Accounting Technicians Ireland Forecasts Surge in Demand for Places as Small Businesses Seek to Control Costs
Accounting Technicians Ireland Forecasts Surge in Demand for Places as Small Businesses Seek to Control Costs
- Applications for places on Accounting Technicians Ireland courses up 60 per cent over last six years
- Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director of Microsoft's EMEA Operations Centre, receives honorary award
Dublin, IRELAND - May 24th 2010: Accounting Technicians Ireland, the leading professional body for accounting technicians on the island of Ireland, has forecast an increased demand for its members, as companies across all industries, especially in the small business sector, seek to manage costs in a challenging economic climate.
Speaking at a Fellow graduation ceremony this weekend, Aidan Collins FCA, President, Accounting Technicians Ireland, said demand for its courses had "grown significantly" over the last six years. The professional body has experienced its highest ever intake averaging over 2,000 new students each year.
At the historic ceremony, a total of 235 graduates were conferred as the very first Fellows of Accounting Technicians Ireland. The designation of Fellow is only awarded to the most experienced members of the professional body and entitles individuals to use the letters FIATI to differentiate their senior standing within the accounting profession. An honorary award was also bestowed upon Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director of Microsoft's EMEA Operations Centre in Dublin, who is a graduate of Accounting Technicians Ireland.
"At a time when companies across the board are seeking to control costs, accounting technicians can play a critical role in managing cash flow, monitoring outgoings and carrying out a range of other key finance functions. Their contribution to an organisation's sustainability and growth can be enormous," said Mr. Collins.
"No matter what size the firm, you are always going to need someone to manage the bookkeeping and prepare accounts. It's a very sought after profession. We have, in fact, seen the demand for our courses increase by 60 per cent over the last six years," he said.
Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director of Microsoft's EMEA Operations Centre in Dublin, who received an honorary award at the ceremony, said: "I did my accounting technicians qualification more than two decades ago and I have to say the skills it gave me are as relevant today as they were when I qualified. It was a huge asset, in terms of getting started in the accounting profession. Accounting technicians can make a vital contribution to the financial reporting in business, whether a small company or a large multinational, and are a critical link in the people and processes that are involved in the preparation, approval, analysis and use of financial data".

Inaugural Fellow graduation ceremony of Accounting Technicians Ireland, 22nd May 2010. (L-R) Cathriona Hallahan (Managing Director, Microsoft EMEA Operations Centre), Aidan Collins FCA (President, Accounting Technicians Ireland), Gay Sheehan (Chief Executive, Accounting Technicians Ireland).

Fellow graduation class of 2010.