Accounting technician

Daughter interested in taking this couyse
She is mature student and will study part time

Has anyone experience of course and future career options

She is currently middle manager in civil service

A relation did it a few years ago in one of the VECs. I believe you can then go on to Accountancy in university if you get high enough marks. As she is already a 'middle manager in civil service' it may not pay much, but more than than an accounting technician earns.
Then again, Accounting Technicians have gone on become Minister of Finance and Taoiseach.

Ask in work if they’ll provide assistance.
There is growing interest in professional financial skills in the public sector so it could be a good start.

You don’t progress to accountancy in university (unless you want to of course) but you can progress to professional accountancy straight from accounting technician. By passing the need to go to uni to do a primary degree.

If she contacts Accounting Technicians Ireland they can help her work out the route and what it might lead to. The courses start this month so if she wants to start she’d best get a wiggle on.

You can do online or in persons courses. There are lots of public sector staff doing these courses and there is also a diploma in public sector finance which might be useful further down the line.

The fees are outlined on their website, college fees vary I understand, the institute don’t run courses, and she may be able to get work to pay a subsidy and she may also be able to get tax relief on the costs.

Depending on where you live local techs run courses but online might suit her. It can be useful to have a peer group via a college to provide support as studying alone can be hard.

AITI are really helpful if she calls them. And definitely ask at work for financial assistance and time off to study and sit exams.

PS I know there are quite a few qualified accountants in the civil service so worth her while asking around, she might find some support and advice there.

Jumpstartdublin said:

Daughter interested in taking this couyse
She is mature student and will study part time

Has anyone experience of course and future career options

She is currently middle manager in civil service

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Depends where she sees her future. An accounting qualification will have limited usefulness in the civil service. Accountants in the CS occupy specialist grades and have limited promotion opportunities relative to generalist civil servants. There are better options for education and development that would be more appropriate to career civil servants.

If she’s looking for an alternative career completely, that’s another matter. There are others who attest to the usefulness of an accounting technician qualification in the context of professional advancement.

With new accounting régime coming into the public sector in the next couple of years there will be an increased demand for accounting skills.
While the civil service traditionally relies on people reading into the new job that won’t work when accounting moves into the realm of double entry and internationally recognised accounting standards.

Annieindublin said:

With new accounting régime coming into the public sector in the next couple of years there will be an increased demand for accounting skills.
While the civil service traditionally relies on people reading into the new job that won’t work when accounting moves into the realm of double entry and internationally recognised accounting standards.

Central Government Accounting Standards (CGAS)

www.gov.ie

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There have always been specialist roles in the civil service and these will doubtless increase including for the reasons quoted.

However, these roles offer a narrower scope for progression relative to generalist roles.

Jumpstartdublin said:

Daughter interested in taking this couyse
She is mature student and will study part time

Has anyone experience of course and future career options

She is currently middle manager in civil service

Click to expand...

does she have a university degree, perhaps she would better pursuing a full qualification, an accounting technician is probably a junior position to her current role.

Does she want to become an accounting technician or is she more interested in getting a skill and a qualification that will help her in her current career is the first question I'd be asking

Accounting technician's is junior, she won't get a role as an auditor or full scale accountant but it may be a step towards those qualifications

Amazing feedback everyone

You are all so kind and great comments

Two elements
1. To get a specialist qualification is a personal ambition for her
2 potential career and post retirement / self employment part time jobs

I had similar plans for part-time post retirement jobs and did this course about 20 years ago wihile working full time. I enjoyed it and didn't find it particularly difficult or time-consuming. She has probably covered some of the material in various training courses already and if this course appeals to her, I would definitely recommend it. If she wants to continue to an accountancy qualification, she can, probably with some exemptions. .

Accounting technicians are paid very little, but must be employed in a suitable role to gain experience and complete the qualification. It's not just exams that are required. Would this be a hitch in the plan?
Once that qualification is gained it is possible to study further with Accounting or Tax bodies and work part-time or be self-employed with the qualifications.

Gervan said:

Accounting technicians are paid very little, but must be employed in a suitable role to gain experience and complete the qualification. It's not just exams that are required. Would this be a hitch in the plan?
Once that qualification is gained it is possible to study further with Accounting or Tax bodies and work part-time or be self-employed with the qualifications.

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Good advice there.

The AT qualification won’t in itself provide the skills or experience necessary for a post-retirement gig.

Can I just offer that from my own experience, any post retirement gig should draw on something you’re good at and interested in. Anything less is just more of the same.

Blackrock1 said:

does she have a university degree, perhaps she would better pursuing a full qualification, an accounting technician is probably a junior position to her current role.

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This. Maybe a BA in accounting, or Accounting & finance - 3 years, Level 8, is another path to consider. There are online options available. That category of degree will also give very generous exemptions from all the professional accountancy bodies.

Thanks everyone - great comments and life experiences.

Yes next stage is BA accounting

One day at a time

One is correct - course relatively easy and interesting too. Also good to keep the brain active and subject matter she likes too.

At least her own tax matters will always be up to date and tax efficient