Number of classes per week: 5 (3 x 40 mins + 1 80 min)
Why study Leaving Leaving Certificate Accounting?
Accounting is a business studies option within the Leaving Certificate programme. It covers aspects of business and social life which are not dealt with in any other subject in that programme. It is concerned with the preparation, recording, extraction, presentation and analysis of financial information for the purpose of making economic decisions. The course also involves a Management Accounting section where the student will learn how to analyse business costs and how to prepare budgets. Once you can understand and adhere to the basic rules of accountancy, it is a subject that you can do very well in.
Topics covered include:
Financial Statements Preparation, Farm Accounts, Club Accounts, Company Accounts, Manufacturing Accounts, Financial Statements Analysis and Interpretation, Budgeting, Break-even Analysis, Cost Classification, Accounting Theory and Principles.
Exam Structure:
The subject is examined at higher and ordinary level. Both levels involve one exam of three hours duration, 400 marks. The exam paper is made up of three sections, the first two are based on the Financial Accounting section of the course and the third covers the Management Accounting section. Questions must be answered from all sections of the exam paper.
Career Possibilities:
Accounting provides a valuable foundation for all business functions and many top executives have an accountancy background. Career pathways might include accountancy, actuarial studies, teaching, banking, clerical and administration roles, insurance, marketing, sales, retail, taxation, purchasing, general business or finance. It would also be an important subject choice for those thinking of starting their own business.
Tips:
The course is numerically based but theory and procedures must be learned also.While the student needs to be comfortable with numbers he does not need to be at higher maths level. While the Junior Certificate Business Studies Course provides a foundation for this course, it is not essential and it is possible to take accountancy up at senior cycle.This course offers a hard working student the real possibility of high grades because of the unambiguous nature of the questions. An organised student who likes order will be particularly suited to this course.
