Pathways to a Career in
Accounting
J . E. C A I R N ES SC HO O L O F
B US I N ESS & EC O N O M I C S
The Professional Accountant
• A Professional Qualification – Why?
 Regulatory and legal recognition
(to conduct statutory audits under the Company Acts)*
 Professional recognition & support
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Education & training
Ongoing continuing professional development
Technical assistance & support
Supervision & oversight
Representation in matters of professional and national
interest and corporate developments
The Professional Accountant
• With Whom?
 Main Stream
 Chartered Accountants Ireland – CAI*

Accounting Technicians Ireland - ATI
 Association of Chartered Certified Accountants – ACCA*
 Institute of Certified Public Accountants – CPA*
 Institute of Incorporated Public Accountants – IIPA*
• Specialised
 Chartered Institute of Management Accountants - CIMA
 Irish Tax Institute – ITI
 Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accounting - CIPFA
Pathways to The Profession
Post LC
academic
level
Masters
Entry
Qualified
Accountant
Graduate
Entry
Post LC
Entry
Accounting
Technician
(ATI & IIPA)
Time taken
to qualify
4 to 7 years depending on entry and professional body
Note this is a ‘generalised ‘representation and there will be differing detail and variation depending on
the professional accounting body whose information web-sites should be consulted for full information
The Professional Training Requirement
•
A requirement for ‘trainees’ whatever the point of entry to
the qualification route


Professional accountancy firms (i.e. ‘BIG 4’ - KPMG, PWC,
Deloittes, Ernst & Young)
Industry and other firms
•
A ‘training contract’ is often entered into usually covering
the balance of time left to qualification
•
More flexibility with some qualifications and nonprofessional accountancy firm employments (i.e. ACCA,
CIMA, IIPA and Others)
The Professional Examinations
•
All of the professional bodies require ‘trainees’ to sit and pass a
series of professional examinations across many subject areas:








•
Financial Accounting
Management Accounting
Auditing & Assurance
Finance
Taxation
Business Law
Corporate Governance
Etc......
Trainees can be ‘exempted’ from some (never all) of the
professional examinations if they have relevant, approved,
academic examinations in cognate subject areas.
Why the Graduate Route?
•
For some the non-graduate route is more suitable
 Immediate employment is desired
 Economic necessity
 Uncertainty that the University environment will suit
Why the Graduate Route?
•
For others the graduate route is more suitable / accessible
 Immediate employment may not be possible
 A desire to explore differing domains of knowledge in a secure
environment – the university experience
 An academic qualification provides a safety net
 May want to defer a final career decision & take a general business
degree


Course choice is important
Non-core business degrees are actively pursued by some
employers – Engineering, Science, Law
 Due to employer expectations there are greater opportunities for
‘graduates’ in the job market
Degree Choice & Professional Examination
Exemptions
Course
Undertaken
Exemptions
from
Professional
Exams
Subject Choices
& Results
Degree Choice & Professional Examination
Exemptions
J. E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
NUIG
•
B. Comm - GY201
- Accounting
- Economics
- Management of Human Resources
- Business Information Systems
- Marketing
•
Gives students a strong broad spectrum business degree
•
Specialisation is not required until final year – students can wait
before deciding on career direction
•
Accounting specialisation affords students maximum
exemptions from the examinations of the professional
accountancy bodies

equal to or exceeding all other Irish University general business degrees *
* Handout Available
Degree Choice & Professional Examination
Exemptions
J. E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
NUIG
•
B. Comm (Accounting) – GY207 - Specialist Accounting Degree
•
Gives students a strong accounting business degree with full
immersion in accounting and accounting related subjects from
day one
•
Suitable for students who have decided that they wish to pursue
a career in accounting
•
Smaller class size – more intimate – greater visibility & attention
•
For all professional accountancy bodies equals or exceeds the
exemptions that are available from general or specialised
degrees in all of the other Irish universities*
* Handout Available
Degree Choice & Professional Examination
Exemptions
J. E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
NUIG
•
B. Comm (International) – GY202/3/4
•
– General business degree with a language
•
Gives students a strong broad spectrum business degree
– language is a core element
•
Students can still pursue a career in accounting, however,
they will have less exemptions from the examinations of
the professional accountancy bodies
Exemption Comparison At a Glance
University Courses
ACCA
Based on course in the university affording the greatest exemptions
(handout available)
Exemption Comparison At a Glance
University Courses
CIMA
Based on course in the university affording the greatest exemptions
(handout available)
Exemption Comparison At a Glance
University Courses
CAI
Based on course in the university affording the greatest exemptions
(handout available)
Exemptions - ITs
All of the Institutes of Technology have business accounting
courses that will gain significant exemptions form the professional
examinations (See Handout)
With the exception of the BA – Accounting at Carlow Institute of
Technology, the B. Comm (Accounting) at the J. E. Cairnes School of
Business & Economics will provide students with greater exemptions
from the examinations of the professional accountancy bodies.
Masters of Accounting
•
After completing a degree specialising in accounting
students may opt to complete a one year Masters.
•
There are many Masters of Accounting programmes
available from third level Institutions with comparable
exemptions from the examinations of the professional
accountancy bodies.
 Usually gives exemption from all bar the final level of examinations
of the professional accountancy bodies
 For some bodies (i.e. CAI) students will still have to complete a
training contract (3 years)
Where do our Graduates Go?
2013 Graduates
(Stats based on valid responses to survey)
•
B. Comm (Accounting) – GY207


40% - Training Contract with Accounting Firm
57% - Into a Masters of Accounting (Majority – NUIG)


•
95% - Training Contract/Employment from our Masters
Programme
3% - Other
B. Comm – Accounting Specialisation – GY201

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46% - Training Contract with Accounting Firm
50% - Further Study/Training (significant numbers in Masters Programmes)
4% - Other
Careers
Professional Accountancy & Consulting
Careers
Industry &
Commerce
Non- Profit
Sector
Public Service
Education