As part of a new monthly feature, we want to know a little more about the organisations and the individuals that support the work of the Federation.

To kick us off we sat down with Deirdre McDermott, Audit Director at OSK and something of a Hockey fan…

Can you tell us a little about how your business partners with the Federation and its members?

We in OSK are the approved audit and accountancy partner to the Federation of Irish Sport. We offer a full range of accountancy services from payroll, bookkeeping, management accounts, cashflow projections, budgeting, tax advice, corporate governance to the annual audit.

We seek to provide practical advice and expertise to the Sports sector through our experience in dealing with sporting bodies and the not for profit sector.

What is one of the issues that you might be able to solve?

We can provide a practical approach to the annual audit and aim to provide a value-added service when doing the audit and seek to make recommendations to management and the board on the completion of our audit.

What is your personal background in sport?

I am heavily involved in sport, having moved to Dublin to play hockey and now that my playing days are over due to injury, I coach hockey. I have coached at club and interprovincial level and currently coach a club side in Dublin. I also play golf to try and fill the gap left by Hockey.

I have a keen interest in most sports and have enjoyed supporting Galway in the Hurling and Football championships this season and look forward to supporting Connacht rugby with their season kicking off on Saturday 1st September.

What do you find most interesting about working in and around the sporting sector?

Because I have a keen interest in sport, I find it interesting being involved in the audit of Sport Governing Bodies and hearing what their sporting  goals are for their Sport, the plans they have in place to achieve them,  how they are dealing with the challenges they are facing from a financial and facilities point of view. And assisting them where possible with improvements they need to implement to their financial procedures, internal controls and corporate governance.

What was the last sports event you attended?

The Masters Hockey World Cup in Terrassa Spain for men and women, where 135 teams completed over 6 age categories with the Irish Ladies O50 team winning the O50s Women’s Masters Hockey World Cup.

If you had an open ticket which sporting event around the world would you attend?

The Olympics in Tokyo in 2020 to watch the Irish Women’s hockey team competing and supporting the other Irish Athletes in their chosen sports.

And if you could arrange for one victory for a sports team or star that matters to you what would it be?

The Irish Ladies Hockey Team qualifying for the Olympics in Tokyo which would give them the opportunity to build on their success from the World Cup silver medal achieved in London this month.