Career Opportunities

The field of accounting offers a diverse range of career opportunities.
 
The CAT programme leads to a vocational qualification based on national standards of competence, which allows graduates to competently support the work of professional accountants, as well as business managers in all aspects of the financial sector. 

The role can be broadened to include staff supervision, budgeting, debt control and audit assistance.

Overview

This course prepares students for the examinations of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). ACCA is one of the world's leading accountancy bodies and the Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) qualification is internationally recognised and highly regarded. 

Candidates who successfully gain the CAT qualification have demonstrated that they can work effectively in accounting support roles in all sectors of business.

The CAT scheme comprises a combination of exams and practical experience.  It is designed to equip you with all the necessary technical skills and knowledge required to fulfil an accounting role to technician level.  It also provides a firm foundation of knowledge and the opportunity to fast track towards becoming a professional ACCA accountant.

HSI Limerick Business School is a registered ACCA computer-based examination centre; this facility allows students the option to sit Papers 1,2,3 and 4 online.

HSI Limerick Business School's Recruitment Service will assist students in fulfilling the practical work experience component of the ACCA Certified Accounting Technician Scheme.

The HSI School of Professional Accountancy offers a dynamic and professional teaching environment characterised by a lecturing team with outstanding experience, and an educational setting that promotes and encourages the highest level of academic behaviour.

Content Outline

Year 1
- Paper 1 Recording Financial Transactions
- Paper 2 Information for Management Control
- Paper 3 Maintaining Financial Records
- Paper 4 Accounting for Costs
- Paper 5 Managing People and Systems

Year 2
- Paper 6 Drafting Financial Statements
- Paper 7 Planning, Control and Performance Management
- Paper 9 Preparing Taxation Computations
- Paper 10 Managing Finances

Computer Based Examinations

Computer Based Examinations (CBE) are now available for ACCA F1, F2 & F3 and ACCA CAT Papers 1, 2, 3 & 4 as an alternative to the paper based examinations. HSI Limerick Business School is an accredited CBE centre that offers CBEs on a monthly basis throughout the year.

Assessment

In order to achieve maximum levels of student achievement, the course is assessed through the use of continuous assessments and mock ACCA examinations. Students will sit ACCA examinations in both June and December of each year of study.

Award

On successful completion of the CAT examinations, students will receive an invitation to become a Certified Accounting Technician. 

In order to obtain the qualification and use the designatory letters CAT after their name, students must also satisfy the appropriate practical financial work experience requirement (1 year).  HSI Limerick Business School's recruitment service will assist students in obtaining

Academic Progression

Successful completion of the CAT examinations offers an exemption from the three Knowledge Papers (F1,F2 and F3) of the ACCA Qualification and students may automatically transfer to Skills Papers.  By taking the examinations of the ACCA Qualification, students may qualify as accountants and may achieve a BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University.

Booking Information

Glen Anderson (ACCA Course Director)
Tel: +353 61 317822
E-mail: g.anderson@hsi.ie

David O’Donovan(ACCA Coordinator)
Tel: +353 61 481247
E-mail: dodonovan@hsi.ie