A returner should identify the job they would like to return to; seek out advertisements for that type of job and identify the skills and software proficiency required for the job and aim to obtain those skills and proficiencies prior to starting their job search.

Returners are generally not currently wage earning, so expensive formal training is frequently not an option.  However, almost all business topics or software products will have a free MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) where the tuition is free, and an optional exam/certification is paid for.  Searching podcast platforms will usually also yield a number of free podcasts on most business topics which can be engaged with at times when formal study is more difficult.

Completing a free tuition course or podcast diligently is sufficient to justify adding that skill to your CV or Resume. Because many recruiters have automated their selection processes using key word searches, including your Continuing Professional Development on your CV or resume will ensure that those key words are picked up by the algorithm and your CV is then read by a person.  

The ACCA Ireland courses and webinars are on our Events in Ireland booking website.  This includes a suite of both free and paid for courses. Any member on the ACCA reduced subscription membership rate or on a career break can contact ACCA directly to book the paid for courses either free or at reduced cost. Additional courses and CPD resources are available on our CPD resource finder.

Paid for data analytics courses

ACCA has partnered with Trinity College Dublin to provide a course on 'Leading with Business Analytics and Big Data'.

NCI also have a host of Springboard (Government funded or subsidised) courses, including Data Analytics see. Visit the Springboard area of the NCI website for further information.

Returning to work in a practice 

There are a number of accounts preparation software products frequently used in practices and many of these come with online training modules and free trial periods or free copies of the software for external accountants and bookkeepers:

Although all different, these products all have similar functionality and are generally intuitive to use. A number of YouTube instruction videos and demonstrations are available for these products so returners can familiarise themselves with the software prior to starting work. ACCA has also recorded and made available on demand a presentation on digitising a practice: From a desk-based accountant to a cloud-based accountant in 60 minutes.