Nicola Davy, a Masters in Accounting student at LYIT, has achieved an impressive first in Ireland and ninth in the world in the professional accountancy exams (ACCA) on Governance, Risk and Ethics.  This is a spectacular performance in exams which are notoriously difficult.  Nicola is from Sligo and chose to study a Masters in Accounting at LYIT in 2010.

"I was always good at Maths in school so accountancy was a good option for me.  Increasingly you need a master's degree to compete for jobs and the Masters at LYIT had a great reputation," she says.

"I've really enjoyed studying at LYIT, it’s top class - the lecturers know their stuff and are excellent mentors too.  I'd like to thank my mum for her support and all the lecturers at LYIT.  I'm very pleased with this result."  Nicola has further exams before she qualifies as an accountant but feels she's got off to a good start.  "This result has given me great confidence to get the final exams completed, by then I'm hoping the economy will be better to secure an accountancy position in Ireland."

Ian Drennan, IAASA CEO said, "Accountancy is, in addition to being a challenging and highly rewarding career choice, one of the better placed professions to weather the current economic turmoil.  With her excellent achievement in the Corporate Governance paper, Nicola has established an impressive academic record and I wish her every success in the future."

Michael Margey, Head of Department of Business, adds, "I would like to congratulate Nicola on her outstanding result.  The Masters in Accounting is extremely well regarded by the industry and realises significant exemptions from the Professional Accounting Bodies.  In one year students are accelerated towards their end goal of qualifying as a practicing accountant.  Due to the success of the course we're seeing a lot of interest from accountancy students, like Nicola, from all over Ireland."

For more information on the Masters in Arts in Accounting contact programme lecturer, paul.mcdevitt@lyit.ie or visit www.lyit.ie/courses/business/lybacctm/

Caption: Accountancy Master's student Nicola Davy, who came 1st in Ireland and 9th in the world in the professional accountancy exams, Governance, Risk & Ethics, with Ian Drennan, CEO, Irish Accounting and Auditing Supervisory Authority (IAASA), and Anne Burke, Accounting Lecturer, LYIT.