The competition, announced last year, saw the teams from the Middle East selected as finalists from 37 entries received from 35 universities from the region. More than 100 students showed interest in participating, demonstrating the growing enthusiasm and engagement among the region’s aspiring management accountants.
“Throughout the competition, we witnessed the immense talent and innovation of the next generation of management accountants. The commitment, depth of understanding, and analytical thinking exhibited by the students were extraordinary. This year’s competition not only tested their technical abilities, but also their leadership, teamwork, and decision-making skills. It gives us immense pleasure to see such bright young minds rise to the challenge and excel. These promising individuals are undoubtedly the future of the profession,” said Ahmad Mkhallati, senior director, IMA Middle East, India, & Africa Operations.
“Winning the IMA ‘Ace The Case 2023’ was an incredible affirmation of our talent, dedication, and hard work. The recognition from IMA and industry experts has provided us with rewarding opportunities and strengthened our relationships. We’re deeply thankful to IMA for the platform and to our advisors, mentors, and loved ones for their support. This victory, a cherished and defining milestone, underscores the power of our teamwork and reminds us of our potential,” said the American University of Beirut winning team.
The winners were selected through a rigorous selection process overseen by a jury of accounting and finance professionals and IMA leaders from around the world. As part of the competition, university students were challenged to demonstrate their analytical skills, strategic foresight, and creativity in teams of three to five members, formulating their cases and in turn, presenting their work to a panel of management accounting experts.
Over the years, IMA has challenged thousands of students from some of the top universities around the world and found a growing appetite among students looking to demonstrate their capabilities to take on big business problems. For its 12th year, IMA invited eligible students from the region to solve a business case titled: “Kunapipi Gardens: Transfer Pricing in the Service Industry.”
The IMA Middle East Student case competition has received significant recognition from top multinationals in the region such as SOCPA, Hock International, and Morgan International along with the Abu Dhabi, Eastern Province, Western Province, and Riyadh Chapters as sponsors of the event. Demonstrating their deep commitment to the development of these students, each of these sponsors extended their participation in the competition by contributing a representative to be a judge in the final jury panel, underscoring the collaborative nature of this notable event.
