Becoming a CPA

Why did you decide to enter the accountancy profession?  

Accountancy wasn’t something I had always considered as a career. I majored in Business Management in college and because my degree was so wide it left my options open to all accountancy professions. I worked in a financial services role with AIB straight after college. I found this work very enjoyable and decided to further my education by taking on the Dairygold graduate programme and studying to become a qualified CPA.

Why did you choose the CPA qualification?

When deciding what accountancy body to choose, I found the CPA staff very helpful and accommodating. Some of the subjects I had previously studied at college were based on CPA exams so it gave me a good foundation of what to expect. When I started the graduate programme with Dairygold I had 6 exemptions from CPA. There are a number of people within Dairygold with a CPA qualification who were a good support and influence in making my decision.

Study

How have you found the CPA course to date?  

So far I have found the CPA course very enjoyable. The lecturers at Griffith college are very well educated and geared towards the CPA course which is a good starting point.

What advice would you give to someone deciding to study CPA? 

Do some research into your exemptions as you would be surprised how many you have and don’t be afraid to ask questions, the CPA staff are very helpful.

What CPA study resources do you find the most useful? 

The use of the CPA student card is very useful for student discounts!

Did you receive study support from your employer? 

Dairygold offers 2.5 days study leave per exam

How did you find the exam process? 

The exam process was similar to what I was familiar with in CIT so it wasn’t too daunting for me, 3 hours seems like a long time but the exams just fly! Be sure to familiarise yourself with the layout of exam questions.

Did you have any particular study/revision methods? 

Use your time wisely coming up to the exams and practise loads of exam questions.

What do you feel has been the best thing about how you chose to study CPA?  

I choose to study CPA part time. This is a good option for me as I am in college two nights a week and it still allows me to have a weekend and use this time to revise.

Career

Describe a typical day in your work

My day is quite varied which is good. It can include anything from raising Requisitions and Purchase Orders, to attending budget meetings and compiling accounts for board reports. Within Dairygold, there are always a number of projects on going. The Dairygold culture encourages graduates to participate and lead some projects.

What professional goals do you have, once you become a CPA?

In five years time I hope to have my CPA qualification and necessary experience attained. I hope to be managing a finance department.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?

An accountancy qualification such as CPA is recognised worldwide and  there is much variety in my role. A finance role allows an individual to work with a number of different departments such as commercial, retail, production and quality etc.