A SOUTH African living in Thomastown, advanced his career during the pandemic thanks to an accountancy apprenticeship which allows students to work, earn and learn.
Bonga Dlamini O’Carroll (37), now a financial operations analyst with the Dublin arm of PartnerRe, one of Europe’s leading investment companies, was apprenticed to the company as part of the Accounting Technicians Ireland (ATI) Apprenticeship.
The apprenticeship is a funded, two-year work-based learning programme in which apprentices earn at least €21,060 a year while attending lectures one day a week with a local college.
Durban native Bonga, who studied part-time with the ATI Academy at the Institute’s headquarters in Chartered Accountants House on Dublin’s Pearse Street, was offered a permanent role with PartnerRe.
Applications are now open for the Accounting Technicians Ireland Apprenticeship, which can be undertaken with colleges in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Monaghan, Waterford, and Wicklow.
School leavers, Leaving Certificate students, career changers and mature learners can all apply through Accounting Technicians Ireland.
Large firms and smaller practices, as well as industry and the public sector, have all embraced the programme.
BUSINESS DEGREE
“I came to Ireland in 2015 to get a higher-level education while experiencing life abroad and gained a business degree in 2018,” Bonga told Kikenny Press.
“But returning to work in the field of accountancy was difficult, despite years of book-keeping experience in South Africa.
“I heard of the Accounting Technicians Ireland Apprenticeship programme while completing my business degree.
“I was very interested in it as I knew it would provide a highly regarded qualification whilst enabling further experience in the sector.
“Despite the pandemic just after I had started my work experience in January 2020, ATI switched to providing online classes and I was able to work from home.
“I really enjoyed my journey with ATI and was delighted to land a permanent job.
“I was assigned college and work mentors who collaborated in supporting me and that made things a lot easier.
“It can be challenging to balance work with study, but it is possible and is extremely fruitful.”
For more details see accountingtechniciansireland.ie
