Regardless of whether you are a new graduate or a working professional in an accounting and finance role with an aspiration to have career growth, the CMA Program prepares you for the fast-growing field of Management Accounting.
Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is an advanced professional certification that demonstrates a strong knowledge of the critical accounting and financial management skills demanded by today’s dynamic businesses. Here are 5 reasons why you should invest in a CMA certification:
1. Easier Entry Requirements
To begin your CMA qualification, you need a bachelor’s degree or a professional qualification. Although, unlike other qualifications, your degree program doesn’t have to be a specific to accounts, finance, or commerce. This means non-finance professionals can also become CMA. If you are currently pursuing your bachelor’s degree, you can still appear and pass the CMA exams. The certification will only be offered to you once you have achieved your degree.
2. Career Potential
The CMA credential will open a host of career opportunities for you in the UAE such as financial statement analyst, cost control analyst, controller for prevention of frauds and errors, and investment appraisal supervisor. This is due to the qualification is not just comprehensive but also concise and following the latest market trends such as AI and so forth.
3. Global Recognition
Being a gold standard in management accounting and a recognized qualification across the world, the CMA course will open doors to international mobility. Leading employers such as 3M, Caterpillar, ConAgra, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Saudi Aramco, and Verizon seek to hire and promote CMAs in key management roles around the world.
Achieving the CMA qualification offers you the chance to build a lasting network of professional relationships through its local chapters. This could prospectively offer you a chance to expand your skills and enhance your career.
4. Easier Advancement
Among those who have and don’t have a CMA certification, CMA’s are known to achieve higher positions in organizations. People who start their careers with a college degree and no professional certification will find themselves in lower-level positions, as they lack the expertise and knowledge demanded by managerial levels. The CMA course helps bridge this gap by acting as proof of management expertise.
5. Flexibility in the Exam Window
CMA exams are offered in hundreds of locations worldwide and have three exam windows in a year. The advantage of choosing your exam window according to your timeframe and strength of knowledge is one of the many reasons why the CMA is highly sought after. Candidates can also be flexible in deciding which part to appear for first as Part 1 isn’t required to be completed before Part 2 of the CMA exam.
Another distinctive trait of the CMA course is that you can complete the course in almost 6 months whereas other qualifications require a commitment of over 2 years at least.
6. Exam Exemptions
If you pass both parts of the CMA course, you get exempted from Part 4 of the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) examination and from the following 3 papers of the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) exam:
- F1: Accountant in Business
- F2: Management Accounting
- F3: Financial Accounting
7. IMA’S Global CMA Network
IMA’s worldwide CMA digital network offers access to industry best practices and an opportunity to collaborate with fellow CMA’s and gain insights about advancing your career.
The exclusive members-only network also lets you connect with more targeted audiences through hundreds of sub-groups, including 300 local chapters and councils, special committees, and study groups. Each chapter offers a range of professional education programs and leadership, mentoring, community service, and authorship opportunities.
They also have over 30,000 members in our LinkedIn group, this platform is ideal for posting relevant news, trends, or thoughts about management accounting.