The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), a leading global organisation dedicated to supporting accountants and financial professionals in business, said that its Middle East membership has grown by 30 percent year on year.

Jim Gurowka, international business development director, IMA, said that significant strides in membership numbers were achieved over the past year where Egypt witnessed 90 per cent growth to reach 2,600 members, while Saudi Arabia and UAE membership numbers grew by 43 per cent to 1,500 and 22 per cent to 2,000 members respectively.

This brings the total IMA membership in the MENA region to 10,700, Gurowka said.

“We are also happy to announce that we launched our newest regional chapter in Amman, Jordan, bringing the total number of Middle East chapters to five,” continued Gurowka, who placed emphasis on the certified management accountant (CMA) course as the driving force behind the elevated interest in the IMA.

The Jordanian chapter was inaugurated at an event held in Amman that merged the IMA with the newly formed Jordan Association of Management Accountants (Jama).

Ammar Khayyat, president of Jama, will head the chapter as president. Khayyat holds his position as chief financial officer (CFO) at the Jabbar Group.

The CMA exam subject matter, which was reorganised in November last year and now consist of two exam parts rather than four, places greater emphasis on the issues most critical to accountants and financial professionals in business, including financial planning, analysis, control and decision support.

“The CMA exam continues to be a career-enhancing credential valued and sought by employers across the globe, and has had a considerable impact on professionals in the Middle East region, signified by the impressive membership growth rates witnessed over the past year,” said Gurowka. – TradeArabia News Service