John Donoghue

Career Overview

John Donoghue is chief executive of the Irish Farm Accounts Co-Operative (Ifac), a professional services firm serving the farming, food and agribusiness sectors nationwide. He leads one of Ireland's Top Ten professional services firms, overseeing operations from over 30 offices with approximately 600 employees. Under his leadership, Ifac has achieved 200% growth in a decade through bold mindset shifts, embracing change, and investing in people.

Donoghue qualified as an accountant in 2005 after training in Ifac's Carlow office and an accounting firm in Kildare. He was appointed managing partner of the Tullamore office in August 2005, holding that role for approximately six years. Before becoming CEO in July 2015, he served as group commercial manager, a largely business development role.

Education & Credentials

Donoghue holds a Master's degree in Leadership and Management Practice from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, Ireland's leading business school. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland and holds multiple diplomas in management, governance, and strategy from various institutions.

Career History

• Trainee Accountant, Ifac Carlow Office (2001)
• Trainee, accounting firm in Kildare
• Branch Manager, IFAC Tullamore (2005-2012, approximately six years)
• Commercial Manager, IFAC headquarters Dublin (2012-2015, three years)
• Chief Executive Officer, IFAC (July 2015-present)

Key Achievements & Notable Accomplishments

Under Donoghue's leadership, IFAC received Employer of the Year honors in 2017 and Advisory Team of the Year in 2020 at the Irish Accountancy Awards. Recently, he orchestrated three significant regional acquisitions—Con Dolan Accountants (Cavan), Peter Moore & Company (Mullingar), and Michael G Murphy Accountants (Charleville)—in February 2026. In 2025, IFAC acquired Coughlan Carroll & Co in Kilkenny, further strengthening its position in Ireland's top ten accountancy firms. Additionally, Donoghue expanded IFAC's workforce, adding 67 new employees in June 2026 alone, with plans to create 200 additional jobs over three years. IFAC serves 22,000 clients, primarily in farming, food, and agribusiness sectors. He also serves as Executive Director of IFAC Investment Services, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, and contributes to government policy on SME growth as a member of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's SME and Entrepreneurship Taskforce.

What John Donoghue could bring to IFAC

Donoghue has demonstrated a proven ability to execute a clear growth strategy through acquisitions, talent investment, and market consolidation. His background progressing from trainee accountant to CEO positions him to drive continued expansion of IFAC's national footprint while maintaining deep sectoral expertise in farming, food, and agribusiness. His government policy advisory role signals an ability to influence regulatory environments and shape industry trends. Under his tenure, IFAC has established itself as Ireland's leading professional services partner for rural and SME sectors—a position built on operational discipline, values alignment in M&A, and a people-centric culture that enables scale.