Beyond the Exams: Eve Henry on the Moment She Became Ireland’s No.1 FAE Student
“I was in complete shock” – Deloitte’s Eve Henry being named first place in the country in the Chartered Accountants Ireland exams.
When Eve, a Sligo native, opened her FAE results and saw her results,
her first reaction wasn’t just shock—it was complete disbelief. “I was in bed
in my apartment when I clicked on the results,” Eve recalls. “I was absolutely
thrilled and relieved to pass, but when I got the call a few minutes later from
Claire in the Professional Education team, who told me I’d placed first in
Ireland, I honestly couldn’t believe it. I jumped out of bed to tell my family.
I had to tell my brothers who are very competitive” she says, with a smile,
“They didn’t believe me at first either!”
Eve, who joined Deloitte after completing her Masters in Accounting and Financial Management at Smurfit Business School, says the journey from business undergrad to accountant wasn’t always easy—but the firm’s support made all the difference.
From the get-go, Deloitte made sure I had everything I needed. The study leave was a huge help, and the internal lectures were brilliant—exam-style questions, real-time advice. It wasn’t just about passing the exams, it was about doing it the right way. What I loved about it was that there was always someone to help, someone who understood what it was like to go through these exams and the work-life balance was actually manageable.
Eve believes the firm’s internal structure was pivotal in making sure she could succeed. “The fact that everyone I worked with had been through it all, from associates to partners, meant I always had someone to turn to for advice. I wasn’t left to figure it out alone,” Eve adds. It’s this hands-on approach to learning, combined with the firm’s strong culture of mentorship, that Eve credits for her success.
After receiving the good news, her colleagues’ reactions didn’t surprise her, though the amount of support she received certainly did. “It was so heartening to get congratulatory messages from everyone—partners, managers, even the colleagues I sit with every day. It made the win feel that much sweeter,” she says.“
Of course, going home, I celebrated with my family back in Sligo, which was a really unforgettable moment. My parents were over the moon for me.”
Now, as she moves forward in her career at Deloitte, Eve is already looking to expand her experience. “I’m looking forward to the next steps—expanding my experience across audit teams, working with larger clients. And, who knows, maybe forensic accounting will be my next chapter which I’ve always been drawn towards. But for now, I’m taking it one step at a time, enjoying the journey.”
Her advice to others? “Don’t stress about perfection. Take it one day at a time. You won’t always feel 100% going into an exam, but that’s okay. Use the resources and support around you, and practice, practice, practice.”
For Eve, Deloitte’s commitment to developing talent is what sets them apart. “There are many times when I was encouraged to take the time to study which meant a lot. The fact that everyone I worked with had been through it all, from associates to partners, meant I always had someone to turn to for advice. I wasn’t left to figure it out alone.
It’s an interesting time in life because it is such a steep learning curve work-wise but you are also trying to make sure you get your qualifications, it can be easy to get overwhelmed but we felt we had all the support and mentorship we needed at our fingertips. Now with the next qualification still ahead, Eve is already setting her sights what’s next. As she says herself, “I’m only just getting started.”
In converstaion with Amanda Cassidy.
Three Study Tips from Eve would give to those thinking of studying with Deloitte:
"I think it is very beneficial to create a study plan with achievable goal throughout the year to ensure you can attend lectures and make the most of study leave."
"I would recommend practicing questions as much as possible to get into the mindset of exams."
"It is a great help to try and apply your real-life experiences in work to exam scenarios to help gain a more practical understanding of the material."
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