Accenture’s Paraic Rattigan explores his role as an infrastructure and capital projects manager in a space that looks vastly different to when he first started out.
“I’ve always been interested in engineering and the built environment and enjoyed solving technical problems,” explained Paraic Rattigan, an infrastructure and capital projects manager at Accenture.
He told SiliconRepublic.com that, as was common with his generation growing up in Ireland, he saw first-hand the career opportunities created during the building boom of the Celtic Tiger – leading him to pursue civil engineering studies.
“I did my undergraduate degree in civil engineering at UCD, back when the faculty was one of the few remaining based in Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin. I was relatively young when I finished my undergrad and was enjoying student life, so I opted to pursue a postgraduate degree immediately after and eventually graduated with a PhD.”
What educational and work experiences led you to the role you have now?
Since then, I have worked for international engineering consultancy firms, both in Ireland and in Canada. During my time in Canada, I felt the urge to broaden my professional knowledge, so I pursued an MBA at the University of British Columbia and moved into more strategy and consulting-type roles.
Eventually the draw to return to Ireland proved too strong and I moved back with my partner (now wife) Jackie in 2019. Since settling back in Ireland, I have held public sector roles supporting research, policy and economic development, across sectors such as renewable energy, transportation, sustainability and manufacturing. I joined Accenture’s growing Infrastructure and Capital Projects team in early 2024.
What were the biggest surprises or challenges you encountered on your career path and how did you deal with them?
I think the diversity and breadth of the roles required to deliver large capital projects was something many, including myself, underestimated.
It requires moving from a narrow perspective that focuses on engineers, architects and contractors, to an understanding that to successfully deliver large infrastructure requires an experienced community of practitioners including legal, commercial, governance, technology, alongside the more traditional construction professionals and trades. I think the role and importance of local and national government, from a long-term strategic, planning, policy and budgetary perspective is commonly underestimated in the delivery of long-term major projects and programmes, although this now seems to be changing.
Also, looking back, the scale and speed of technological advancement across society and the workplace is remarkable.
When I started in UCD, mobile phones were only just becoming commonplace and laptops were a rarity at undergraduate level, but within a few short years they were the norm and quickly became essential from both personal and business perspectives.
Since then, it seems like every few years there is a change in ways of working, from a pivot to digital tools, through to cloud solutions, to hybrid and remote working and now the adoption of artificial intelligence. The modern workforce must be much more agile and open to change and disruption.
What do you enjoy about your job?
Construction has traditionally been a slow adopter of technology and project teams are often cited as the barrier to change. But the reality is that complex projects come with significant time and cost pressures.
What’s exciting now is that a tipping point is being reached, where building more quickly, more sustainably and with greater control means any efficiency advantage really counts. Accenture has embraced that shift, combining its history of tech delivery and digital transformation with specialist capital project expertise and being part of that effort to reinvent the construction sector is what I find most energising about my role.
What aspects of your personality do you feel make you suited to this job?
Since no two days or assignments are ever the same, having the ability to solve problems, be organised and understand how to prioritise tasks is particularly beneficial. I also take a logical approach to most projects and like to work back from the intended outcome and plan accordingly.
Complex problems need to be broken down early into component parts, otherwise they can quickly become overwhelming. My career to date has taught me that an up-front investment in planning (no matter how small the task), alongside adequate interim check-points, tends to pay off in the long run.
How did your current company support you on your career path?
There are always interesting opportunities, whether that be in areas in which I’m already experienced or in new emerging areas.
Since joining Accenture, I’ve been involved in projects across energy generation and transmission, transportation, healthcare and most recently data centres. I have benefited greatly from working alongside international industry experts across these projects. Also, I think that hybrid working has been a game-changer for many including myself. Living outside the Dublin commuter belt and with a young family, the ability to work seamlessly with our local and international teams has been a big plus for me.
What advice would you give to those considering a career in this area, or just starting out in one?
Be curious, ask questions and do your research. There are so many diverse and interesting skillsets required to deliver capital projects and with such strong current demand there really is an opportunity in the sector for everyone, regardless of where you see your strengths or interests.
Also, remember that careers are never linear or pre-determined. I constantly meet people from a variety of backgrounds and educational pathways who have evolved and changed direction multiple times before ending up in a role they love. Most importantly, be proactive about shaping the direction of your own career. Like life, your career is a journey, not a destination.
Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login