At present, Accountants, Auditors and Tax professionals are on the critical skills shortage list provided by the Irish government. CPA Ireland, one of the main accountancy bodies in Ireland with 5,000+ members and students is trying to help alleviate this shortage by offering flexible entry routes, and excellent support, while also highlighting the attractiveness of the profession.
Continuing your studies once you have graduated from University/College is considered the most traditional route however there are several options available.
- Mature Students (over 23)
- Career Changers
- Post Leaving Certificate Students
- International students: Related qualifications earned outside of the island of Ireland
In addition to these traditional routes, CPA Ireland offers the Trainee Placement Service – a service offered to students to help place them into jobs with competitive salaries, from CPA Ireland’s trusted network of employers, and CPA FastTrack – a service designed to allow students to count their work placement/internship to their 3 years training, allowing the student to qualify faster, in as little as 24 months.
CPA Ireland is constantly updating the syllabus to ensure that students receive relevant training to bolster their knowledge upon heading into the workplace. Areas such as sustainability and data analytics are a core part of the syllabus, giving students an added edge. CPA Ireland is currently rolling out a new campaign called “Switch your Perspective, Change your Future” which has been designed to improve the public’s perception of the world of Accountancy, to entice people into embarking on a career in the field. Also, the CPA designation is recognised globally which is an added benefit, opening the doors for members to take their career to a multitude of roles and industries worldwide.
