Richelle Manning, Investor Relations and Credit Rating Manager at ESB, tells us about her career path, passion for decarbonisation and climate action, and plans for the future.
Richelle Manning, FCA, is Investor Relations and Credit Rating Manager at ESB. Manning joined the semi-state energy utility in 2014 having trained in KPMG’s Restructuring and Forensics Department and remaining with the firm for a further three years. She grew up in Kells, Co. Meath, and has a degree in business and legal studies from UCD and a Master of Accountancy from UCD Smurfit School. She is a member of the board and treasurer at Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services.
Tell us a bit about yourself, and when and why you decided to become a Chartered Accountant?
Both my parents worked outside the home when I was growing up, and they always emphasised the importance of finding a career I would truly enjoy and that would give me the freedom to do anything I wanted in life.
While at secondary school, I was also fortunate to have a very inspirational business and accountancy teacher, Ms Bird, whom I admired greatly. I think it was her influence, coupled with my parents’ guidance, that led me to pursue a career as a Chartered Accountant.
It is a profession that offers many opportunities to work in a wide range of areas and in different parts of the world, providing a solid foundation for significant professional growth.
Has your career unfolded as you anticipated or were there some surprises along the way?
I wasn’t organised enough to have a career plan, but I knew coming out of college that I would like to undertake a graduate programme with a large accountancy practice, focusing on the restructuring area.
I liked the idea of helping struggling businesses to formulate turnaround strategies to help them find success and profitability again.
The years I spent working at KPMG were some of the best of my career. I had the opportunity to support some of the biggest Irish and international companies across a wide range of industries and gained firsthand insight into the challenges management teams and businesses can face.
I then joined ESB Group and continue to enjoy fantastic opportunities working across all areas of the energy industry.
The decarbonisation of the energy industry in Ireland is a key enabler for the transition to a net zero future for Ireland.
While this wasn’t something I was thinking about when I joined ESB Group, it is one of the reasons I have stayed here for 10 years.
I am deeply committed to the vision outlined in our Net Zero by 2040 strategy and I am driven by the actions I can take to help achieve this goal.
I have always been open to accepting new opportunities as they arise, and this has led to me meeting some truly inspirational people, working on projects I could never have envisaged and being successful in my career.
What does your role as ESB’s Investor Relations and Credit Rating Manager involve day-to-day?
My role is ultimately about sharing ESB’s vision, strategic ambitions and financial results with our investors and credit rating agencies.
As a semi-state entity, ESB relies solely on debt investors for external funding to finance our extensive capital investment programme as we work towards decarbonising the electricity sector in Ireland. Maintaining our credit rating of A- is therefore critical to ensuring we have access to the bond markets.
No day is the same – my role offers lots of variety. I spend a lot of time meeting with investors and discussing ESB, its net zero goals and the associated funding required to achieve those goals.
In recent years, we have seen investor interest extend beyond our financial results to encompass our sustainability goals, progress and achievements.
In 2024, investors have been particularly interested in our plans for reporting under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, and in our two recent publications outlining ESB’s sustainability leadership plans and pathway to net zero.
I also work quite closely with colleagues internally, providing advice and guidance on our credit rating and investor requirements, and assessing and advising on the implications of certain transactions from a credit rating and investor perspective.
Are you glad you made the decision to qualify as a Chartered Accountant?
Yes. The Chartered Accountant qualification is highly regarded in Ireland and worldwide. I found the training prior to qualification and subsequently, through continuing professional development, both relevant and informative. It has helped me to build the capability and skills needed to succeed as new challenges arise.
Among the people you have worked with over the years, who has been your biggest inspiration?
I have been lucky enough to work with some wonderful people throughout my career who have inspired me and whom I very much admire. I have also had mentors and coaches who have provided inspiration and guidance, especially at times of big transitions in my life such as returning from maternity leave, undertaking new roles and seeking promotions.
I am quite passionate about the impact mentoring can have in helping individuals achieve professional success.
I currently manage the finance mentoring programme at ESB, an award-winning scheme that helps finance professionals build the capability and skills to achieve their career goals.
One of the most important lessons I have learned over the years is the importance of building relationships. Success is achieved through working with people. Significant changes are underway in the energy industry right now and it is only by working together, with an open mind and a willingness to learn, that we will be able to deliver what is required to meet our net zero goals.
How has the role of the Chartered Accountant evolved since you joined the profession?
At ESB, we have Chartered Accountants working in all areas of the business – not just on the finance team. Chartered Accountants are seen as strategic advisors, commercially focused and thoughtful leaders who can provide insights and guidance on a wide range of topics.
The Chartered Accountancy qualification is a great foundation for any career. It helps to build skills that can be used across a range of business areas.
What advice can you offer ACAs starting out on their career path today?
The best advice I can give is to be open to exploring new opportunities and experiences as they arise. Building a strong support network is also key to success.
Who do you admire most right now in business or public life?
I remember the election of Mary Robinson as the first female President of Ireland. Even as a child, I was aware of how she had rocked the system and the positive impact she had on women in Ireland and globally.
Throughout her life, she has used her position to highlight issues like domestic violence, lobbied for women’s rights and held perpetrators of human rights abuses to account.
Today, Mary Robinson continues to use her voice and platform as an advocate against climate change through her role in Project Dandelion, a woman-led initiative addressing climate change.
Her strong commitment to women’s rights, human rights and to addressing climate change, specifically from a female perspective, really resonate with me. I see her as a great role model.
What are your plans and ambitions for 2025?
I have two key focus areas for 2025: sustainability and artificial intelligence (AI).
I have committed to taking part in the ESB Sustainability Navigator Programme, an initiative aimed at creating a culture of sustainability leadership throughout the organisation and I am looking forward to growing my knowledge in this area.
On the AI front, ESB was one of the first companies in Europe to deploy copilot for Microsoft 365 and I am hoping to enhance my learning and use of this platform throughout 2025.
This will hopefully help me to focus on high-value activities and improve knowledge-sharing and collaboration within my teams.
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