by Dillon Rosenkranz

A colleague of mine once titled an article "Dead Accountants Don't Rebel". He was actually talking about the state of music and the softening of its image from the heady days of the 60s and 70s, but it does have a relevance to accountancy itself because the general image of this profession does not hit the upper echelons of excitability and some numerical philistines would even go so far as to say it was boring. The reality of it is something very different and it is with the likes of accountants, lawyers and bankers that the world, as we know it, revolves. Accountancy is a vital profession, without which our hold on the coffers of the economy would go unchecked. Businesses and individuals would get into the red a lot more easily and more often if it weren't for them.

If you ever thought that you had a head for figures, (maybe you did well in the Leaving in Maths but just never utilised this ability), perhaps it's time that you thought about accountancy. There is a plethora of courses available, from an evening course right up to full-time study at degree level. For example, the Institutes of Technology in Cork, Dundalk, Galway-Mayo and Sligo run a National Diploma in Business Studies in Accountancy. The objective is to prepare students for employment in the accounting function in industry and commerce, or with firms and professional accountants, and to fill positions of responsibility where knowledge of accounting and control is desirable. The course is also run at the Institute of Technology in Tallaght and with economics at the Portobello College, Dublin.

If the thought of engaging in full-time education daunts you a little, maybe an evening course would be more appropriate. ACCA run a certificate diploma in accounting and finance from their headquarters in 9 Leeson Park, Dublin 6 (01-4963144) but all courses are full up until January 2001. Although disappointing for those wishing to enroll, this is nevertheless encouraging as these are so popular. Also, the Westmoreland College for Management and Business, 11 Westmoreland Street, Dublin (01-6795324) conducts an accounting and finance, ACCA certified diploma.

If you want to go the whole hog and do a degree in business studies, (which would include large doses of accountancy), the possibilities are endless. For example, the Dublin Institute of Technology has a four-year full-time course which provides a combination of general and specialized education for business. If you've got through this article and realised that you may indeed have a potential vocation in accountancy, then the thing to do is get in touch with the college of your choice as soon as possible as courses are consistently becoming better subscribed. It is proof therein that the world of accountancy is opening up for those destined to do it and the stigma of mediocrity, if there is one, is lessening by the day.