Finance - Accounting Technician - Apprenticeship
The Accounting Technician Apprenticeship is a two-year, work-based learning programme which leads to a Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Accounting.
| Award Name | Level 6 Advanced Certificate (Level 6 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | QQI |
| NFQ Level | Level 6 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 6 Advanced Certificate (Level 6 NFQ) | Major | QQI | Level 6 NFQ |
Duration
2 years
Entry Requirements
Eligibility Criteria
The minimum eligibility criteria are as follows:
Leaving Cert students and applicants under 23
Leaving Certificate students 2019 and 2020 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 in June 2020, you can apply for the programme with your mock results, but any final offer will be subject to your Leaving Cert results.
For applicants aged under 23 who sat the Leaving Cert in 2015, 2016 or 2017, this is 300 CAO points and a D3 in Ordinary Level English and Maths of Accountants.
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. See the Previous Qualification Holder Eligibility Guide below.
The levels listed below refer to the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) in the Republic of Ireland.
Level of Qualification Non-Accounting Related Qualification Accounting-Related Qualification
Level 4 or lower Not Eligible Not Eligible
Level 5 Eligible Eligible
Level 6 Eligible Not Eligible
Level 7 or higher Eligible Not Eligible
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.
Further information
September 2024
If you would like to become an Accounting Technician Apprenticeship in September 2024, please visit www.accountingtechnicianapprenticeship.ie to read:
The full Accounting Technician Occupational Profile
The detailed Recruitment Process
The full Eligibility Guide and Application Advice
Browse and download the ATI Applicant Information Guide and the Employer Information Guide.
Then complete the Online Application, carefully following the instructions.
ATI will follow up on your application directly.
The Accounting Technician Apprenticeship is a two-year, work-based learning programme which leads to a Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Accounting.
Places are awarded via a competitive interview process, where applicants who meet the minimum 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 2024.
You will work four days a week in an office environment, and study one day a week at Monaghan Institute. You will be paid a salary of at least €24,765 a 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.
What does an Accounting Technician do?
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.
Is this programme for me?
Motivation
Firstly, you should have a clear motivation to become an Accounting Technician and develop a career in accountancy. It is important to consider why you are interested in the programme, and what is it about accounting that appeals to you as a career path!
To succeed at interview stage, you must also be able to demonstrate:
Motivation to learn and achieve.
Dedicated class and work attendance.
Proficient time management.
Reliability when on the job.
Professional etiquette.
Ability to work as part of a team and use your own initiative
The Accounting Technician Apprenticeship programme is a practical pathway to a career in Accounting where apprentices are mentored through a two-year work-based learning education training programme.
The duration of this programme is two years from the commencement date in September 2024. You should be able to commit to completing the programme syllabus while working in full-time employment over the two years.
You will be attending off-the-job training at college one day and working with an employer four days during college term time (on-the-job training) on a weekly basis. Outside of college term, you will be working five days a week.
For the FIRST YEAR in college the Stage One modules an apprentice will be studying are:
Financial Accounting
Taxation
Business Law
Business Management
For the SECOND YEAR in college the Stage Two modules an apprentice will be studying are:
Advanced Financial Accounting
Advanced Taxation
Management Accounting
Financial Data Management
For each module studied the assessment will include the combination of written examinations and the completion of four approved work-based tasks per year.
Exams will take place in May each year with an option for any repeats required to be completed in August.
Throughout the two years an apprentice will be supported by a college mentor and a workplace mentor assigned by their employer to oversee and support them with their on the job training.
Additional home study in the evenings or at the weekend will be needed to ensure success for this programme.
This national programme leads to a Level 6 QQI Advanced Certificate in Accounting and provides exemptions from professional accountancy bodies and relevant third level colleges to complete further studies.
The Accounting Technician Apprenticeship provides exemptions upon programme completion from professional accountancy bodies and relevant third level colleges to complete further studies. To to https://www.accountingtechniciansireland.ie/images/uploads/general/Progression_Routes_-_Accounting_Technician_Apprenticeship.pdf to download the range of progression routes.
Many apprenticeship employers will aim to retain their apprentice in employment following completion of the programme.
Regardless Accounting Technician apprentice’s skillsets are always required across all sectors so graduates are developing their career for the future.
For further information or any queries. You can contact the ATI Apprenticeship Team by: Telephone: 01 6498198
Email: apprenticeship@accountingtechniciansireland.ie