kennedy – I really admire his achievements.

What has been your proudest moment?
The births of my children Niamh and Ronan.

If you were not the Head of Tax Services, what other job would you be in?
Running an outdoor adventure centre.

What would you like your legacy to be?
To have left a lasting mark as a result of my endeavours.