Accounting and Finance

By Aedín Dunne - Last update


Get Daily news and updates directly to your Email




Do you have strong numeracy skills? Do you have an analytical mind, organisation skills, a great ability to work with others and excellent communication skills? These are just some of the important skills and qualities needed to work in the accounting and finance area. If it sounds like you then why not consider this course?

What is Accounting and Finance?

Accounting is the recording, analyzing, summarizing and reporting of financial transactions. Finance is the management of large amounts of money. 

What third level courses are available?

Universities and colleges in Ireland are offering courses in the following subject areas: 

  • Accounting and Finance – DCU, Griffith College Cork, DKIT, NCI, Griffith College Dublin, Maynooth University, Griffith College Limerick, ICD Business School, LIT, TU Dublin Blanchardstown, TU Dublin Tallaght 

Related:

  • Finance 
  • Accounting
  • Business Studies – Business and Finance
  • International Finance and Accounting

Studying Accounting and Finance in college

There are many courses available in the areas of Accounting and Finance separately so studying them together is a great choice if this is an area you;d like to pursue a career. There are both undergraduate courses and PLC courses available in the area. Undergraduate courses will range from 3-4 years depending on where you study. PLC courses are generally 1-2 years in length.

Your first year in any course will act as a foundation year. You will gain a knowledge of the basic principles of accounting and finance and gain an insight into what will come throughout the following years of your course. 

As your course continues you will study more in depth and complex modules and topics that will help you to gain the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to work in the field. Throughout your course areas you will cover business, law, IT, taxation, auditing, professional ethics, economics, corporate finance, investments, psychology, marketing, HR, management, and communications.

Core modules include Financial Accounting, Business Analytics, Enterprise, Critical Thinking for Business, Intermediate French and German Language Skills, The Global Business Environment, Principles of Commercial law in Ireland, International Theory and Practice, Management Accounting: Cost Systems and Management Accounting:  Planning and Control to name just a few. 

Many courses in the business area such as this will also give you the opportunity to study a language alongside your main subjects. Work experience may also be an option in some courses. The above information is based on the Accounting and Finance course offered by DCU which is a three year course that offers the option of continuing into a fourth year to study a Masters degree. 

Courses will differ in the exact material and course layout so be sure to research courses in specific  universities and colleges of your interest to ensure they suit your desired areas of study.

Career options

There are career opportunities Commerce, Education, Financial Services, Tax

Consultancy and more. THey are both subjects that offer a broad range of career prospects so studying them together will open many doors and allow you to work in the area of your interest. 

There is also the option of continuing on your studies at postgraduate level to specialise in a particular area of your interest. There are also opportunities in education and research. 

Skills and qualities that are important in this area include numeracy skills, an interest in working with numbers and money, excellent communication skills, the ability to work well with others, good customer relations, time management skills, organisation skills, literacy skills, strong writing skills, excellent research skills, a critical mind and an analytical mind. 

Related Jobs

  • Accountant 
  • Financial Advisor
  • Data analyst
  • Financial Planning
  • Banking

Further Study

Visit postgrad.ie for more information.

FAQ

Different courses and different colleges will have different entry requirements. It’s always safest to check with the individual higher education institution which is available on their websites. As a general rule Leaving Cert students should have a minimum of six subjects which should include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English. 

Specific courses may have their own requirements.Certain QQI courses may be accepted. 

The highest points needed to study Accounting and Finance were 510 points to study in DCU last year. The lowest points to study Accounting and Finance were 203 points last year to study in ICD Business School. 

Where can I study?

For other courses in the area you would like to explore, you can do so here.

Did you know?

  • It was reported in June 2020, that the average salary in Ireland was €1,656.20 EUR per month.
  • Bubble-gum was created by an accountant.
  • A lot of accountancy terms such as debit and credit, derived from Latin.

Resources

Student Grant Scheme 

Financial Accountant Job Description 

Course example 


Aedín Dunne

‘Your Education, Your Voice, Your Vision’: What Do Students Want?
Physiology Courses


Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We'd love to send you the latest news and articles about evening classes, further learning and adult education by email. We'll always treat your personal details with the utmost care and will never sell them to other companies for marketing purposes.

Comments and Reviews Policy