Accounting Technician Apprenticeship

Rathmines College has a long tradition of offering accredited Professional Accounting courses leading to excellent career opportuniities in many accounting and finance sectors
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Accounting Technician Apprenticeship

This course equips participants with the skills and knowledge to work in the Accountancy or Financial Services sector. Places are awarded via a competitive interview process, where applicants who meet the Enhanced Eligibility Criteria (see below) are put forward to participating employers for consideration. If you are successful at interview stage, your new employer will issue you with a two-year contract and you start your apprenticeship in September of each year.

You will work four days a week in an office environment, and study one day a week at Rathmines College. You will be paid a salary of at least €22,035a year, and enjoy fully-funded college tuition fees.

You will emerge from the programme with a valuable qualification, which is strengthened by two years of practical work experience in accounting and finance. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to apply for membership of ATI, the leading professional body for Accounting Technicians in Ireland and the provider of the highly sought-after MIATI designation.

Upon graduation, you will be eligible to apply for membership of ATI, the leading professional body for Accounting Technicians in Ireland and the provider of the highly sought-after MIATI designation.

 

Key Information
ATI
duration
2 Years
Full time
ATI Award
September 2022 - May 2024
Apply Now
Key Information
ATI
duration
2 Years
Full time
ATI Award
September 2022 - May 2024
Apply Now
Course requirements

The minimum eligibility criteria are as follows:

  • Leaving Certificate students and applicants under 23
    Leaving Certificate students should have at least 300 CAO points and at least an O5 grade in English and Maths or Accountancy.
  • If you are sitting your Leaving Cert, you can apply for the programme with your mock results, but any final offer will be subject to your Leaving Cert results.
  • If you undertook a PLC course after your Leaving Cert, you are considered a Previous Qualification Holder, and should provide details on your application form.
  • The levels listed below refer to the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Mature learners (23 and above) with previous qualifications. Mature learners are eligible to apply. Previous qualification holders should provide details of their qualifications during the application process.
  • Applicants with no previous qualifications.
    Where an applicant has no (formal) qualification, eligibility will be determined through a series of questions. Generally this will be done during the ATI telephone interview but it can be done in person where appropriate.
  • Enhanced Eligibility Criteria.
    All applicants should bear in mind that individual employers have the discretion to enhance the entrance criteria beyond the minimum academic standards.

Course modules

Apprentices will work at their employer’s office four days a week, and attend classes at Rathmines College one day a week. They are also given three weeks’ study leave
each year. The Diploma for Accounting Technicians is awarded upon successful completion of the programme.

Programme modules include:

  • First Year:
    » Business Management
    » Financial Accounting
    » Taxation
    » Business Law
  • Second Year:
    » Management Accounting
    » Advanced Financial Accounting
    » Advanced Taxation
    » Financial Data Management

Apprentices will work at their employer’s office four days a week, and attend classes at Rathmines College one day a week. They are also given three weeks’ study leave
each year. The Diploma for Accounting Technicians is awarded upon successful completion of the programme.

Education Progression

Maintaining a set of accounts is a fundamental element of any business from a sole trader to large multinationals.

An Accounting Technician supports all elements of accounts function, including income and expenditure, balance sheet transactions, statutory returns and payroll requirements.

The Accounting Technician is concerned with bookkeeping, and processes all accounts payable and receivable in order to prepare, or support the preparation of, periodic accounts. They record and monitor income and expenditure including accrued and deferred income.

The Accounting Technician completes regular bank reconciliations and accounts for/completes statutory returns. Regular analysis and reports are undertaken to contribute to producing accounts.

The Accounting Technician produces management accounts and supplies vital financial information as to the running of the Company. They have the ability to do costing and cost controls.

The Accounting Technician prepares company annual budgets and monitors the progress of this throughout the year. They prepare, or assist in the preparation of, company year-end financial statements.

Work Experience

  • Bookkeeping and accounting systems
  • Accounts preparation
  • Conceptual and regulatory frameworks
  • How to prepare financial statements
  • Business functions and management
  • Business ethics, CSR, Law and Corporate Governance
  • Tax Administration, Tax Management, Personal Taxation, PAYE, VAT
  • Payroll, spreadsheets and budgeting

Registered employers are operating in industry, practice and the public sector. They are offering two-year employment contracts, where Apprentices will be trained ‘on-the-job’, in every aspect of the qualification, and will be closely mentored by a qualified accounting technician or accountant.

Erasmus Programme at Rathmines College

Career Opportunites

The Accounting Technician Apprenticeship is a two-year, work-based programme that enables the participant to earn while they learn.

It is a new route to a career in professional accountancy for those who prefer practical training to a full-time college course.

It also provides new options for employees who wish to work in a finance role.

Apprentices graduate with the Diploma for Accounting Technicians, a nationally and internationally recognised qualification.

Government funding levels for the programme to be confirmed shortly.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age on or before July 1 in the year of entry.

Applicants must have a pass grade in LC English and Maths at Ordinary Level to be considered for the apprenticeship. Leaving Certificate Accountancy is not a requirement.

Apprentices commence with a two-year work contract, with wages paid by the employer. It is at the employer’s discretion to enhance the entry criteria for selection.

Apprentices work at their employer’s office four days a week and attend classes at a local college one day a week.

Apprentices earn the standard industry salary for an incoming trainee Accounting Technician.

Apprentices’ progress is monitored by mentors in both the workplace and the college.

The apprenticeship caters to a growing trend among businesses looking to school-leavers to meet an increase in activity.

Apprentices who successfully complete the programme may be eligible to progress to Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Introducing the Accounting Technician Apprenticeship
Accounting Technicians Ireland is the leading professional body for Accounting Technicians on the Island of Ireland. With offices in Dublin and Belfast, and strong links with other professional bodies such as Chartered Accountants Ireland, the organisation supplies high-calibre Accounting Technician graduates to industry, practice and the public sector. Many progress to the highest levels in their field.

The Accounting Technician Apprenticeship aims to provide young school-leavers and employees with a fast-track path to a career in accounting, which blends solid work experience with quality academic tuition.

Apprentices graduate as fully qualified Accounting Technicians, with the opportunity to progress to Level 9 studies with Chartered Accountants Ireland after just two years.

Features
‘On-the-job’ training combined with college tuition.

Students ‘earn as they learn’, taking home the full-time industry salary for an incoming trainee Accounting Technician.

Large and small accountancy practices, service firms and industry employers are taking on school leavers as apprentices.

Testimonials

The Level 5 Business and Finance course was the perfect choice for me. The course modules are extremely appropriate to so many areas of business and the teaching staff have always been very helpful and supportive. I am now really enjoying my NCI Level 8 Degree course in Business and planning on doing a H. Dip in Further Education
Roisin Kearns
Looking back on my time in Rathmines College it was a year which changed my life. I was so lucky to be successful in getting the Central Bank of Ireland Bridging the Gap Programme. Today, I am working in the Central Bank as well as studying for a BA in Business in Griffith College.
Calum Osborne
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Course Fees
Deposit
€50
Course Fee
€150
Total
€200

Exam fee & Registration fee paid directly to ACCA & IATI

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