The Accounting Technician Apprenticeship, launched in September 2017, is an exciting and innovative new route to accountancy. Graduates of this programme will be fully qualified Accounting Technicians with two years solid work experience and a pathway open to become a fully qualified accountant. This is an alternative route to university studies for school leavers and mature students. 

Overview of the Accounting Technician Apprenticeship

• Practical and fully funded programme that pays you a minimum of €17,797 as you work to achieve a Level 6 QQI Advanced Certificate Award over a two-year programme.
• Apprentices work four days a week with an employer in the industry practice or the public sector, and study one day a week in a participating college.
• Work placement allows you to get solid on the ground training where you can put your work into practice with mentor support.
• You graduate as a fully qualified Accounting Technician with two years’ work experience.
• You have the option of further study and training as a fully qualified accountant. You will qualify for some exemptions on professional body accountancy exams such as Chartered Accountants Ireland, ACCA and CPA.

 So why choose this new path over the more traditional route?

1. No college fees.
2. Earn money while you study.
3. Gain work experience.
4. Suits practical students who thrive when they put their learning into practice.
5. Also offers you the opportunity to train to be a fully qualified accountant and offers exemptions from professional accountancy exams (as offered to graduates of most Level 8 Accountancy courses.)

How does Accountancy Fare on the Labour Market?

Qualified and part qualified accountants are currently in-demand, particularly in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing and energy industries, as are accountants with experience in insolvency and forensics. There is also a steady demand for compliance and risk professionals. According to the National Skills Bulletin 2017 talent was sourced from abroad to fill accounting positions showing a real skills shortage in this area.

The future demand for business and financial skills is likely to be particularly affected by the impact of Brexit. On the one hand, numerous financial institutions are expanding their business or setting up in Ireland, including JP Morgan, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs, with IDA announcing in July 2017 that they have secured deals with more than a dozen London-based banks and finance houses to move some of their operations to Dublin in preparation for Brexit42. On the other hand, a report by the Department of Finance (2016) states that insurance/financial services are one of the three services sectors considered to be the most exposed in terms of exports to the UK. As such, the overall impact on skills requirements in the financial sector is yet unclear.

Tempted to find out more? Click here to learn more about the Accounting Technician Apprenticeship.  

To register your interest in this apprenticeship click here.

Image sourced from www.accountingtechniciansapprenticeship.ie

The CareersPortal Team