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What is the best way to become an accountant in Ireland?

  • 18-04-2025 11:56PM
    #1
    Studygal100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 ✭


    Hi, I’m 17 and I’m very interested in becoming an accountant after school. I’m just wondering, what would be the best route to take to become an accountant in Ireland?

    Post edited by Big Bag of Chips on
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Best Answer

  • #1
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,587 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    Do an accounting degree in university, then join one of the associations (ACCA, Chartered Accountants Ireland) etc and complete the professional papers.

    Understand the difference between working at an accounting firm vs in industry or public service.

    I did the above: BSc in accounting and finance from DIT, joined ACCA, worked in industry (a retail company head office), not in an accounting firm (because IMHO they're all c*nts).

    ACCA is a better bet due to the ability to complete it anywhere in the world and its international relevance, if you want to travel elsewhere. I did 50% in Ireland and completed the rest from NZ.



Answers

  • #2
    frank1044
    Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭frank1044


    Work hard in college and get yourself into a Big 4 firm in a group that has as broad a client base as possible and go through Chartered Accounting exams over a number of years while working. When you pass final exams then you can join the association as a member.

    After 3-4 years you’ll hopefully have seen a huge amount of different industries, technical accounting topics, financing arrangements, transactions etc. that you can continue on the road you’re on or be able to shift into any one of 5-10 different industry routes.. operational roles, technical, controllership, finance etc. Big 4 will help immensely if you want to travel but any of the Top 10 will be a great learning ground.

    Alternative is to go into industry straight from college and work for the same company doing similar things to start your career…


    good luck!



  • #3
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,801 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123370483#Comment_123370483

    You'd be very unlikely to get even a quarter of the experience described here in a big four during a training contract….



  • #4
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,801 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123370479#Comment_123370479

    Bias showing just a little bit….

    It does not matter which of the main accounting bodies you join, it will make very little difference five years after qualifying. As for international recognition, the Charter Accounting qualification is very widely known around the world and more importantly it has very good mutual recognition it most of the well know professional bodies and the world. Including for instance the write to directly take the CPA licence exams and practice in the US.

    On of the great advantages of training in an accounting office is that it will have a more structured and supervised approach to training, something you obviously did not experience. And that is something that should not be over looked as you can be sure you will obtain all the necessary experience to qualify after completing the training contract.



  • #5
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,801 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058406742/what-is-the-best-way-to-become-an-accountant-in-ireland

    At 17 or 18 you are far too young to be making such a decision and certainly far to young to specialise to that extent. People qualify as accountants from all kinds of academic backgrounds - science, arts, law, commerce etc… what is important is that you can demonstrate a solid track record of academic achievement. So I'd say don't do an accounting degree, get yourself a broad college education - a couple of business subjects, arts perhaps a language etc, you may well discover something else that may be far more interesting…

    Yes I qualified as an accountant, did the whole big 4 thing, got all the bells and whistles and then resigned because I found it as interesting as watching paint dry! And so did all but one of the 20+ people I started out with. Don't get me wrong, it is a very good qualification and has served me well over the past 35+ years, it's just that work itself… As I said most of the people I started out with found more interesting things to do - sheep farming, performing arts, oil and gas exploration etc… (I finished at 55 consulting in Private Banking in Zurich)

    For me the bottom line - keep your options open, get a good broad education and then decide later what you want to do about accounting.



  • #6
    Studygal100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 ✭Studygal100


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123370479#Comment_123370479

    Thank you this was very helpful. I’m just wondering when you start working with a accounting firm do you get paid?



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  • #7
    Avatar in the Post
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 646 ✭✭✭Avatar in the Post


    I’m ACCA, or a Fellow Chartered & Certified Accountant.

    What with AI we live in interesting times. The big 4 firms (talk to a partner in private, and they’ll tell you) are more and more interested in consultants. Yes, some will be accountants, but they want engineers, IT professionals and even doctors.

    If training with the big four in Ireland you need (for now) to go through the CA route. This usually means audit/tax work. But, in time, for consultants (including accountants) it’s your wider skills and experience that will matter. Can you communicate, be a “salesperson”, network, be innovative, manage people, negotiate. Be IT literate. For specific industries being an engineer for eg will be far more important.

    Yes, you will be paid while training. The Big 4/6 will pay better in that regard.

    Would I train again as an accountant? Possibly, but I got into management as soon as my career allowed.

    Preparing accounts/audit work is very much at risk from AI.

    You don’t need to do a degree to get a training contract. But, the roundness it gives/and networking may be an advantage.



  • #8
    lmcwh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17 ✭lmcwh


    you could take the apprenticeship route. 2 years of College one day and paid work the other 4. Then it takes 3 more years to be a ACA or you can do ACCA at your leisure.

    Look up general apprenticeship website.



  • #9
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,587 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123370748#Comment_123370748

    Why would you work anywhere that didn't pay you?



  • #10
    DubCount
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,117 ✭✭✭DubCount


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123370748#Comment_123370748

    It is possible to get a job immediately from school and do all of your accounting qualification exams at night. This would mean you would be paid immediately, but its not advisable IMHO. Professional Accounting Exams are very difficult. I have met very few people who have managed this route.

    The alternative is to do a Degree first. If you do that full time, you wont be getting paid, but you might be able to do a part-time job etc. to get some income. When you are finished your degree, you can get an accounting related job, and do your professional accounting exams at night at that point. Being a bit older and having more background knowledge from your degree, will make the qualification much more obtainable.

    Its really a matter of choice whether you go Chartered, Certified of CIMA. All are highly regarded. Chartered is usually done in an Accounting Practice. The pay for trainees is terrible, but you are likely to get more study leave which certainly helps. Overall, its a choice you dont need to make until the final year of your degree.

    Good Luck !!



  • #11
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,801 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123373262#Comment_123373262

    If you intend to practice in your own right, this would be fine, but if you intend to make it in finace/commerce/industry you should get a degree. Most MNCs etc have a standard profile for their positons which include having at least a primary degree… which means someone in corporate HR that does not know you has an opportunity to veto promotions etc…



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  • #12
    kc78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47 ✭kc78


    Its hard going having to work during the day and study at night, if I could go back in time I would have gone with the course that gave me the most exemptions. This one is worth a look, I don't know anything about it (didn't even know Athlone IT changed its name) but up to 9 exemptions with ACCA

    https://tus.ie/courses/us847/



  • #13
    Cyrus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,805 ✭✭✭✭Cyrus


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058406742/what-is-the-best-way-to-become-an-accountant-in-ireland

    if you want to maximise your earning potential the best route is:

    - do a good leaving cert

    - get into a good BComm or Business and law degree in a university

    - Get a training contract at a big 4 firm (ideally in Dublin) starting salary mid 20s should be near 50 after 3.5 years once you pass your exams.

    - Go into industry once qualified



  • #14
    AnnieinDundrum
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 270 ✭✭AnnieinDundrum


    have a look here. Talk to your careeer guidance teacher at school. Attend 3rd level career fairs. Higher options I think it’s called now.


    https://www.charteredaccountants.ie/become-a-chartered-accountant



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