“WANT TO MASTER THE CIA PATH IN THE UAE?”
With the evolution of the accounting and finance sector, traditional accounting qualifications are being replaced by modern, specialized qualifications that focus on advanced learning techniques and equip you with technical, practical, and analytical skills to achieve success in the professional world. These new qualifications typically focus on a specific accounting area, enabling students to master it and deliver exceptional work performance.
Amongst various such accounting qualifications of the modern era comes the CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) path. Recently, the demand for Certified Internal Auditors has been increasing in the UAE’s financial sector; therefore, many accounting aspirants are attracted to this academic path to elevate their journey in finance.
Are you interested in choosing this academic path as well, but are unfamiliar with it? Nothing to worry about, this blog will provide you with all the essential details about the CIA (Certified Internal Auditor), from their academic path to professional roles.
WHAT IS A CERTIFIED INTERNAL AUDITOR?
The Certified Internal Auditor or CIA is a globally acknowledged certification especially designed for internal auditors. This certification is offered by IIA, which stands for the Institute of Internal Auditors; the curriculum of the CIA certification is entirely focused on areas like internal auditing, governance, controls, and risk management. It is an ideal academic path for aspirants who desire to become successful internal auditors or take over roles related to risk management and governance.
WHY BECOME A CERTIFIED INTERNAL AUDITOR IN THE UAE?
Many finance students aspire to become a certified internal auditor in the UAE, but the question is, what inspires them to choose the CIA path? The major reasons why this qualification is becoming very popular in the region are given below:
- The demand for skilled internal auditors is growing in the UAE’s job market in various industries, including oil & gas, real estate, government, etc.
- The UAE’s Government has a strong regulatory emphasis; it encourages rigorous internal control and transparency in the finance sector.
- The potential salary packages and career boost opportunities for Chartered Internal Auditors in the UAE are insane.
HOW TO BECOME A CERTIFIED INTERNAL AUDITOR?
1: MEET ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND REQUIREMENTS OF CIA IN THE UAE:
To begin your academic journey with the CIA in the UAE, you need to meet certain requirements.
- ACADEMIC BACKGROUND:
This certification requires at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institute (could be UAE-based or an international university).
Aspirants who have 2 years of post-secondary education with at least 5 years of practical work experience are also eligible to start this certification.
- WORK EXPERIENCE:
This qualification requires you to gain practical experience depending on your prior academic background. Individuals who have a bachelor’s degree have to gain at least 2 years of work experience in an internal audit. Meanwhile, master’s degree holders are required to gain 1 year of work experience, and 7 years of work experience is mandatory for those having no degree (the practical experience should be relevant and approved).
- CHARACTER REFERENCE:
To officially complete the certification and meet all the requirements, aspirants are required to get the Character reference form signed by a professor, supervisor, or CIA.
2: COMPLETE ALL EXAM PARTS OF CIA:
To complete the CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) qualification, aspirants are required to clear exams in three parts. Part one mainly focuses on the importance of internal auditing, part two concentrates on the practice of internal auditing, whereas part three emphasizes business knowledge for internal auditing.
HOW TO APPLY IN THE UAE:
To start your journey to become a Certified Internal Auditor, you will first have to register for this certification; here are the steps you may follow:
- You may join the IIA Global, or you can also join the IIA UAE chapter, depending on your preference.
- Then, create a profile in IIA CCMS (Certification Candidate Management System).
- Submit all the required documents and application; ensure the documents are accurate.
- Schedule your CIA exams and attempt accordingly.
BENEFITS OF BECOMING A CERTIFIED INTERNAL AUDITOR IN THE UAE:
- The potential salary packages are much better than those of non-certified auditors.
- The certification is globally recognized and makes you eligible to work with multinational organizations.
- Professionals with global certifications get visa preferences.
- Fast tracks your career, for example, from audit manager to head of internal audit.
CONCLUSION
CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) certification can be your best choice if you want to elevate your journey as an internal auditor. This certification is globally recognized and offers a promising career by opening the door to new global opportunities. The popularity of the CIA in the UAE is rising and is expected to grow more shortly; take your step to a bright accounting career as an auditor now by beginning to step into the CIA world.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Q1: Who should consider getting the CIA certification in the UAE?
Ans: Aspirants who aim to expand their finance career in professional roles like internal auditor, audit managers, risk & compliance professionals, audit staff, etc, should consider becoming Certified Internal Auditor in the UAE.
Q2: Does the CIA offer the option of Self-study?
Ans: Yes, the CIA allows aspirants to go for self-paced studies; many students choose this study path for flexibility. However, they can also join online training institutes for academic guidance and support.
Q3: How long does it take to complete the CIA certification?
Ans: Normally, it takes around 13-18 months to complete the exams to become a Certified Internal Auditor; however, it changes from person to person depending on their learning pace and exam success.
