Management accountants confident on job prospects

Life's good if you're about to qualify as a management accountant in Ireland. According to new figures from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), 57% are expecting a bonus this year and the majority of soon-to-be qualified candidates anticipate finding a new job. But are they being overly-optimistic?

Nearly 50% of people studying for a CIMA qualification in Ireland intend to move jobs this year, with 72% of those planning to stay in the Emerald Isle. Around 70% are also confident of a promotion in 2009.

"The current economic climate means that the role of the management accountant in helping businesses survive and thrive is more important than ever," says David McCarthy, divisional director of CIMA Ireland.

While the job prospects of management accountants in Ireland are better than those with ACA or ACCA qualifications at the moment, it would be an exaggeration to say they're particularly rosy, says Ken Harbourne, country manager for recruiters Robert Half in Ireland.

"There's not an abundance of management accountants in Ireland, so they are in a relatively strong position. However, compared to last year, there's just a handful of jobs and competition is incredibly fierce," he says.

The average basic salary for a person studying for a CIMA qualification in Ireland is €47,384, with a bonus of €2,181. Once qualified, a CIMA member in Ireland earns over €99k.

Three out of ten CIMA qualified candidates in Ireland hold a job function at director level or above.