The Accounting Technician Apprenticeship Monaghan Institute 17 May - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Accounting Technician Apprenticeship

Monaghan Institute 17 May 2016

Aoife Kennedy & Robert Cogill, Selection & Recruitment of Applicants and Employers : ATI Recruitment Services Richard Mullins, Brand promotion & Communications: Marketing Carole McCaughey, Schools, Colleges & Employers Liaison & Promotion: Business Development Darren O Neill, ePortfolio Support, On the Job Training Programme Ken Healy & Lorraine Lawlor, Regulations & Quality Assurance: On & Off the Job Training Programme

ATI Apprenticeship Roles & Responsibilities

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The leading Professional Accounting Technician body across the island of Ireland Offices in Dublin & Belfast We are over 33 years in Business Partner body of Chartered Accountants Ireland We represent over 10,000 professionally qualified accounting members and students Partnerships with 70 Colleges across the island Our Qualification is comparable to a Level 6 award on the National Framework of Qualifications Accounting Technicians are qualified accounting professionals employed throughout all levels of finance across the public sector, industry, commerce and private accountancy.

Accounting Technicians Ireland

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Years ago young people did their articles in accountancy firms and studied in the evening to become accountants. The modern apprenticeship in accountancy offers much more than that, time off to go to class, college and work place mentors, you can earn while you learn. The Higher Apprenticeship in Accountancy has been running since September 2014 in the North of Ireland. We partnered with Belfast Met and SRC, Newry initially. 27 apprentices and 17 employers participated in the first programme. Those students are now sitting their second year exams next month and they will graduate as Accounting Technicians this Autumn. Many will be offered the opportunity to participate in a further 3 year Chartered Accountancy apprenticeship.

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Background: The Accounting Technician Apprenticeship

In September 2015 the programme was extended across all 6 colleges. There was an additional intake of 70 new accounting technician apprentices supported by 58 employers A total of 90 plus accounting apprentices are now studying and working across Northern Ireland and in all sectors. We have firms like Deloitte, BDO and Grant Thornton participating, amongst others.

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Programme Expansion

The Apprenticeship Council, a Dept of Education and Skills Initiative, was set up to review apprenticeships in the Republic and develop recommendations and an implementation plan for new apprenticeships. There was a call for submissions for new apprenticeships , they received a great response and Accounting Technicians Ireland’s apprenticeship in Accountancy was approved in January, subject to QQI & Solas validation, which we are going through now. We intend to have our first cohort of school leavers this September. This will create between 70 – 80 jobs. We have received very strong endorsement from colleges, employers nationwide and strong endorsement from the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.

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Programme Approved in the South

The new model for professional apprenticeships put employers in the driving seat by aligning with their needs in meeting the growing demand for higher level skills. Employers will be central to the success of our new apprenticeship system having a key role, through consortium partnerships, such as the Accountancy Consortium Group, in agreeing the curriculum and content of apprenticeships and ensuring they continue to be relevant to the needs of their sector.

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New Professional Apprenticeships

Key Benefits to the Employer

Employee retention is key in business and apprenticeships bring increased retention of employees, which results in a more productive and positive workplace. It also creates diversification in the business. The apprentice can be trained up to the specific job requirements, rather than to a more academic and less industry-focused qualification Employers get to grow their own, effectively moulding apprentices to the business. Financially the programme is state funded (funding model to be confirmed shortly by Apprenticeship Council) so that’s also very appealing.

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Key Benefits to the Employer – cont’d

The programme will create the potential for up to 80 new jobs for school leavers in the field of accountancy across the Republic of Ireland this year Once established this Apprenticeship will provide an annual supply of talented school leavers to fulfil the important role accounting technicians play in managing key finance functions ATI graduates are highly trained, cost effective finance professionals who add significant value any business

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We are partnering with the following colleges initially but it is planned to extend the programme nationally in the next few years: Monaghan Institute, Cork College of Commerce, Rathmines College, Blackrock Further Education Institute & Bray Institute of Further Education. The selection and recruitment process is managed by ATI Recruitment Services in partnership with Monaghan Institute Apprentices will be recent school leavers who have completed the Leaving Certificate.

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Selection Process

CAO Points Leaving Certificate applicants must have a minimum of 300 CAO points or equivalent with a pass in English and at least one subject from Maths or Accountancy within the last 5 years are the main entry criteria. Applicants with 290 – 300 CAO points are considered marginal candidates and may be considered with supporting factors such as initiative, interests, experience and aptitude. This marginal CAO point criteria is not advertised. Employer Discretion Individual employers have the discretion to enhance criteria beyond the minimum academic standards.

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Apprentice Eligibility Criteria

Age Applicants must be at least 18 years of age on or before the 1st July in the proposed year of entry to the apprenticeship. Whilst the primary target audience is school leavers at 18 years and above there are no age restrictions for participants on apprenticeships. In keeping with current education policy in ROI mature students are considered 23 years old and above. Existing Employees: Existing employees are also eligible to enter the Apprenticeship but must be undertaking a NEW Job role and must not have worked in an accounting or Finance role in-house previously. Evidence of this will be required.

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Apprentice Eligibility Criteria – cont’d

Participate actively in the Interview and candidate selection process Provide a 2 year contract of employment to the apprentice The Apprentice contract of employment must be 5 days a week (including Directed training element (Sept - May) with one employer. The minimum rate of pay is set at €9.15 per hour. It is at the employer’s discretion if they wish to apply a higher rate. The apprentice is paid for a 5 day week, typically 9 – 5.30pm. It is recommended that Apprentices are not contracted to work for more than 37.5 hours per week. Off the job training, provided through 1 day release in local college is part

• f the apprentices contracted hours of work – circa 3 weeks paid study

leave will also apply during examination periods (tbc)

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Role of Employer

The Programme includes employer mentoring support The employer provides a suitably qualified work based mentor and agrees a training programme which is reviewed on a quarterly basis. The Work Mentor’s role includes agreeing the work activity of the apprentice in conjunction with ATI’s Work Based Programme requirements. Then agreeing a training plan which is actively managed. Progress is reviewed with the apprentice on a 3 monthly basis and signed off by the Work place mentor. All directed training and on site work requirements assessment must occur within the Apprentice’s normal contracted hours. The teaching staff of the college will provide a college mentor who will liaise closely with the employer and the apprentice

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Role of Employer – cont’d

 A support and mentoring team to include an employer-based mentor plus ongoing support from college team  College/employer collaboration to ensure the apprenticeship training programme stays on track  Accounting Technicians support the apprentice with a work based learning programme, Virtual classes, study support and student membership  Opportunities to progress to further study via Chartered Accountants Ireland

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Programme Fundamentals

Academic Programme

Delivery Pattern – 4 Subjects per year for 2 years Year 1 Year 2 1. Taxation

• 1. Advanced Taxation

2. Financial Accounting

• 2. Advanced Financial Accounting

3. Law & Ethics

• 3. Management Accounting

4. Business Management

• 4. IAS

Study Leave – Minimum 3 weeks Essential texts – ATI Textbooks Candidate completes e-portfolio based on their work experience

What do students study?

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Work Programme

Work Based Learning – “The Process”

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• 4 Learning Logs and ePortfolio reviewed and signed off by Work

Mentor each quarter

• Self Assessment report to be completed at the end of each

year; reviewed and signed off by Work Mentor

• All work submitted to ATI for assessment at the end of year for

assessment by the Work Programme Examining Board

• Guidance Notes & Induction will be provided to each Work

Mentor in September.

Assessing On the Job Learning

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Chartered Accountancy Progression

Based on Northern Ireland programme delivery in September 2016: ATI graduates receive 3 exemptions from CAP1 so Year 3: CAP1: 2 remaining modules Finance & Mgt Accounting will be delivered via classroom tuition in local college Year 4: CAP 2 – Blended Learning Delivery Year 5: FAE - Blended Learning Delivery

ACA Qualification

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Timeline

Information Sessions Dublin, Cork & Monaghan

Employer Sessions 22 April 2016 6th May 2016 17th May 2016 Student & Parent Session 17th May 2016 (Monaghan) 18th May 2016 (Dublin)

Student Applications forwarded to Employers

13th June 2016 22th July 2016

Interviews & Conditional Offers

Round 1 From 1 July 2006 Round 2 From 2 August 2016 Additional Rounds may apply

Employment Contracts Offered

From 18th August 2016 onwards (L. C.Results issued 17th August 2016) August Nationally Registered Apprenticeship Employer SOLAS Registration

Induction Week in Local College

12th Sept 2016

• 1. Consider the benefits of adding an accounting technician apprentice to

your work force

• 2. Decide how many apprentice places you have on offer
• 3. Notify ATI of your interest in participating as an Employer
• 4. Complete the application process
• 5. Once registered, state your company’s applicant entry requirements
• 6. Select & appoint suitable accounting technician apprentice(s) in

conjunction with ATI Recruitment Services

Next Steps

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Getting in Touch

Getting in Touch

Employers who want more information should contact Aoife Kennedy @ akennedy@accountingtechniciansireland.ie Tel: (01) 649 8126 For further information on the Accounting Technician Apprenticeship please visit: www.accountingtechnicianapprenticeship.ie (live shortly)