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Advocacy Corner - What is the Value of the CMA Credential?

By Linda Devonish Mills posted 09-05-2014 01:14 PM

  
Is there value in obtaining the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) Credential?  An article in Investopedia describes the many benefits an accounting and finance professional can obtain from getting the credential.  I think it is interesting that the article appears on a site called Investopedia.  It is a good hint for accounting and finance professionals to embrace the CMA credential as an investment.

The article features prominent CMAs such as Ben Mulling, IMA's chair - elect and Steve Kuchen, member of IMA's Small Business Financial and Regulatory Affairs Committee.  They describe how obtaining the CMA credential has helped with their career goals and exposure within the management accounting profession.  Ben and Steve's reflections on their journey with obtaining their credential reminded me of my experience with becoming a CMA in 2011.  I was a CPA for many years prior to making the decision to obtain the CMA credential.  Why did I decide to obtain another credential?  I immediately saw the value associated with the credential.  The CMA credential is an excellent compliment to the CPA and other advanced accounting/finance credentials since the CMA designation confirms your competencies in accounting and finance at advanced levels.  Obtaining the CMA credential provides confirmation to employers that you are capable of making crucial, sound, financial decisions for a company.  That is a skill set that CFOs and Controllers look for at all levels with an accounting/finance division.

I hope that my thoughts about the CMA designation will encourage IMA members and non-members to obtain the credential.  You can begin your journey by reading the article in Investopedia at

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/professionals/052913/cma-designation-worth-it.asp.  The article includes information about fees you have to pay to obtain the credential, which should be considered nominal compared to the benefits of becoming a CMA.

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