How to Start a Career in Finance in Ireland

Finance professionals are always in demand, with the need for accountants, financial planners and financial controllers increasing year after year in Ireland.

Any business or high-earning individual will need a finance professional, so why not explore finance careers and see if you have what it takes to start a lucrative career in finance today?

Getting into finance can be a great career move for someone who has a gift for numbers and wants to enjoy a high-earning, future-proof career. As a finance professional, you will be helping clients with financial decisions, helping them manage their finances, keep track of their investments and taxes and make recommendations for financial decisions.

There are a range of finance jobs in Ireland that you can explore, from a financial analyst to a finance officer. The finance career path you decide to venture down will depend on your interests, skills and what you value in a career. Finance is also a very adaptable field, so when you gain skills and qualifications in one area, if you want to explore other finance careers, then there are opportunities for development and training to help you step into a variety of roles.

Depending on your finance career, the day-to-day duties you take on will vary. However, some of the daily duties of a finance professional might include:

If you have or want to develop the skills below and are interested in carrying out the duties above every day, then finance could be the perfect career for you. You will be providing your professional services daily to help people in need of financial management support, which can be anyone from independent Irish businesses to large international clients.

However, this career can come with a lot of responsibility, as you will be a key player in important financial decisions, and stakeholders and business owners will look to you for guidance. Many businesses take to financial outsourcing and require a financial team to manage their books completely, and if you are going to be working in a financial team, then teamwork skills and leadership are essential skills to have.

In order to become a finance professional in Ireland, you will need a diverse range of skills and will need to be able to execute your day-to-day responsibilities as a financial professional to a high level. Some of the key skills that finance professionals need include:

Gaining a qualification in finance will prepare you for the responsibilities of a finance professional, teach you the skills you need to succeed and demonstrate to your clients your expertise in finance. 

There are a variety of qualifications you can get in finance, and the necessary qualifications will vary depending on the career you want. For example, a career as a finance analyst will require you to have a bachelor’s degree in a subject related to finance, such as economics, accounting, statistics or mathematics. If you want to become a qualified accountant, however, you will need specific accountancy qualifications accredited by Accounting Technicians Ireland (IATI) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), as well as practical experience. 

If you are considering one of these career opportunities and want to enrol on a course or are keen to pursue another finance qualification, then there are several Finance courses available online. These courses can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need for a range of finance careers and are available flexibly through distance learning. You can study full-time or part-time, and the courses are designed for career success, meaning that they cover a range of topics essential for a successful finance career, such as investment management and banking operations.

Depending on the finance career you are pursuing, you might also need work experience in order to qualify in your field. Even if you are not required to have work experience for your desired career, gaining as much experience as possible will greatly increase your job opportunities. You might find it possible to get an internship or work placement if you are a finance graduate.

A qualification in finance opens the door to a variety of jobs, and you can explore the career that most suits your skills and interests. Whether working for a financial services firm as part of a team or as a freelance finance professional, there are key jobs that are needed by organisations and individuals around the globe. Some of the most common jobs in finance include:

There are also plenty of opportunities for career development in financial careers, including gaining experience and training to work as a finance manager, in other leadership roles, or even owning your own accountancy or financial consultancy business. 

Finance professionals are needed all over the world, from Europe to the USA, and there are plenty of accredited courses in accounting & finance that are recognised internationally by people looking to hire a finance professional and large corporate finance companies.

Financial careers are a popular choice due to their potential for high earnings, the number of finance careers available and the extent to which financial professionals are needed. Whether you want to work in Dublin or Cork at a financial management firm, work for the Bank of Ireland or start your own financial planning business, there is a career in finance to suit you.