INSTITUTE
Institute News
Institute News
Our current campaign message is to promote a visionary career in that you can go anywhere as a CPA Accountant. To solidify this message and make ourselves more relatable, we want to show prospective students where they can go by showcasing the career paths of our members.
If you think your career path could help us influence the younger generation, please email Claire at cryan@cpaireland.ie
Robotic process automation (RPA) is a rapidly growing field, and the demand for skilled RPA professionals is only going to increase in the years to come. However, teaching RPA can be challenging, as it requires learners to understand complex concepts and procedures. To meet this challenge, we have developed a programme using virtual reality.
In conjunction with our VR developers, Sia Partners, with funding from Skillnet Ireland, CPA Ireland Skillnet has created a highly engaging and fun way to help learners better understand the benefits, pitfalls and organisational applicability of an RPA process. Once the learners have studied the academic and theoretical content on our Learning Management System, Canvas, they can enter the virtual world to apply what they have learned.
- Three scavenger hunts: working in teams the learners will search the School of Innovation for various objects which represent different aspects of the RPA solution. The learners will have to work in teams – one person can pick up an object which will launch a card explaining what the object represents. To gather more information, they will need to work with someone who can hold the magnifying glass – by using both together the learner will get more information about the object.
- Impact ranking: Place objects that represent different parts of the implementation process on podiums from least impactful to highest.
- The data tracks: There are three data tracks, large, medium and small for both manual and RPA processing. The learner has the opportunity to move around the innovation hub on a track to help them feel the difference between an RPA data set which is fast and straight forward and a manual data set which is slower and less straight forward.
- The process builder: At this station the learners will be asked to combine what they have learned during the three scavenger hunts and complete a full RPA implementation plan by once again arranging the correct objects on the three podiums.
- Data visualisation: This is a dynamic data solution with a simple Bar Graph, object Visualizations, Light animations, Interactions with Data (& Data Views), Capability to dig into meta data and the Simple Filtering of Data. This station will give the learner an exceptional viewpoint of how data works.
- Case study/elevator pitch: working as a team the learners will have a few minutes at the end of the VR session to review a case study for an organisation that is looking into applying an RPA process. They will work together to put a plan in place for how best to adopt RPA. Once they have that finalised, they will pick up a virtual phone and call the trainer/administrator in the real world to give their pitch.
These micro-credentials will ensure we provide our members and students with the best possible education in topics of such high importance. The micro-credentials will cover the following areas:
Sustainability Standards: Navigate the evolving landscape of sustainability reporting.
Sustainability Assurance: Independent examination of an organisation’s sustainability performance.
ESG Challenges: Invest in building the necessary capabilities to overcome ESG challenges.
ESG Strategy: Align your organisation with the goals of creating a more sustainable and equitable future.
Each Micro-credential will include an online assessment which can be taken in your own time or learners can opt to complete all micro-credentials to gain the overall Certificate.
CPA students are professional students or career changers working in full time jobs. Banks often won’t recognise them as ‘students’ and it can be harder to qualify for a student loan which has preferential interest rates.
CPA students will benefit from a range of benefits offered by Capital Credit Union including:
- Low interest rate – only 6.7% APR
- Flexible repayment options
- No penalty fees on early repayment of a loan
- Free loan protection insurance (subject to terms and conditions)
- No fees or charges on their accounts.
- Online access to their accounts 24/7
Pat Byrne, CEO – Designate, Capital Credit Union said; “Investing in people who are studying to build a new career is a smart investment and with our online platform, we can now support CPA students wherever they live, study or work. 95% of our student loan applications are approved and we’ve streamlined the application process to make it easier to apply and be approved quickly. We offer a full range of flexible products and services – both online and in person – and becoming a member of Capital Credit Union will benefit CPA students throughout their lives. As a member they will also have a voice and a say in our future.”
Further information is available on the Capital Credit union website and the CPA Ireland website
Capital Credit Union has branches in Dundrum, Sandymount, Ballinteer, Knocklyon, Drimnagh, Francis Street, Leopardstown and Sundrive Road.
As part of the Professional Standards team the successful candidate will be required to:
- Conduct the Institute’s programme of Quality Assurance (QA) reviews from planning to reporting for selected practices, including onsite reviews throughout Ireland.
- Assisting in devising measurable remediation plans for audit observations identified as part of QA reviews and tracking to completion.
- Provide CPA Ireland members with assistance on technical issues, to facilitate them in providing a service in line with current best practice and legislation.
- Assist in the development of CPD courses, services, products and communications to support CPA Ireland members in practice.
- Deliver technical updates through the CPA Ireland CPD programme to members.
- Enhance the effectiveness of technical committees in their consideration of proposed standards and legislation by providing technical input and other support.
For further details on this position and to apply
Companies could see their audit costs double over the coming years as a growing number of accountancy practices move away from the business, one of Ireland’s accountancy bodies has warned.
It is calling for a review of the audit standards which must be applied to smaller businesses.
“The growing shortage of accountants, rising costs and the increasing regulatory requirements of audits have all resulted in a significant drop in the number of audit firms in Ireland in recent years,” Mark Gargan said.
“This scarcity can only result in one thing, a jump in costs for businesses, which many may struggle to bear.