Aisling Lafferty, a LYIT graduate, hailing from and living in Quigley’s Point, recently qualified as an ACCA accountant. However an achievement Aisling was not expecting was that she was placed 2^nd in Ireland and 22^nd in the world in her final tax paper. She said, “This was not something I expected. I was overwhelmed when I was notified and the news is still sinking in. As I studied alone and without professional tuition I am very proud that all my hard work and dedication has paid off. My Masters degree in LYIT was a great foundation for these professional exams”.

Aisling graduated with a Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Accountancy in 2011 and a Master of Arts in Accounting in 2012, both from LYIT. In relation to these programmes she mentions that “I would certainly recommend these programmes to other students. They cover all areas of Business and Accounting and the level 8 programme prepared me well for my Masters degree. The Degree and Masters programmes offer generous exemptions for the professional accounting exams”.

Aisling is currently working in McLaughlin McGonigle Accountants in Buncrana and is striving to “help it to grow and be successful” but at the same time she feels she is learning from putting all the skills and knowledge that she has learned through her studies into practice.

Aisling is very positive about the experience she obtained through her studies. She mentions “I am grateful for all the help and support I received from LYIT whilst studying there. I am fortunate to remain in contact with some of my tutors to the present day. LYIT provided me with the necessary foundation and stepping stone to my present day career”.

Patricia Doherty, Head of Department of Business Studies, highlights that “The ACCA final exams are complex technical exams and to pass first time and to achieve a placing in the final tax paper is a great achievement for Aisling and a fantastic endorsement of accounting programmes in LYIT.”