Pictured at a recent Accountancy & Finance Discipline reception recognising the achievements of NUI Galway alumni who have received prizes/places in their professional accountancy or taxation examinations.

Throughout the year a range of seminars have been arranged. Speakers are both local and international and the topics cover a wide range of areas. Seminar dates and further information can be found on the accompanying PDF file.   Seminar Series 2012-2013

Two of top three places in Chartered Accountants Ireland Examinations to NUI Galway Aisling Curtin (2nd place) and Sarah Finnegan (3rd place) secured two of the top three places in the Final Admitting Examination of Chartered Accountants Ireland in 2012. Both students completed their undergraduate degree (BComm) and postgraduate degree (Master of Accounting) in NUI Galway. They are now employed in KPMG, Galway. Despite the current economic environment, the employment market for accounting graduates is excellent at present and 48.4% of all graduate jobs are in the Accountancy and Financial Management Sector, according to Gradireland 2012, graduate salary and recruitment trends survey.  Virtually all students on the Master of Accounting programme have secured employment before they finish the programme. The small class size on the Master of Accounting programme is ideal for developing excellent interpersonal skills and enabling an in-depth understanding of technical issues and alumni from the programme have been very successful over the years in professional accountancy examinations.

The KPMG prizes are awarded annually, on the recommendation of the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics based on the results of the examinations of the Second Commerce year, to those students who obtain first, second and third place in the aggregate in the subjects Management Accounting I, Business Finance I and International Financial Reporting I, provided they pass the examinations of the year as a whole. Prizes are also awarded to students who achieved top marks in all subjects in 3rd B Comm Accounting.

PwC awards prizes annually, on the recommendation of the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, based on the results of the examinations of the first year of the B. Comm (Accounting) degree, to those students who obtain first, second and third place in the aggregate mark of all examinations taken to the student in the Bachelor of Commerce degree programmes. A prize is also awarded to the student who obtains the highest marks in the first-year Accounting module, provided a pass is achieved in the first year exams overall.   

Dr Emer Curtis and Professor Breda Sweeney have given a number of workshops for industry and professional bodies in Galway and Dublin on 'Using Management Controls to Enable Innovation'. These workshops have been organised by the Whitaker Institute (Full name?). The above photo was taken at the most recent workshop which was offered for CIMA members. In these workshops, Emer and Breda discuss how management control systems can be designed and used to foster innovation and creativity based on findings from over 60 research interviews held with managers and other cross functional staff from companies in medical device and green energy sectors.  The workshops have been highly successful with opportunities for interaction between participants and discussion of experiences. If you would like further details of the workshops please contact Nuala McCarthy (nuala.mccarthy@nuigalway.ie).

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Business Studies Teachers Association of Ireland (BSTAI) and NUI Galway Western Region Schools Quiz took place recently in the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at NUI Galway. Sixteen schools, with a total of 28 teams took part and competed from all over the west, to determine who would represent the region in the National Finals in March. The table quiz was held for Junior Certificate students of Business Studies. Brian Duffy, Chairperson CIMA West of Ireland Branch, said: “At CIMA our relationships with education providers have always been crucial.  We are delighted to have a leading role in this quiz which showcased the talents of second level business students in the West of Ireland.” Professor Willie Golden, Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law at NUI Galway, said: “NUI Galway works closely with its regional hinterland and this is nowhere more evident that in the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics. A defining part of all our student courses is the engagement with the local community. Working with the BSTAI and CIMA allows us to engage with second level students and foster their interest in business studies. I have no doubt that many of these students attending the event, will be amongst our leaders of the future.” Jennie Harrington, President of the BSTAI, commented: “I am delighted that so many business studies students took part in the CIMA Schools quiz.  It is an opportunity for students to have fun while also revising for their Junior Certificate exam. I would like to thank CIMA for all their work in organising the quiz.” The winners on the night were Seamount College, Kinvara, Co. Galway, who took first place. They were followed closely in second place by Dominican College, Taylors Hill, Galway. Third place went to Presentation College, Athenry, Co. Galway. The top three teams from the regional final will now go on to compete in the National Finals, which will take place in March.