Accounting students from Westmeath performed strongly in the national rankings in this year’s Accounting Technicians Ireland annual examinations.
Geraldine Loughrey of Tyrrellspass and Helen McGowan of Castlepollard finished among the top 5 per cent of students in the country.
Accounting Technicians Ireland, the leading professional body for accounting technicians in Ireland has seen the number of students increase considerably over the last six years, averaging an annual intake of over 2,000.
In Westmeath, new students are being enrolled in Mullingar Community College and in Athlone Institute of Technology. The organisation currently has over 6,000 students and its syllabus is taught in over 80 colleges nationwide.
Chief executive of Accounting Technicians Ireland, Gay Sheehan, said: “Now, more than ever, businesses of all sizes are reliant on people skilled in accounting and finance. Accounting technicians are qualified to carry out a wide range of accounting functions and the demand for their skills has grown significantly in recent years.
“We are delighted that students from Westmeath performed so well in this year’s exams and we’re hoping that this number will increase in the coming years and beyond. A big factor in the increased uptake is the flexibility in course delivery. Students have the choice to study full-time, part-time, or through distance learning and do not need to apply through the CAO. It also offers a fast-track route to a professional accounting qualification as graduates can qualify in two years.”
Students who apply for the Accounting Technicians Ireland qualification come from a diverse range of backgrounds, from established professionals to school leavers, to people looking to change career.
Those interested in finding out more about the qualification or in applying for courses can visit www.AccountingTechniciansIreland.ie
