Accounting Technicians Ireland (formerly IATI) is the leading professional body for Accounting Technicians on the island of Ireland. They have over 10,000 members and students both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The organisation was established in 1983 by representatives of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

Members of the Institute use the designatory letters ACA. Senior members may be elected Fellows and use the designatory letters FCA....

 (ICAI) and the Irish Institute of Accounting Technicians (IIAT). Accounting Technicians Ireland was originally called The Institute of Accounting Technicians in Ireland (IATI).

The Accounting Technicians Ireland qualification combines professional exams with practical work experience. As members of the Accounting Technicians Ireland body, individuals are entitled to use the letters MIATI after their name. After 8 years members may be eligible to apply for fellow membership. Fellow members use the designation FIATI after their name. Various other professional accountancy bodies recognise the qualification and offer exemptions from their examination to Accounting Technicians Ireland graduates.

Accounting Technicians Ireland is a not-for-profit organisation. They are a partner body of Chartered Accountants Ireland and an associate member of the International Federation of Accountants

International Federation of Accountants

International Federation of Accountants is the global organization for the accountancy profession. IFAC has 164 member and associates in 124 countries and jurisdictions, representing more than 2.5 million accountants employed in public practice, industry and commerce, government, and academe...

(IFAC). They have offices in Dublin and Belfast and links with local networks throughout Ireland.

Accounting Technicians Ireland is the trading name for the Institute of Accounting Technicians in Ireland Limited.

Mission

Accounting Technicians Ireland mission states that they exist for the development, guidance and representation of their members as specialists par excellence in the arena of accounting, business and finance.

They aim to achieve this through innovative education, advocacy of the Accounting Technician qualification, the building of tactical relationships and the steadfast support of their members throughout their careers. In doing so, they aim to empower their members to reach the highest levels of excellence and professionalism.

Values

The following values are stated as the foundations Accounting Technicians Ireland’s mission:

• Excellence: In the standards they set themselves, in the students they attract, and in the merits and skills of their members.
• Professionalism: In their governance, in the conduct of their students and their members, and in the ongoing support they deliver.
• Opportunity: In the accessibility of their courses, in their members’ careers, and in their aspirations for further development.
• Integrity: In their actions, in their teachings, and in the ethical conduct of their student and their members.
• Relevance: In their curriculum, in the workplace, in the relationships they build, and in the ongoing support they bring to their students and their members.

History

Year	Important events
1983	Accounting Technicians Ireland is established. It is originally called The Institute of Accounting Technicians in Ireland (IATI) was set up by representatives of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) and the Irish Institute of Accounting Technicians (IIAT). IATI shares premises with ICAI, shortly thereafter moves to Pembroke Road. Noel Stewart is appointed IATI Chairman, a post which he will hold for five years
1985	IATI holds its very first graduation ceremony of new members.
1988	Gregory Orr is appointed IATI Chairman, a post which he will hold for three years.
1991	Ray Gordon is appointed IATI Chairman, and goes on to become the longest serving IATI Chairman, holding the position for seven years.
1994	IATI is granted Charitable Status by the Revenue Commissioners, on the basis of its educational work.
1996	IATI changes its constitution at AGM, to ensure that members throughout the country are fairly represented on the Board of Directors. At least one director must be elected from Ulster and one from outside Leinster. A limit is also put on the length that directors may serve on the board.
1997	Ben Lynch retires as IATI Secretary, having filled that position for 15 years.
1998	Des Foley is appointed IATI Chairman, the first elected IATI member to be appointed to the position.
1999	Angela Paisley becomes the first woman to be appointed IATI Chairman.
2000	IATI’s job placement service is registered as a limited company and begins trading independently of IATI under the name IATI Placement Service Limited.
2002	For the first time, IATI employs its own staff which were previously seconded from ICAI. Gay Sheehan is appointed as the Institute’s first Chief Executive. IATI changes its constitution at AGM, to allow members to offer bookkeeping and non-regulated services to the public.
2005	IATI moves to new premises in Pembroke Road, Dublin 4. IATI embarks upon a Strategic Review, which identifies a number of key strategies which will enable it to grow the organisation.
2006	IATI Placement Service Limited adopts the trading name IATI Recruitment. IATI successfully applies for ISO 9001:2000 accreditation - the first accounting body of its kind in Ireland to gain this distinction.
2007	IATI changes its constitution at AGM, to provide for a Disciplinary Process, to be applied in cases of complaints against IATI members.
2007/08	The Director of Education, Director of Marketing and IT Project Manager join the CEO to form a senior management team. The first phase of the new syllabus and self-production of manuals is launched.
2008	IATI moves to temporary premises in Burlington Road, Dublin 4. IATI celebrates its 25th anniversary and surpasses 5,000 members for the first time.
2009	IATI changes its name to become Accounting Technicians Ireland and is formally launched by the Minister of State for Trade & Commerce, Billy Kelleher TD on 24thJune 2009. Accounting Technicians Ireland relocates headquarters to new premises on Pearse Street with partners Chartered Accountants Ireland. The Accounting Technicians Professional Education programme is launched. For the first time students can study directly with Accounting Technicians Ireland.
2010	Accounting Technicians Ireland secures recognition at Level 5 on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) in the UK. The new class of fellow membership is launched for more experienced members.

Organisational Structure

Accounting Technicians Ireland is managed and operated by a Board of Directors and 21 executive staff. The Board is responsible for managing the business of the organisation and for implementing a strategic vision.

The Board of Directors is made up of eight directors and a secretary. Four of these board directors are members of Accounting Technicians Ireland that have been elected and the other four board directors are nominated by their partner body, Chartered Accountants Ireland. The Board meets at regular intervals during the year and also for the AGM which is held in June.

The Board of Directors is led by the Officer Group. This group is made up of the President, Vice President and Immediate Past President. These positions are only held by Board members and the term of office is one year.

The day to day management of Accounting Technicians Ireland is handled by Accounting Technicians Ireland CEO, Gay Sheehan who is supported by the Directors for Education, Marketing and IT.

Working under senior management the following departments support students’ and members’ needs:

• Member Services
• Student Services
• IT
• Finance and Administration

To further facilitate students and members they also provide a professional placement and careers service through Accounting Technicians Recruitment. This service is aimed at keeping all students and members up to date with the latest accountancy vacancies in both practice and industry.

Professional Standards

Accounting Technicians Ireland has a Code of Professional Ethics and a set of Disciplinary Procedures, the purpose of which is to ensure confidence in the organisation and its members. The Board of Directors produced the Code of Professional Ethics for use by members and students, and it was adopted on 26th June, 2007.

Accounting Technicians Ireland publish both their Code of Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Procedures on their website.

Membership Structure

Accounting Technicians Ireland has four levels of membership including a Student level.

1. Student Members: All those who have enrolled in an Accounting Technicians Ireland course and have yet to finish their final exams are classified as Student Members. They may be actively studying for the qualification by attending lecturers or through distance learning, or might have deferred sitting exams for a period of time.
2. Affiliate Members: Affiliate membership is open to all those who have passed the Accounting Technicians Ireland exams but do not yet have the two years relevant work experience required to complete the qualification and become Full members. Students can proceed straight to full membership once they pass their exams, if they have already gathered the required two years of relevant work experience. They are not required to become Affiliate Members first.
3. Full Members (MIATI): A Full Member of Accounting Technicians Ireland is someone who has completed the Diploma for Accounting Technicians qualification. They will have passed all their exams, completed at least two years approved work experience within an accounting or finance environment, and have been conferred at a graduation ceremony. They are entitled to use the professional letters MIATI after their name.
4. Fellow Members (FIATI): Fellow membership is open to anyone who has been a Full member of Accounting Technicians Ireland for 8 years and has at least 5 years experience of working in a senior position within their employment. They are entitled to use the professional letters FIATI to differentiate their senior experience and expertise within the accounting profession.

External links

• Accounting Technicians Ireland - Official Website
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) - Official Website