Top marks as Tipperary's Abigail advances her accounting career

A County Tipperary student who scored top marks on the island of Ireland in national accounting exams, has hailed her apprenticeship programme as an “incredible” way to launch a career in the sector.

Abigail O’Regan (23) from Clonmel, a past pupil of Loreto Secondary School in the town, said she has become a major advocate for the two-year Accounting Technicians Ireland (ATI) Apprenticeship, which allows students to work, earn and learn and is to create 170 jobs this year.

Graduates qualify as accounting technicians and earn exam exemptions if they wish to go on to study to become a fully qualified accountant.

With a strong desire for a career in the finance sector, Abigail completed a one-year Business and Office Skills Level Five course at CTI Senior College, Clonmel, through Tipperary ETB in 2021, after two years working at book chain Eason at the Showgrounds Shopping Centre.

“Whilst on the Business course I researched future education options. Having already spent the previous year combining work with study, I realised the Accounting Technicians Ireland Apprenticeship, which would allow me to earn and learn, was just what I needed,” said Abigail.

The apprenticeship is a funded, two-year, work-based learning education and training programme in which apprentices work, learn and earn at least €24,765 a-year while attending lectures one day a week at a local college. Abigail attended Cork College of FET Morrison’s Island.

She was apprenticed to O’Gorman Brannigan Purtill and Co Accountants in Clonmel, where she now has a full-time staffed position.

“The Accounting Technicians Ireland Apprenticeship is an incredible route for a student reluctant to commit to a four-year college degree. You achieve a highly regarded qualification and the two years’ work experience is something much sought after by employers.

“I would recommend the Accounting Technicians Ireland Apprenticeship to anyone with an interest in accounting. The college lectures give you the fundamentals, while the work placement allows you understand what you are learning and put it into practice immediately.

“The apprenticeship was very enjoyable. It could be challenging when trying to juggle work and study, but there is access to college and workplace mentors which is a huge advantage, and unusual.

“I found this resource invaluable, the mentors guide you and ensure you stay on track. 

“ATI strives to put its students first and I have been in an incredibly lucky position working in a great accounting practice which has given me such a broad understanding of multiple areas of the business.”

The Accounting Technicians Ireland Apprenticeship provides an alternative for school leavers who prefer practical training to a full-time college programme - or those who started a college course and found it did not suit them. It is also an option for existing employees and mature learners who want to pursue accounting.

The apprenticeship enables employers recruit and upskill staff in a cost-effective manner as training fees are covered by state agency, SOLAS. 

Employers can also avail of a grant of €2,000 per-year for each apprentice they employ.

Large firms and smaller practices, as well as industry and the public sector, have all embraced the programme.

Gabriela Airini, Associate Director of Education at ATI, said the apprenticeship enables employers to recruit and upskill staff in a cost-effective manner.

“The Accounting Technician Apprenticeship continues to contribute towards job creation and business growth in Ireland with over almost 1,000 jobs created since the programme’s foundation in 2017,” she said.

“Graduates gain a professional QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Accounting and have acquired practical professional skills needed to fill a range of accounting and finance roles across all sectors.

“ATI is continuing to work with over 200 apprenticeship employers which have hired Accounting Technician apprentices across 19 sectors.”

Leaving Certificate students, school leavers, career changers, and mature learners can apply at accountingtechniciansireland.ie

"The Accounting Technicians Ireland Apprenticeship has been a huge success for us,” said Gillian Noonan, Finance Manager at Carrickmines, Co Dublin-based fibre broadband wholesalers, Siro.

“The work-based learning is very much in tune with the evolution of the accountancy environment and learning and development can be matched through progression within the sector. Apprentices gain valuable knowledge during their study, but also experience, through working at the same time.”