Accounting & FinanceCuntasaíocht ┐Airgeadas

Appropriate Level 6 award (120 higher credits), or an equivalent, in a related area. 

AND 

Proof of foundation exams held with either ACCA, CPA or ATI. 

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website.

• Semester 1 - approximately 20 contact hours scheduled Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm.
• Semester 2 - Placement 5 days per week with employer (or) 2 days on campus modules with indepenent study over the other days. 

Course Description

In semester 1 Modules are focused on core Financial Reporting, Taxation, Auditing, and Finance and complimented with strong digital skills. 

In semester 2, students can choose to either go on a relevant work placement for 12 weeks or take an alternative suite of modules including AIS and Disruptive technologies and an Industry Case Study.  

The quality of core modules are evidenced in the generous exemptions from the professional accountancy bodies. These core skills are complimented with: 

(a) a suite of digital skills where the student is introduced to accounting, payroll and reporting software, computer assisted audit techniques and the opportunity to gain professional excel accreditation.  Alongside these practical skills the module places an emphasis on cyber security and the emerging technologies that are shaping the role of the accountant, with the key message being  technology is changing the role of the accountant, not replacing it.;

and 

(b) broader professional skills in the form of professional business ethics and a module dedicated to professional communication and work placement preparation. The student will take part in our employability series where we will assist them in the preparation of their C.V., linked-in profile and interview skills as well as exposing them to events around employability, personal branding and the opportunity to listen to guest speakers in the industry. 

Module & Assessment Breakdown:
View a visual summary of the module map, credits and assessment breakdown: Module Map AF Programme Visual Summary TU785

This level 7 programme leaves its graduate employment ready, excellently placed with respect to professional accountancy exemptions and with a strong suite of industry relevant IT skills. The market for accountants has always been strong, with growth in key areas such as Fin-tech and sustainable reporting.  Financial activities were up by 13% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2021 (Regional Skills Dublin 2022).  

A survey by Barden recruitment agency (Barden 2020), found that 95% of accountants were employed, with 51% having been promoted in the last 3 years.  ACCA’s career website currently has 500 jobs open for trainee and qualified accountants in Ireland.  Accountants have become not just finance business partners but also key advisors on major business decisions, making them an essential part of the growth of SMEs, who represent 99.8% of the total number of enterprises in Ireland.  

Sustainability measures need to be reported on and as accountants are the main reporters of business performance, they are leading the way in developing solutions and standards for identifying and measuring key sustainability indicators. The next generation of accountants will drive the evolution of sustainability reporting.  

Advanced Entry applications are accepted to this course. For further information on how to make an Advanced Entry application, please visit our CAO Hub.  A full list of courses open for Advanced Entry is detailed on the CAO website. 

Small classes, excellent lecturers and a well-balanced course structure combine to create a high-quality learning environment delivering content relevant to professional employer demands. Lecturers are extremely approachable and supportive, which fosters an environment in which students can reach their full potential and accelerate their professional career. I would highly recommend the course to all those who are interested in accounting and aiming to undertake professional accounting exams.

This course prepares each individual student for the workplace, by giving particular attention to the skills that they would need to become a successful accountant. The lecturers are approachable and take time out of their day to help any students with any queries they may have. The content of the course aligns with the professional accounting bodies and in turn this gives a greater degree of preparation than most other accounting courses. 

At final year level, the lecturers are involved in preparing every student for the workplace before they complete the course in May, and are always on hand to offer advice when needed.

On successful completion of the programme, grades permitting, the student will have gained 2 additional ACCA and 2 CPA professional exam exemptions and have the opportunity to progress to level 8 Honours Degree in Accounting and Finance (The level 8 programme provides a total of 9 ACCA exemptions, 10 CIMA, 10 CPA and be exempt from CAP 1 of the Chartered Accountancy exams, as well as exemptions with the Institute of Tax).