An article written by Mark Baker, Partner at Darwin Hawkins
As we step into 2026, the professional services market in Ireland is experiencing a period of transition and recalibration, particularly at the senior end. For those operating at Director or Partner level (or aspiring to reach it) Q1 is offering a mixed, yet overall very positive picture.
Looking back on 2025
I saw a high level of Partner and Director movement – particularly in audit, but also across advisory. While there was some lateral movement within the Big 4, most external appointments saw individuals move from the Big 4 into Top 10 firms, or in some cases, leave entirely to launch new boutique firms.
The traditional Partner track has shifted. Candidates have become far more open to exploring alternative routes to Partnership externally. Many are citing a lack of transparency on progression, natural bottlenecks, and internal pressures combined with limited reward visibility as key motivators for making a move.
Advisory, in particular, has seen a new wave of division leaders – often top-tier professionals coming directly from industry into growth areas such as cyber, data analytics, or tech consulting. Based on current conversations, I expect this trend to continue well into 2026.
Firm Activity: A Mixed Picture
The landscape across larger firms is fragmented. Some are actively holding back on Partner and Director hiring, opting instead to focus on internal promotions and alleviating a backlog of Senior Managers and Directors moving through the ranks. Others remain opportunistic, ready to hire where standout talent appears, while a cohort of mid-tier firms continues with aggressive growth plans.
One of the most significant structural changes continues to be the evolution of the traditional partnership model. With the influx of private equity investment, firms are restructuring internally and, in these cases, moving away from the traditional Partnership model. While this is positive for some, it’s created uncertainty for others. However, I can see more and more firms proceeding down this route and it looks like it is becoming the new model.
The private equity-backed model offers professionals the chance to gain real equity value tied to a future exit, often without the need for a traditional buy-in. It can provide a clear and potentially lucrative path to wealth creation through equity participation and liquidity events.
Interestingly, mid-sized firms – especially those with global networks – are increasingly competitive, often more agile and appealing to senior candidates. Based on some recent conversations I would also expect some new, relatively unknown, international firms to enter the Irish market in 2026, further reshaping the playing field.
Growth Areas
From a service line perspective, while audit, tax, and advisory remain steady, the most aggressive growth is happening in the next-gen advisory spaces including, unsurprisingly; AI, Cyber Security, Data Analytics, and Tech Risk.
Risk and internal audit are also experiencing heightened demand. The feedback from nearly every client is consistent – there’s no shortage of work. The focus is now on attracting the right leaders to manage and scale delivery.
That said, Director-level roles do seem to be tightening. Firms are placing greater emphasis on external Partner hires, with specific expectations: commercial mindset, business development track record, strategic thinking, and leadership potential. Technical excellence alone is simply not enough to get you to the top.
Also, it is worth noting that several firms are also actively encouraging entrepreneurial professionals to bring new business ideas that could be incubated within established structures.
Location Trends
Dublin remains the central hub for Partner hiring. However, regional growth in Cork, Galway, Limerick, and the South East is being driven more by talent availability than by local client bases. However, there is a lot of acquisition activity in Cork at the moment, which will drive the need to more Partners.
What Are Candidates Thinking?
The consolidation and movement across professional services has clearly influenced candidate thinking. Many Directors – previously loyal, long-term firm players – are now lifting their heads and assessing the market.
The idea of being a ‘lifer’ and patiently waiting in line for Partnership, even with merit on your side, is no longer the default. If there’s no progression path, top talent will move. And as more colleagues make successful transitions, confidence to follow increases.
From my own activity, it’s clear this is not just a short-term trend. Over the last 18 months alone, I’ve been involved in 10+ external Partner-level mandates – and the conversations I’m having in my first two weeks back at my desk suggest this level of movement will continue.
Current Live Mandates
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Audit Partner – Large firm - Cork
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Tax Partner – Large firm - Cork
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Audit Partner – FS or Corporate – Mid-sized firm – Dublin
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Tax Partner – FS – Mid-sized firm – Dublin
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Internal Audit Partner – Mid-sized firm – Dublin
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Outsourced Accounting Director/Partner – Large firm – Dublin
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Cyber Security Partner – Mid-sized firm – Dublin
If you’re a Director wondering what’s next – or a Partner ready to explore a new chapter – now is a good time to take stock.
Mark Baker
Partner, Darwin Hawkins