Accounting for Leaving Cert

1. Leaving Cert

2. Course Overview
Accounting 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.

3. Why Study
Accounting
• For those considering studying
accounting, actuarial studies or finance
after the Leaving Cert.
• An important subject choice for those
thinking of starting their own business.
• While not required specifically for
studying any third level college course,
it is recommended if Accountancy is
the career path you want to follow.

4. What kind of Student
would Accounting suit
• The more numerate student.
• An organised student who likes
order.
• Teaches you to analyse and
interpret the figures.

5. Recommendations/Tips
The course is
numerically
based but
theory and
procedures
must be
learned also.
While the
student
needs to be
comfortable
with numbers
he or she
does not
need to be at
higher maths
level.
The study of Junior Certificate Business
Studies is not essential and it is possible
to take accountancy up at senior cycle.

6. Career
Sectors

7. The syllabus will help you:
To contribute to a balanced and appropriate general education.
To create awareness of the business environment.
To encourage the development of self-reliance, mental organisation and agility.
To enhance numeracy skills.
To expose students to aspects of business and enterprise with a view to career and
working life.

8. Course
Content
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.

9. Exam
Structure

10. 3rd Level
Requirements
Required for 3rd
Level?
• Although not required for
studying accountancy at third
level, it is highly recommended
if this is the career sector you
wish to pursue.

11. “I chose accounting as I really liked doing it in
business studies for the Junior Cert. I also chose
it as it may benefit me in my future career or if I
decide to start my own business. I recommend
you study accounting as it’s similar to Junior Cert
business but the questions require more detail.
Questions become repetitive as well.”
“I enjoy studying
accounting as I like
dealing with
numbers”.
“I picked accounting as I
knew there was little
theory in it and I liked the
number questions when I
was in third year.
I would like to do
secondary teaching. The
two subjects I would like to
teach are Accounting / PE
or Maths/ PE. If I don’t get
enough points I would want
to be an electrician ”.

12. “ I’m planning to do a
business course after
school.”
“I like dealing with
numbers.”
“Accountants make good
money.”
“It shows what needs to be
done in a business or
company money wise.”

13. “It’s useful to have in later life. It
gives you greater options for
when you are picking your future
career. My parents also
recommended for me to do it.”
“I chose accounting because I
hope to go to Australia and work
in business/accounting over
there after college. Accounting is
easy, once you get the hang of
the layout.”

14. “ I like working with numbers and
figuring out how to layout the
accounts. I would like to continue
doing something with accounting
when I leave school so it will be
handy.”
“I like accounting because
once you get a hang of where
things go and how to do the
workings you can’t go too far
wrong. You know if you’ve
made a mistake if the balance
sheet doesn’t balance.”

15. “Time goes by fast when you understand it.
It’s fun and relaxing to learn it.”
“My brother did it in college and
recommended it.”
“It opens job
opportunities for the
future.”
“Less theory than other
subjects. I would use it to
study actuary.”

16. Summary
• Leaving Certificate accounting provides
students with the knowledge, understanding
and skills in accounting and financial
management necessary for managing
personal and basic company accounts. The
learning experiences in accounting develop
students’ organisational, logical thinking,
planning and problem-solving skills for their
future life, work and study. It also develops
their numeracy skills within the context of
business and enterprise.