UAE Management Accountancy Salaries Higher Than Average in Middle East and Africa Regions, IMA Data Reveals

DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- IMA^® (Institute of Management Accountants) today announced the results of its 2019 UAE Salary Survey. Responses garnered from the survey positively highlight how a professional certification has a clear and definite impact on salaries in the UAE. Having a CMA^® (Certified Management Accountant) opened doors to enhanced career opportunities, with 83% of respondents agreeing with this statement, and 81% expressing that it did strengthen their job security in a dynamic business landscape.

The earning power of respondents in the UAE is significantly more than those in the MEA region as identified in the results of the study. Average salaries in the UAE are 178% higher and the average total compensation is 177% higher, compared to those in the MEA region. Overall, respondents in the UAE earn a higher median compensation versus those in the MEA region, where the median base salary and total compensations were $16,000 and $19,000, respectively. In a clear trend, those holding the CMA qualification continue to earn higher median salaries and higher median total compensation in the UAE compared to their counterparts who do not possess the certification. The median salary for respondents holding the CMA in the UAE was 54% higher compared to those without it.

Monetary compensation is found to be a determining factor that contributes significantly to job satisfaction. On a global level, there has been a marked increase in job satisfaction from the previous year's results. In the UAE, 79.5% of the respondents were either somewhat or strongly in agreement with the statement, "I love my job," which is an increase of 35% compared to overall satisfaction in 2017. This marked increase in job satisfaction is despite a drop in average compensation for the year and with only 42% of the respondents agreeing that their compensation package was competitive with their peers.

In addition to compensation, several factors contribute toward job satisfaction, including raises and hours worked. In the UAE, 44.4% of respondents reported that they received a raise within the past year, with an average raise of around 14.7% and a median raise of 10%. An interesting outcome of the study found that a higher percentage of women received raises in the last year, compared to men (47.5% vs. 43.3%).

As concerns about job security and stability increase with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) in the Digital Age, respondents were asked how they felt AI would affect their company, the finance function, and their job status in the near future. Overall, 65% felt confident that their jobs would not be replaced by AI any time soon. Furthermore, those in top management roles felt most confident that their jobs would not be replaced (84%), whereas those in lower management felt less confident (48%). Forty-nine percent of respondents either somewhat or strongly agreed that AI would greatly impact their company in the next two years, while 53% agreed that the finance function would also be impacted in the same time period.

"The UAE has been a productive economy providing job opportunities across a wide range of sectors in the region. It offers professionals promising career paths that allow them to excel at various levels of the corporate ladder," said Hanadi Khalife, Director, ME and India operations at IMA. "The survey showcases the added value the CMA creates for management accountants in building up-to-date knowledge and professional expertise. Similar to other regions in the Middle East, more than half of the respondents this year expressed their confidence that AI will not replace their roles. This is a positive conclusion of the study, as it shows the pertinence of acquiring and developing new skills, which address technological advancements in the workplace."

The study, covering data for the year 2018, surveyed 302 IMA members from across the UAE concentrating on four Emirates: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras al Khaimah. More than half of the respondents were from Dubai (58.9%), with an additional 29.8% from Abu Dhabi and 7% and 3.6% in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah respectively. The number of respondents from the UAE increased from 123 in 2017 to 302 in 2018, showing a significant increase of 246%. The report summarizes information related to education, certification, as well as experience, and analyzes the effects these factors have on compensation. On a qualitative note, it also presents information gathered from respondents regarding their satisfaction with their jobs.

About IMA^® (Institute of Management Accountants)
IMA^®, named the 2017 and 2018 Professional Body of the Year by The Accountant/International Accounting Bulletin, is one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession. Globally, IMA supports the profession through research, the CMA^® (Certified Management Accountant) and CSCA^® (Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis) programs, continuing education, networking, and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. IMA has a global network of more than 125,000 members in 150 countries and 300 professional and student chapters. Headquartered in Montvale, N.J., USA, IMA provides localized services through its four global regions: The Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Middle East/India. For more information about IMA, please visit www.imanet.org.

About IMA's 2019 Global Salary Survey

For many years, IMA^® (Institute of Management Accountants) has conducted the very popular salary survey of its members around the world, enabling its members to compare their compensation to others, assess the value of education and certification, and more. This is the fifth year IMA conducted a single global salary survey, making global trends easier to track and enhancing regional comparison. Additionally, we also look at other factors such as how members spend their time among traditional vs. strategic roles and how much they expect technology and artificial intelligence to affect their jobs. This report presents survey results for participants in the Middle East/Africa (MEA) region and India only and compares compensation levels and job satisfaction across several demographic groups. The global and individual country/region reports are posted on IMA's Thought Leadership website at www.imanet.org/salary_survey .

Contact:
Yasmin Gomes,
+971 4 429 6017,
[email protected]

SOURCE IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants)