Accounting for her Success

Accounting for her Success

Amanda Heeney came to DCU as an Access student studying Accounting.  Now, she’s the new Programme Chair of the course.

“We’re definitely not boring!” says New Accounting and Finance Chair

As students return to DCU for the start of the new academic year, Amanda Heeney can reflect on an interesting career journey that, in some ways, has brought her full circle. 

Amanda came to DCU in 2009 as an Access student, taking the BA in Accounting and Finance at DCU Business School. Just over ten years after graduating, and following a successful detour into the corporate world, Amanda is the newly appointed Programme Chair of the very same course.

From Duleek, Co Meath, Amanda attended a Deis school and always knew she wanted a career in accountancy. She set her sights on DCU after attending an open day at the University. Without her DCU Access Scholarship, she says attending college would have been much more challenging.

“The Access Service was absolutely amazing,” says Amanda, who found that the financial and social support they provided made the transition to University life much easier.

Amanda was paired with a second-year access student who acted as a buddy, providing  help and advice and even loaning her college books. It helped to have someone on hand who “you could reach out to if you were struggling.”

Following her studies, Amanda’s career followed a familiar path for many graduates of the course, gaining experience at some of the world’s major consultancy firms. Her first job was with EY, working with financial services clients. She went on to join Grant Thornton’s corporate tax department in a management role.

“Anyone that goes into a big firm knows it can be challenging and hard work at times. The standards are high but you learn so much and the people that I worked with were really amazing,” says Amanda.

At a manager training Day in Grant Thornton, team members were asked to take a personality test. But the results were not what Amanda was expecting. Unlike most of her colleagues, the test indicated that her personality type was best suited to teaching. 

It was a lightbulb moment that led to her rethinking her career path. When a contract teaching accountancy at DCU Business School came up in 2019, she jumped at the opportunity and has stayed ever since.

Amanda admits that it took a while to adjust to working alongside her former lecturers, who are now her colleagues. As for the students, not much has changed since her time but she admits “they’re probably more outspoken than we were.”

Several years on, Amanda has earned promotion to Programme Chair and is an understandably vocal champion of the BA Accounting and Finance. For her, the course’s strong points include its strong connections with the industry, along with the array of professional accountancy exemptions it provides within a three-year degree.

Beyond the technical skills that students gain with this degree, there is also an increased emphasis on transferable skills such as communication and critical thinking. 

Amanda is passionate about the positive contribution that accountants can make to the broader economy. She sees them as gatekeepers who ensure high ethical standards in the business world. Particularly in smaller organisations, accountants also act as trusted business advisors.

Amanda says an accounting and finance degree offers a wide range of career opportunities. Some graduates take traditional routes into accountancy firms or the business sector. However, she points out that her students have guest lectures from qualified accountants who work in organisations such as charities, the UN, and even the Policing Authority. Looking to the future, she believes accountancy and finance graduates will also have a role to play in areas like sustainability reporting and the promotion of better financial literacy.

“Even though people may see us as boring, we’re definitely not boring!” says Amanda with a smile.

Beyond her professional life, Amanda’s great passion is live music. She can’t be accused of having boring musical taste either. Highlights from a summer of gig-going range from Taylor Swift to Pearl Jam. Other concerts included Adele and a Heavy Metal festival. 

“That’s my thing,” she says, “That’s my happy place.”

Perhaps the same could be said for DCU. “I love being back in DCU,” says Amanda. “I love teaching the students. You know, it just kind of feels like coming home in a way.”

Interested in finding out more about the BA Accounting & Finance, click here.

Author: Tom Swift,  University Content Editor