A day in the life: Financial Process & FP&A Accountant, Cian Hardiman

At PHX Ireland, our Day in the Life series shines a light on #ourpeople behind the business, the roles they play, the paths they’ve taken, and the values they live every day. In this edition, we sit down with Cian Hardiman, Financial Process & FP&A Accountant, to learn more about his role, what motivates him, and how innovation and collaboration shape his work within the finance team.

1. How would you summarise your role in the business?

I review existing tasks and processes of the finance team and make them more efficient and effective. I also develop new processes and do one-off finance projects. This generally involves designing/redesigning a process and implementing technologies such as Power BI, Python, Alteryx, Power Automate etc.

2. Before coming to work, what does your morning look like?

I prep lunch for my daughter and bring her down the road to crèche. Then I hop on the bike or into the car — weather dependent!

3. When you arrive to work, how do you kickstart your day?

I check my emails and messages, look at my scheduled meetings, review and update my task list, and run down for a quick breakfast!

4. On your journey home, do you listen to podcasts, music or are you enjoying some peace and quiet? If so, which podcast/song?

I cycle when I can, but when I drive, I listen to the radio or put on an audiobook. Stephen Fry’s Mythos series kept me company for a long while!

5. What’s your favourite aspect of your job?

I really enjoy the variety of work and the problem solving. Improving processes requires a lot of problem solving, and the diverse nature of the finance team’s processes means that no two projects are the same.

6. What is one thing you wish you could have told your younger self before embarking on your chosen career path?

I’d tell myself to embrace technology and continuous learning early on and follow the work you find energising.

7. Can you share one piece of advice for a new starter about to join the business?

There are lots of opportunities within PHX, so lean into your strengths and interests and find a path that fits. My role didn’t exist before I stepped into it: as an accountant, I focused on process improvement, and leadership in finance recognised this and created a new role around it.

12. What does being collaborative mean to you, and how do you live that value at work?

To me, being collaborative means working with others to drive success. To make sure that finance process improvements are not a solo endeavour, I set up the Finance Innovation Team. This has representatives from the wider finance team looking to drive improvements in their respective teams. The Finance Innovation Team trains in and experiment with different technologies, discusses areas for improvement within the members’ different sub-departments, and collaborates to spread this constant improvement mindset across finance.

16. How do you keep our innovative spirit alive in your day-to-day role?

I keep our innovative spirit alive by constantly exploring new technologies and continuously seeking smarter ways to improve processes. No two processes are the same, so keeping an innovative mindset is essential in my role for delivering the best solutions. Collaboration and experimentation are key—I engage with teams to gather ideas, pilot improvements, and iterate so innovation becomes part of everyday work rather than a one-off initiative.

Cian’s journey is a great example of how innovation and collaboration come to life at PHX Ireland. From creating a role that didn’t previously exist to building cross-functional teams focused on continuous improvement, his story highlights what’s possible when curiosity, technology, and teamwork come together.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and it’s their willingness to collaborate, experiment, and innovate that helps PHX continue to evolve. Stay tuned for more stories from across the business as we continue to shine a light on life at PHX Ireland.