Donegal ETB graduates count themselves fortunate to find dream careers

A group of Donegal graduates have revealed how a funded training course with Accounting Technicians Ireland (ATI) has led them to success in their dream career.

Donegal Education & Training Board (ETB) in Letterkenny is one of 70 colleges in Ireland offering ATI’s flexible courses, which allow learners to obtain the Diploma for Accounting Technicians in as little as two years.

Dozens of graduates in Donegal have completed the qualification through the ETB’s full-time, funded training programme, with many declaring that it was their best career decision.

Una Lynch (34) from Muff now works as the accounts manager in McGrory’s Hotel, Culdaff after taking the ATI course, which she describes as being second to none.

“I studied the course between 2011 and 2013 and it was brilliant. It was the best thing I ever did,” said Una.

“I already had a degree in another area but this course was so practical. I still use absolutely everything I learned in college in my job today.

“Qualifying as an accounting technician was most definitely the starting point of my whole career and I have never looked back.”

Accounting Technicians are qualified accounting professionals that work at all levels of finance throughout the private and public sector, industry and commerce and in accountancy practices.

ATI’s courses are open to school and college leavers, mature students and those who have been working in industry or small practice firms for years, but have no formal training.

“It is great to see our learners’ hard work being rewarded with good jobs in accounting. Learners who come on this course are deeply committed to the programme and their careers – and this is evidenced by the success stories above as well as the current crop of learners, who achieved a 100% success rate in their recent exams,” says Rory Rushe, ATI Course Co-ordinator at Donegal ETB.

Aoife Temple (30) from Glenfin is now a Senior Investment Operations Associate with the Fixed Income Department at Pramerica Systems Ireland following her return to study six years ago after the birth of her baby.

“The course was intense, especially with a baby, but the tutors did absolutely everything they could to support me,” said Aoife.

“It helped me regain confidence in my own abilities and the qualification stands to you when you go for a job because it is widely recognised and regarded.”

The sentiment was echoed by Eamonn Kelly, who swapped farming for a career as a trainee chartered accountant with Sonas 365.

“I started the ATI programme when I reached the point where I was struggling to find work. It really kick-started my career,” said Eamonn.

“The tutors help you in every way they can and it’s such a great testing ground for any future job,” added the 2015 graduate.

After finishing his studies at Donegal ETB, Eamon was exempted into Year 2 of the three-year honours degree in accounting at LYIT, which he recently graduated from.

The Diploma for Accounting Technicians is a highly sought-after qualification and the graduates are part of a “Community of Practice” who get life-long support and training opportunities as Members of ATI. Many Accounting Technicians go on to further study, with other professional accountancy bodies or to degree level.

“This is a pan-sectoral qualification which meets the needs of industry, practice and the public sector, and graduates enjoy exemptions from the full range of professional accountancy bodies including Chartered Accountants Ireland, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, IIPA as well as Higher Education third level accounting programmes,” said Gillian Doherty, ATI’s Chief Operations Officer.

Donegal ETB will host a walk-in information session on Tuesday, July 25 at 3pm in the training centre, Ballyraine, Letterkenny.

Visit www.donegaletb.ie/accounting for more details on Accounting Technicians Ireland, including the full series of ‘Success Stories’.

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