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Career Opportunities

The Master of Accounting qualification from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School gives you the broad-based knowledge and in-depth accounting skills you need for the long-term development of your career. You gain access to a wide range of employment opportunities, namely within Accounting, Financial Services, Industry and Commerce, and Management Consultancy, and with employers such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Deloitte, and Ernst & Young. UCD Master of Accounting graduates such as Siobhán Talbot, Chief Executive of Glanbia, and Shaun Murphy, Chief Operating Officer of the Ardagh Group, occupy some of the top positions in the business and accounting professions.

100% of our graduates from this programme were employed after 6 months across a range of industry sectors. Source: Latest Graduate Outcomes Survey, published in December 2022.

Potential Careers for our Graduates

Potential careers for our graduates include:

  • Accountant
  • Auditor
  • Tax Consultant
  • Management consulting
  • Banking and investment management

Companies hiring our graduates

Alumni Insights

Matthew Carroll

Tax Associate at PwC, MAcc 2022

"The Master of Accounting programme at UCD Smurfit is the most reputable course of its kind. Alongside full CAP2 and partial Part II exemptions is the chance to learn from passionate lecturers with a wealth of knowledge and real world experience. You will be pushed beyond the course material to enhance your technical knowledge and professional skills. The close friendships you make within the MAcc will continue into your training contracts and serve as important additions to your professional network as you embark on your career."

Thomas Marry

Master of Accounting 2023, Audit Associate Deloitte Ireland

“The MAcc at the UCD Smurfit School is the best programme of its kind in Ireland. Beyond providing exemptions for CAP 2 exams with Chartered Accountants Ireland, it prepares you for the FAE exams giving you an edge over others.  The technical knowledge and skills, coupled with the professional skills developed in this programme will ensure that you will succeed in the accountancy profession and business world. Furthermore,  the intimate nature of the course fosters the development of many lifelong friendships.”

Rachael Collins

MAcc 2022, Financial Services Tax Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

"Having thoroughly enjoyed my undergraduate degree at UCD, it felt natural to continue my
studies at UCD Smurfit for my chosen career path of becoming both a chartered accountant and a chartered tax advisor. The MAcc in Smurfit Business School offers an experienced and
dedicated team of lecturers along with a small class size resulting in students maximizing their
potential from these lecturers and other staff alike. An added appeal to the MAcc is the fact that it doesn’t just offer the CAP 2 Accounting exemptions but also provides training in accounting analytics, integrative analysis and provides a further exemption in the Part II CTA exams. In conclusion, when I joined PwC and began my training contract I felt better equipped and more confident to succeed in both my professional exams and my career."

Ruairi McCormack

Tax Consulting Associate at KPMG Ireland, MAcc 2022

"Initially I was attracted to the exceptional reputation of Smurfit as a world-renowned business school, as illustrated by global rankings and triple-accreditation and found it an uplifting place to learn which I was honoured to experience. As a MAcc student, I was conscious of the tradition of the programme and the exceptional alumni which it has produced, many of whom have occupied some of the most prestigious seats in Irish and global business. This was and continues to be a great inspiration to me.

The MAcc curriculum expands beyond the necessary requirements of the CAI CAP 2 syllabus. Professional development opportunities helped in developing attributes such as leadership, public speaking and personal branding. The MAcc provided a tremendous opportunity to learn from an expert team of lecturers, comprising of academics, practitioners and industry leaders, who embodied the culture of excellence and hard work which permeates the programme. Many of our lecturers already had distinguished business careers and it was a privilege to learn from their experience and insights. The intimate class size of the MAcc facilitates a truly personalised experience and a warm atmosphere. As one of the class representatives, I was able to experience first-hand the continuous support afforded to students throughout the year.

The environment at Smurfit also provides a platform to pursue high performance in other walks of life. I was honoured to receive a UCD Graduate Sports Scholarship for Gaelic Football and the support afforded to me facilitated 100% commitment to academic and sporting careers. I can honestly say that my high expectations for Smurfit were far exceeded, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunity. I would wholeheartedly recommend the programme to any prospective student; I believe it is a passport to an exciting and rewarding future career."

Sam Totterdell

MAcc 2022, Corporate Tax Associate at Deloitte

"I chose to study the MAcc at UCD as it felt the natural progression to pursue an accounting career. The Master of Accounting at UCD Smurfit set me up incredibly well for a career in professional services. It is a programme delivered by top-class facilitators who are invested in each student's development and well-being. The technical knowledge gained sets students up extremely well to go on and pursue their accounting and/or tax qualifications, with additional tax exemptions offered when compared to similar programmes. Alongside this excellent learning, the small class environment is conducive to making friends that you will continue to work alongside and build these friendships for many years into the future. It was a thoroughly enjoyable programme which allowed me to further my learning."

Laura Kelly

MAcc 2016, Audit Assistant Manager at Deloitte

"The reputation and accreditations which UCD Smurfit School holds are just some of the reasons that I choose to apply for the MAcc. From the outset it was clear to see the experience, knowledge, dedication and passion that was shared by lecturers and staff alike to support the success of the students. The MAcc provided me with a strong foundation in a wide array of subject matters, with a focus on both technical knowledge as well as practical application of the concepts in a collaborative environment. An added appeal was the ability to complete the tax summer school as part of the curriculum and obtain further exemptions from the Part II CTA exams. Ultimately the experience I gained on the MAcc, combined with the alumni network that I developed, equipped me with the tools to succeed in both my professional qualifications and my career."

Ross Duffy

MAcc 2019, Senior Tax Associate at PwC

"The MAcc at UCD Michael Smurfit Business School will ensure success in qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, but more importantly the MAcc will set you apart from your peers as you work both in Ireland and further afield. I completed the MAcc at UCD Smurfit Business School on account of it being Ireland’s leading business school, providing an outstanding quality of teaching and a supportive learning environment. The MAcc will give you the professional and analytical skills, along with solid technical knowledge, to support you during your training contract, professional exams and future career, wherever that may take you."

UCD Careers Network

The UCD Smurfit Career Development Centre team will work with you to define your career path and support you in developing the career-related skills, know-how, and confidence to pursue your post-MSc career goals.

Our holistic programme is designed to support you at key points in your career development.  Our programme is structured into three key stages, designed to support you in building and driving your own career.

A variety of workshops, events, one-to-one career appointments and access to a range of online tools and resources prepare you for future opportunities. 

Learn more about the UCD Careers Network 

Getting Started: Set-up for Success

Building Career Skills & Professional Networks

Success at Interview and Professional Brand Building

Discover our Rankings and Accreditations