Family, golf and perspective shape how John Healy approaches life and work. Time spent on the course and at home provides a mental reset while reinforcing the traits he brings into his profession: patience, discipline and the ability to read situations before acting. These qualities are critical to being a forensic accountant, a job involving complex financial challenges and requiring sound judgment and common sense.
The Start of a Prosperous Career
John combines restructuring expertise with forensic accounting to uncover value, resolve disputes and bring transparency to complex financial situations. His path was shaped as much by timing as ambition. He began as a trainee accountant in Mullingar just as the global financial crisis took hold and quickly shifted his focus away from traditional accounting work.
"I had not really come across insolvency before,” he says. “It was a steep learning curve but I got on with it"
He took his first insolvency appointment at 25, an unusually young age for that level of responsibility. After building experience in a boutique Dublin firm, John cofounded Kirby Healy Chartered Accountants at 30. Starting modestly, it grew into a respected practice, delivering insolvency, forensic accounting and expert witness work, including engagements for the Irish Revenue Commissioners, before being acquired by Kroll nine years later.
From Restructuring to the Courtroom
Restructuring remains central to John’s work, but his experience now involves a more specialized mix of forensic accounting and expert witness assignments. Much of his time is now spent supporting legal teams and giving evidence in court.
He also lends his expertise to forensic work in matrimonial disputes, a growing area where complex finances meet high emotional stakes. These cases can feature intricate ownership structures across multiple entities.
“You might have a marriage involving dozens of companies,” he says. “Our role is to piece everything together and distill it into a clear financial picture.”
This includes identifying hidden or undervalued assets. In some cases, there is a failure to disclose assets which on occasion are considerable. In others, interests in businesses initially undervalued have been reassessed upwards.
“It is about bringing clarity,” he says. “Assisting the Court with matters within your sphere of expertise.” Being an expert witness and giving evidence in Court is “very challenging and you can never be too well prepared”.
Kroll has strengthened this capability, providing access to specialists who support complex valuations, niche assets and cross-border structures.
A New Restructuring Landscape
John has observed gradual shifts in the restructuring business. Predictions of a sharp rise in insolvencies have not materialized. More significant is a change in behavior among invested parties, with directors, lenders and creditors engaging earlier.
“The earlier you are involved, the more effective you can be,” he says. “You are not just closing things down; you are helping preserve value and jobs.”
This has driven a rise in preventative and informal restructuring focused on stabilizing businesses before issues escalate. “Schemes of Arrangement can be very effective in restructuring businesses with legacy debts” John says.
Scaling with Kroll
Joining Kroll has been both an opportunity and an adjustment. “It was “a big decision for Myles and I to give up being independent practitioners”. Moving to working within a global organization required a shift in mindset, but it has expanded possibilities.
“The focus now is on using the platform,” he says. “Kroll allows us to pursue larger and more complex assignments.”
The global brand enhances credibility, particularly for cross-border work and institutional clients. Looking ahead, John sees continued growth in forensic accounting and expert witness work, as well as in restructuring, with assignments including fraud investigations, shareholder disputes and financial loss analyses.
Relationships, Judgment and Experience
His core approach focuses on relationships and practical decision-making. Strong connections matter, but consistent delivery is what drives long-term success.
“You need both,” he says. “Good relationships and good work.” The best form of business development is “doing a good job.”
His role often requires a careful balancing act. Many cases involve financial distress or personal conflict. “You are often dealing with difficult situations,” he explains. “You need to be decisive, but also understanding.”
Beyond the Office
Outside work, family remains a priority. With a young son at home, John values being able to switch off at the end of the day.
Golf also continues to play a central role. Playing off a handicap of seven, he travels regularly and attends events such as the Ryder Cup.
These experiences help John come to work with a clear mind, so whether working on a restructuring case or analyzing financial evidence, he can accomplish the main goal in each situation: understanding where value lies and how it can be protected or realized.
He says. “At the end of the day, it’s all about helping people reach the best possible outcome.”
