Dr. Caroline McGroary, Chartered Accountant, Fulbright Scholar, Research Fellow at Boston College, and Lecturer in Accounting at Dublin City University, joins the judging panel of the Irish Accountancy Awards 2026, bringing a distinctive combination of professional practice, academic research, and international teaching experience to the evaluation process.

Dr. McGroary's career bridges professional accountancy and higher education. She trained as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte before joining Dublin City University in 2010, where she has since completed a PhD in Professional Accounting Education while lecturing across a range of programmes within the Business School and with industry partners. This dual foundation in practice and academia positions her to assess entries through both practical application and theoretical rigour.

Her international teaching portfolio extends beyond Ireland. Dr. McGroary lectures in Saudi Arabia as part of a university collaboration between DCU and Princess Nourah University (PNU), the largest female-only university in the world. This cross-cultural educational experience provides her with insight into how accounting education and professional standards translate across different contexts, enhancing her ability to evaluate innovation, adaptability, and impact within diverse organisational settings.

Dr. McGroary's research has gained recognition internationally. She has been invited to present at international conferences, and her work has been nominated for several awards recognising innovation, excellence in teaching, and impact. This academic credibility, combined with her Fulbright Scholar status and Research Fellowship at Boston College, demonstrates a commitment to advancing knowledge and practice within the accounting profession through evidence-based research and scholarly inquiry.

Beyond academia, Dr. McGroary maintains strong links with the business community and professional accountancy bodies. She is regularly invited to contribute to conferences, panel discussions, and industry publications, ensuring her perspective remains grounded in current practice challenges, emerging trends, and the evolving expectations facing accounting professionals and finance functions.

As a judge, Dr. McGroary will bring a rigorous, evidence-led, and innovation-focused perspective to the Irish Accountancy Awards, which recognise organisations and individuals delivering measurable progress across Ireland's accounting profession. Her expertise in professional accounting education aligns closely with the awards' emphasis on capability development, strategic thinking, and the application of technical knowledge to real-world business challenges.

For more information on the judging process, award categories, and programme updates, visit the official Irish Accountancy Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for the latest insights.