CIPFA and Chartered Accountant Ireland today announced a new strategic agreement that will help meet growing demand for highly trained accountants to manage and audit public finances.

As a result of their collaboration, Chartered Accountants Ireland will make available a new public sector elective module to its final year students.

The module will help meet growing demand for specialist public sector finance professionals in both Northern Ireland and the Republic while creating more career opportunities for newly qualified Irish accountants.

CIPFA’s chief executive Rob Whiteman said: “We are excited to have entered into a strategic agreement with Chartered Accountants Ireland.

“Together we will work hard to empower accountants to manage public money and resources transparently and effectively.”

Chartered Accountants Ireland represents more than 26,500 members around the world and is the biggest single accountancy educator in the country, with over 6,000 registered students.

Barry Dempsey, its chief executive, said: “This new public sector elective is one part of an exciting, new education programme that Chartered Accountants Ireland will be unveiling for the 2018/19 academic year.

“We have revised our core syllabus and introduced new electives and new pathways to membership as we anticipate and respond to the demands of our economy.”

He added that the programme will “greatly enhance” the long-term value of the profession in a “rapidly-changing environment”.