22 July 2019
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Kate O’Neill, Conor Fogarty, Ciaran Brennan, Sinead O’Beirne, Gabrielle O’Reilly and Caoimhe McCrossan at the launch of the Diploma For Accounting Technicians for 2019. Pic: Fintan Clarke.
South of Ireland-based potential students can explore the fastest pathway to a professional accounting career through the Diploma For Accounting Technicians at an upcoming open day in Cork.
The Accounting Technicians Ireland (ATI’s) qualification, offered full or part-time, is open to the countless number of people who have been working in industry or small practice firms for years, but have no formal training, school and college leavers and mature students.
Over 70 colleges around the country offer ATI’s flexible courses which allow students to obtain this professional qualification in as little as two years. Online courses are also available.
The accounting qualification provides access to employment opportunities for a broad range of accounting and finance roles and will enable students to further progress to senior financial management posts.
An open information session for potential students and employers will be held at Cork Training Centre, Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown on Tuesday, August 6 between 12.30-4.00pm.
Places must be booked in advance on numbersindna.ie/events or by searching for the event on Eventbrite.
Accounting Technicians are qualified accounting professionals that work at all levels of finance throughout the private and public sector, industry and commerce and in accountancy practices.
Accounting Technicians can perform a wide range of finance roles, from accounts staff to financial controller and beyond.
For instance, they can do financial accounting and budgeting, costing and credit control, payroll administration and tax returns.
More experienced Accounting Technicians may often perform senior managerial tasks and audits.
The two-year Diploma for Accounting Technicians programme is also the first step to a full qualification in accountancy.
“This is a pan-sectoral qualification which meets the needs of industry, practice and the public sector, and graduates enjoy exemptions from the full range of professional accountancy bodies including Chartered Accountants Ireland, ACCA, CPA, CIMA as well as Higher Education third level accounting programmes,” said Gillian Doherty, ATI’s Chief Operations Officer.
“A recent analysis of the labour market by the National Skills Bulletin has confirmed a continuing high demand for accounting technician skills.
“We will be discussing skills to advance with employers at the Open Days, and other vehicles by which their staff can lend more benefit to their respective organisations by attaining our qualifications.
“Many businesses finance the programme for potential Accounting Technicians – recognising the benefits of having a qualified technician run the financial side of the business while the owner develops the entrepreneurial end.”
