Finance HLA

Start your career in finance with one of Ireland’s best managed companies

Course Type
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Level / Qualification
Accounting Technicians Ireland Level 5 Diploma for Accounting Technicians
Course Duration
Two Years
University / College Campus
Omagh
Start Date
Each September

ACCOUNTING HIGHER LEVEL APPRENTICESHIP

Our Finance HLA Programme offers young people the opportunity to earn a fully funded, recognised qualification in Accounting with one of Ireland’s leading manufacturing companies.

On successful completion of the Technician Course, you can become an Affiliate member of Accounting Technicians Ireland and then you can progress to do your professional accountancy exams, which entails a full 3 year Chartered Certified Accountancy qualification as part of the HLA programme. So, you can become a fully qualified accountant within 5 years, having gained the relevant practical experience at no cost to you. In fact, you will also get paid throughout the duration of the programme, enabling you to secure globally recognised qualifications with no student debt!

Apprentices will earn a salary and be mentored by highly experienced accounting professionals throughout the duration of the programme, gaining a wealth of industry experience and developing relevant skills through the blended learning programme.

What does the Role Entail?

Whilst working in our busy Finance department, you will gain hands on experience of some of the most essential accountancy responsibilities and benefit from working with one of the largest and most diverse organisations in the region.

You will work across a range of areas within the Finance department, gaining a broad scope of experience to develop knowledge and practical skills in areas which compliment your academic studies, including:

  • Creditor Ledger

    Liaising with all areas of the business to track and record all supplier invoices, purchase orders and goods received notes to effectively maintain the company’s creditors ledger.

  • Accounts Payable

    Acting as a point of contact for suppliers to ensure smooth transactions, HMRC & Irish Revenue notifications and maintain supplier creditor reconciliations.

  • Credit Control

    Liaising with customers to ensure smooth payments and deal with invoice queries, running credit risk reports and setting up of credit limits for new customer accounts, reconciling all received payments.

  • Sales Analysis

    Working with all areas of the business to compile a range of business sales reports, using effective analysis to identify opportunities and working with sales managers to implement pricing changes.

The Diploma

As part of the Programme, you will be enrolled in the Accounting Technicians Ireland Level 5 Diploma for Accounting Technicians (ATI) at South West College’s Omagh campus. This part-time Higher Level Apprenticeship is run over two years, and you will spend 1 day per week in South West College and the remaining 4 days putting your learnings into practice in our Finance department.

You will gain a solid grounding in business and a strong foundation in accountancy and taxation, together with an introduction to business and company law, while also developing relevant practical skills in using electronic accounting systems.

More information on this Degree Apprenticeship Course can be found here.

APPLY ONLINE NOW

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I get paid?

Yes – You will earn a base starting salary with the opportunity to earn up to an additional 10% bonus. Your salary will be reviewed and incremented based on your performance throughout the programme.

Have I any fees to pay?

No – The Department of Economy pays the full cost of the course fees based on full class attendance and successful completion and pass of all modules each semester.

How many hours am I expected to work?

Apprentices will attend work 5 days per week when they are not scheduled to attend College. Working hours are Monday – Friday 8.00am to 4.45pm with paid leave (as applicable) to attend class.

What type of work will I be doing?

On commencement of the programme, the work activity in Mannok will, where possible, mirror the course content being delivered each semester. The hands on experience you will obtain will vary from Credit Control, Purchase Ledger with progression to management accounts

Where will I be working?

Your main place of work will be the Mannok Administration Offices located beside the main manufacturing facilities in Derrylin. Central services for the company such as IT, Marketing and Human Resources are located here. From time to time, site visits may be required to the manufacturing plants which are all located within a 2-mile radius of the offices.

Am I entitled to holidays?

Yes – As with any other employee, Apprentices will be entitled to 30 days annual leave per annum pro rate inclusive of bank holidays.

What happens after the 2 years?

On successful completion of the course, you will have the option to progress to become a fully qualified accountant by completing your professional accountancy exams, which entails a full 3 year Chartered Certified Accountancy qualification.

What happens if I decide it’s not for me?

One of the requirements to access funding from the department of economy is the successful completion of the HLA programme. Failure to do this may result in all fees being paid back by the Apprentice.

What are the Entry Requirements?

Entry requirements for the course are set by South West College, they are as follows: A minimum of Grade B Maths and C English at GCSE / 96 UCAS Points. Mature learners who have reached over 23 years old but do not possess the minimum educational requirements can apply based on experience and recommendation from an employer.

What support will I receive?

Each apprentice will be assigned a dedicated mentor who will track their progress and guide them throughout the programme. You will also be supported by other team members and your line manager.

  • Why Work with Mannok
  • Benefits & Rewards
  • Professional Development
  • Wellbeing

  • Why Work with Mannok

    Why Work with Mannok

    At Mannok, we value the strength, skill and ingenuity of our workforce and we're committed to continual development and investment in our people to support every employee to achieve their career goals.

    We have a diverse culture, reflected not only in our business functions, but also in our people. A career with Mannok means joining a team that puts people at its core, whether it be customers, partners or employees. We offer significant development opportunities through a wide and varied range of roles and actively seek out potential.

    Mannok is an industry leader, with over 830 employees and almost 50 years of manufacturing history, supplying quality products to some of the construction and food packaging industries’ largest organisations.

    Sustainability sits at the heart of our values, as outlined in our 2030 Vision. We have ambitious targets which will see us transform from a carbon intensive business to a more sustainable pathway. In order to achieve our sustainability goals, we will rely on the commitment and support of every employee and seek to recruit those with shared values. We have built our vision on three core pillars of People, Planet and Partners, each of which are essential to the long-term success of our organisation, ensuring we continue to make a substantial contribution to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of this region for the next and future generations.

  • Benefits & Rewards

    Benefits & Rewards

    We value our people and give recognition for personal success, drive, commitment and determination. We understand that rewards are more than pay and performance related bonuses, so we have a variety of benefits to cater for the diverse needs of our people, these benefits include:

    • Attractive performance related pay scheme with annual salary review
    • Pension scheme
    • Life Assurance scheme
    • Sponsorship for professional qualifications / study leave
    • Enhanced company sick scheme
    • 30 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
    • Incremental holiday allowance increase for long-term service
    • Skills Development Programme with structured career pathways linked to salary increments, rewarding multi-skilled personnel
    • Social Club
    • Discount on company products
    • Health & Wellbeing Programme

  • Professional Development

    Continuous Professional Development

    A career with Mannok offers a range of opportunities to continue learning and professional development, both internally as part of your role, and through our numerous educational and professional development partnerships.

    SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

    We are changing how we develop, measure, and recognise levels of skills and competency in our business through the extension of our award-winning Skills Development Programme to every employee to enable all staff to become up-skilled and cross-skilled.

    The Programme will provide every employee with a structured development pathway and the necessary training materials to support their progression. Progress is linked to salary increases, ensuring our employees are financially rewarded for their skills and experience and are supported and encouraged to achieve their career goals.

    PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

    At Mannok, we enable and encourage employees to progress their careers with recognised courses and qualifications in a wide range of disciplines through our range of development partnerships with some of the country’s leading educational and professional bodies. Employees have the opportunity to gain degree level qualifications and go on to become chartered in their relevant role.

  • Wellbeing

    Wellbeing & Resilience

    Here at Mannok, we recognise the importance of looking after our employees’ mental health and wellbeing, and that our duty of care goes beyond ensuring physical safety.

    We aim to create a diverse and inclusive workplace, enhance the mental and physical wellbeing of every Mannok team member and provide support to help sustain our people and build resilience into our business systems.

    We have established a partnership with local mental health charity, AWARE, and introduced a new Mental Health Charter to outline our commitment to the mental wellbeing of our employees. We have trained mental health first aiders across our business and all managers receive mental health training.

    Activities and advice on looking after your mental wellbeing are actively promoted through our internal communication channels and we provide signposting to support services available. Our digital employee health and wellbeing portal provides access to health, fitness and mindfulness classes and multiple resources to enable a tailored wellbeing platform for every Mannok team member.