Archive for May 2026
The Real Cost of Weak Internal Controls in Smaller Irish Businesses
In many Irish SMEs, internal controls are treated as a concern for larger organisations. Audit committees, segregation of duties, authorisation matrices, and formal review procedures sound like the language of corporate governance, not something that applies to a 12-person service business or a smal…
Read MoreThe Risk of Chasing Turnover Instead of Financial Stability
At ACMA we know for many Irish SMEs, turnover is often treated as the primary measure of success. Increasing sales figures create momentum, confidence and the appearance of growth. Larger revenue numbers can also strengthen reputation and create the impression of a thriving business.
However, turnov…
Why Many Irish SMEs Underinvest in Financial Reporting Until It Is Too Late
For many Irish SMEs, financial reporting is treated as a compliance activity rather than a management tool. The annual accounts are prepared, returns are filed, the bank gets what it asks for, and the rest of the year passes with relatively little reference to financial information beyond the bank b…
Read MoreThe Hidden Risk of Owner Dependency: When the Business Cannot Run Without You
Many Irish SMEs grow around the personality and capability of their founder. The owner does not just run the business in the early years. They are the business. They drive sales, sign off on decisions, hold key client relationships, train staff, fix problems, and carry most of the operational knowledge in their head. For a…
Read MoreWhy Revenue Audit Activity Is Likely to Keep Rising and What Irish SMEs Should Have in Place
For many Irish SMEs, a Revenue audit feels like a remote possibility. Most owners go years without hearing from Revenue beyond the routine filing of returns, and audit preparation rarely becomes a priority until it is needed. In practice, the likelihood of a compliance intervention has been moving steadily upward for several years, and that…
Read MoreThe Hidden Risk of Owner Dependency: When the Business Cannot Run Without You
Many Irish SMEs grow around the personality and capability of their founder. The owner does not just run the business in the early years. They are the business. They drive sales, sign off on decisions, hold key client relationships, train staff, fix problems, and carry most of the operational knowle…
Read MoreTop 5 Operational Habits That Quietly Damage Cash Flow
Top 5 Operational Habits That Quietly Damage Cash Flow
At ACMA we know for many Irish SMEs, cash flow problems are often blamed on external factors such as rising costs, late-paying customers or economic uncertainty. While these pressures are real, operational habits within the business frequently p…
Why Revenue Audit Activity Is Likely to Keep Rising and What Irish SMEs Should Have in Place
For many Irish SMEs, a Revenue audit feels like a remote possibility. Most owners go years without hearing from Revenue beyond the routine filing of returns, and audit preparation rarely becomes a priority until it is needed. In practice, the likelihood of a compliance intervention has been moving s…
Read MoreHow Over-Reliance on a Few Revenue Streams Increases Financial Risk
Many Irish SMEs build strong businesses around a limited number of revenue sources. This may involve one major client, a small group of customers, a single service line or a dominant product that consistently performs well. In the short term, this concentration can appear efficient and commercially successful. Revenue is predictable, relationships are established and…
Read MoreHow Over-Reliance on a Few Revenue Streams Increases Financial Risk
Many Irish SMEs build strong businesses around a limited number of revenue sources. This may involve one major client, a small group of customers, a single service line or a dominant product that consistently performs well. In the short term, this concentration can appear efficient and comm…
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