Management accountants saw their average salaries climb 6 per cent to €77,861 last year, according to new research.

Dublin accountants topped the earnings league, with remuneration averaging €81,972. West of Ireland practitioners fared worst at €65,991, the survey by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Premier Recruitment found.

Salaries varied widely according to seniority. Accountants who qualified in 1986 earn €104,727 on average, compared to €42,178 for 2002 graduates.

Despite their relatively healthy incomes, respondents were gloomy about employment prospects. Nearly half (49 per cent) considered moving jobs last year but 39 per cent reported the labour market in poor shape and 45 per cent thought it was average. Only 4 per cent said the outlook was buoyant and none found it very buoyant.

Fallout from a spate of corporate scandals in the US had damaged the profession's reputation, 78 per cent of respondents said.

However, some argued that the long-term impact of such incidents will be positive because it will force regulatory bodies to tighten codes of practice.

Many accountants believed inflation will cancel out growth this year and wondered whether the Government is competent to steer the economy through the challenges ahead.