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Career Pathway

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  • Young professional
  • Developing
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  • Home/
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  • Technical skills
L2: Leadership skills
PC2: Professional & commercial skills

T2 This code refers to content for Level 2 Developing (3-10 yrs PQE) in technical skills ? Technical skills

What do they look like?

You may now have specialised and are more confident with IT. Project work can give the opportunity to strengthen your skills.

Your technical skills are the knowledge and abilities to perform your core business and financial duties, whichever area you are working in.

Development activities
Career development support
Courses & publication
Future of the profession

Auditing, accounting and financial reporting - What are the landmarks?

  • High level knowledge of auditing and accounting standards combined with the ability to interpret, apply and assess the impact on the organisation
  • Able to prepare financial statements for complex business combinations including consolidated accounts
  • Capable of researching and assessing the impact of relevant emerging technical issues and planning for these
  • Able to prepare reports for management decision making including the identification and analysis of data
  • Fully appreciate of the internal and external factors impacting on the organisation and the financial reporting implications
  • Have a  high level understanding of financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and cashflow analysis

Analytical skills - What are the landmarks?

  • Develop conceptual frameworks that guide your analysis
  • Be able to use and develop evaluation techniques
  • Be skilled in the use of financial modelling skills including speadsheets and quantitative methods for reporting and business decision making
  • Draw sound conclusions based upon a mixture of analysis and experience
  • Have sound knowledge of financial and non-financial performance evaluation methods

Project Management - What are the landmarks?

  • Be able to manage finance related projects and bring them to a successful conclusion

Information technology - What are the landmarks?

  • Be able to use financial accounting software at a high level to ensure that its benefits are maximised
  • Have advanced Excel skills as well as incorporating other Business Intelligence tools
  • Have a good knowledge of information system design, development and enhancement
  • Be able to apply IT to business and accounting problems

Organisational Alignment - What are the landmarks?

  • Knowledge of organisational structures and operations and how the finance function can support the development of the organisation
  • Develop and implement technical projects, programmes and processes aligned with the strategic needs and direction of the organisation
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Development activities

How can you get there?

Here are our suggestions for boosting your skills in the three main areas at this stage of your career.
Don't forget, many of these are FREE!

  • Use this Career Pathway template to set goals, improve performance and identify gaps
  • Consider a specialist qualification in a relevant area like tax, cyber security, - IFRS, Corporate Governance/Strategic Finance
  • Attend CPD courses to keep your knowledge current
  • Read Accountancy Ireland
  • Use the Chariot resource available on Chartered Accountants website
  • Subscribe to free eNewsletters such as eNews/Tax News
  • Do some more Excel/Business Intelligence /Project Management training
  • Gain project experience
  • Attend industry/sector specific events
  • Contribute to technical publications
  • Provide technical training
  • Publish articles - Join a technical committee/group
  • Research relevant technical publications/journals
  • Obtain board experience - volunteer on a board
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Career development support

As a member at any stage in your career from newly qualified to post-retirement, our career service is here to support you. In full confidence, we'll coach you, help with your CV, give interview preparation tips, set up mentoring, help you find a role, or to find the best staff. Call us anytime you need us on +353 1 637 7331 or email us at careers@charteredaccountants.ie. We want to hear from you.

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Courses & publication

Recommended specialist qualifications

Title
Diploma in Corporate Finance
Read more
Diploma in Excellence in Financial Reporting    Read more
Diploma in Leadership Essentials Read more
Diploma in Strategic Finance and Business Partnering
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Diploma in Taxation
Read more
Certificate in Cyber Security and Data Incident Management
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Diploma in Risk Management, Internal Audit and Compliance
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Chartered Tax Consultant
Read more
Diploma in Forensic Accounting and Investigation
Read more
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Building Effective Financial Models: A Practical Approach (ROI/NI)04 Mar 2026 8Read more
The Chartered Roundtables – Economic outlook for 202622 Jan 2026 1Read more
AI in Excel Using ChatGPT & Copilot (ROI/NI)22 Jan 2026 8Read more

Recommended CPD courses

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Excel Intermediate (ROI/NI)13 Oct 2026 8Read more
Data Analysis in Excel 365 – New Dynamic Functions, Top Pivot Table tips, Macros and more (ROI/NI)08 Oct 2026 8Read more
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Excel Intermediate (ROI/NI)23 Sep 2026 8Read more
AI-Powered Presentations and Reports (ROI/NI)10 Sep 2026 8Read more
Excel Intermediate (ROI/NI)27 Aug 2026 8Read more
Excel Advanced - Key Features & Business Intelligence (ROI/NI)20 Aug 2026 8Read more
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SQL for Finance Professionals (ROI/NI)27 May 2026 8Read more
Power BI Desktop: Moving Beyond Excel (ROI/NI)20 May 2026 8Read more
Back to Top

Recomended CPD online courses

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Back to Top

Recommended publications

 TitlePrice 
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Future of the profession

IFAC

Title Source
Future-Fit Accountants: Roles for the Next Decade See PDF
Source
A Vision for the CFO & Finance Function See PDF
Source
Evaluating the Finance Function See PDF
Source

CPA

Title Source

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See page
Source

SAICA

Title Source

Leadership in a time of crisis series: Fact-based view of why the world is getting better

 See page
Source
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Technical news

  • The EU Omnibus package and next steps for CSRD reporting

    Apr 10, 2025

  • Navigating the FRC’s updated guidance on going concern reporting

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  • Internal audit: Key themes in 2025

    Feb 10, 2025

  • Demystifying the double materiality assessment

    Feb 10, 2025

  • Amendments to FRS 102: are you ready for change?

    Dec 09, 2024
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Level 1: Young professional [0-3 years PQE]
Level 3: Expert [FCA]

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