So, which Accounting Certification is for you?
-What’s coming to Asifism.com?-Certified Accountant Vs. Chartered Accountant
-UK Accounting Certifications vs US Accounting Certifications
With the plethora of accounting certifications and qualifications out there today, no matter what country you are in, it can be a daunting task to choose which certification is right for you. Gone are the days when if you were a young fellow who aimed toward getting the Certified Public Accountant Certification (CPA) issued by the AICPA in the US; gone are the days when you could just become a Chartered Accountant (CA) in the UK, or for that matter anywhere else in the world.
The typical certified public or chartered accountant today is just one of the many recognized, approved and qualified accounting certifications today. There are numerous others, irrespective of where you are: the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA, International) Certification, the Association of Accounting Technicians Certification (AAT, UK), the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) & the Certified Financial Manager (CFM) Certifications issued by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA, USA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Certification (CIMA, UK & International) which is totally a tier based certification, starting with entry, managerial, strategic and TOPCIMA. If you dig deeper into the US & UK Markets, you’ll see many others, and each of them has their own following. I recently found out that there was an Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) in the UK, and it’s a pretty major organization. Interestingly enough, I’ve never seen ANY job advertised asking for a certification from the IFA. Questionable? Who in the hell knows.
But here is what I can tell you. Accounting has become a diversified field. The certifications mentioned above are only some of the management/financial/public accountant type, and there are other new accountant types, which come with some fascinating certifications of there own. The upcoming accountant job titles you will come across now are forensic accountants, environmental accountants, project accountants, systems accountants, etc. etc. The list is never ending. Gone are the days when you trained to be a Director of Finance/CFO, Financial Controller, or simply strived to become an auditor in a public accountancy firm. However, in today’s competitive world, no matter what country you are in, it is VERY important to pick the accountancy field that you want to go into. Since each of these fields/job titles in accounting has its own relevant certification or qualification, it can sometimes be difficult to trespass from one into the other. Also note that some of these are not multinational certifications, and when going cross border, especially between 2 first world countries (the US & UK, for instance), having one kind of a background or certification can cause you quite the grief.
Take, for instance, the simple line of Financial & Management Accounting. There are people out there, and particularly recruitment consultant characters, who will try to convince you that there is a LOT of difference between Financial & Management Accountants. Well, I’m here to tell you: bull-fecking shit. Management Accountants are for incompetent business owners; financial accountants are for compliance. That statement is true, but what good is a financial accountant who can only comply? That’s no accountant; he’s a simple instruction taker.
Back to the topic at hand. If management or financial accounting is the field you want to pursue, well, CIMA is your certification for Europe and most parts of Asia. If you are in the US, CMA or CFM from the IMA is the direction you should be headed in; and despite the common ground between the two, do NOT be confused or deceived. One will not co-operate with the other. The two are essentially competitors, with the IMA fighting for international recognition alongside CIMA. But get this, the AICPA feels so threatened by the IMA in the US, primarily because they are rightly carving our a different role/job description for financial managers in firms (a very niche position that CPA/CA types aren’t meant for), that they went out of the way to cut a deal with CIMA, saying that CIMA is indeed a decent certification, and that CIMA is an institution they recognize. There was an entire article in the IMA Magazine regarding the issue, and the problem is, the AICPA cannot risk losing the value of its members within the US, so it refuses to accept the separate role or importance of Financial & Management Accountants.
But the US is not a country where all is lost. Quality matters. America is probably the only place in the world where at some level, it’s not who you know, but what you know, with the result that even today, you can succeed in industry/private sector in the US without any certifications, but only if you know what the hell it is that you’re doing. Ideally, if you are going into industry, stick to the IMA Certifications: CMA & CFM. They are relevant! AICPA has become bloated and extremely political, and let’s face it, most Certified Public Accounants really can get dull. It’s not their fault. If you sole purpose in life is to assure the work of others, your existence falls into the misery of being second for good! AND, due to the tactics and acts of Certified Public Accountants, today, if we creative financal & management accounting types get creative with our work, we get penalized. Way to go, AICPA!
Now, if you’re in the UK, CIMA is the way to go. I have seen, with my exposure to this market, and some Asian & Middle East ones, that being a Chartered Accountant always helps. It looks good, no matter what job you apply for, but it is not always relevant. Being a CA does by no means make you good at management or financial accounting; it just means you can dig yourself in papers for hours and hours and not get fed up, which, on a whole different level, is something admirable since I myself have difficulty with that. Certifications for Private/Industry Accountants in the UK with value are the ACCA, the AAT, and CIMA. Note that if you come to the UK with other certifications from other countries (other than a CA which is issed by an Institute which is authorized/accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales [ICAEW]), like the ICMA you can get in India and Pakistan, which is the Istitute of Cost & Management Accountants, you won’t get too far over here.
For some reason, the ACCA is considered a medium level certification over here. I’m not sure why; maybe they haven’t advertised or marketed enough, but ACCAs are for some reason not given executive treatment, especially not to the level of the CIMA qualified personnel. CIMA, in the UK, is considered an executive level certification, and passing it in this country means that you have stood the accounting test of time, and deserve salary, whether or not you know anything is irrelevant. Although the basic content in ACCA & CIMA is comparable, as is the basic content of the CMA and CFM in the US (with an exception ot the differences between US GAAP, UK GAAP & IFRS/IASB), CIMA has marketed themselves well, and has forged business alliances that have given them the executive reputation. So, if you want to make it big in industry as a Controller, Director of Finance, VP of Finance, or a CFO, CIMA is the Certification you should be looking that. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think you will get there with the ACCA too. It will just take longer than with CIMA. AAT, on the other hand, has been coming up with all the positive marketing they’ve been doing lately. However, I think AAT is still considered an entry level professional certification for non-accounting degree holders, and it makes you familiar with some of the technical aspects of accounting in the UK: VAT, PAYE, NI, etc. etc. Hence, the name Accounting Technician.
Let’s be honest, interesting or not, right or wrong, there is a big following that goes with the CPA and CA Certifications. So you’re always playing it safe by aiming for one of those. They may not be relevant for industry, but they will and have always held their importance, since auditing has become a vital part of big corporate money. Of course, if it has been your lifelong dream to become a public accountant, to project your affairs into other people’s business, and spend the rest of your professional life assuring others that their work is upto par, well, what can I say, by all means, go ahead. No offence meant. I have nothing against Certified Public Accountants or Chartered Accountants. I just think the role of Auditor is boring. I could never do it. I barely got through Auditing Class. Unto each his own, eh!
This article is written courtesy of VAFTA Solutions Limited.
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March 21st, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Hummm very interesting article indeed… well i am a business administration with an enphasis on accounting graduate, and i am not interested in financial accounting nor auditing, i am looking for a management accounting role so i am considering two professional certifications, either the US CMA sponsored by the IMA or the UK ACMA / FCMA sponsored by CIMA. which one is more powerful and internationally recognized? and how can you compare their level of difficulty to eachothers? your prompt feedback on that matter would be extremely appreciated. thanks and best regards.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:01 am
Well, seeing as how you’re writing the comment from Dubai, my first question is where are you getting your degree from, and the second is where do you intend to practice as a Management Accountant. If you intend to stay in Dubai,it doesn’t really matter, because from CPAs to CAs to CMAs to CIMAs to FCMAs, nobody really knows what the hell they’re doing.
On an international level, and that excludes the USA, the CIMA has a much stronger hold and stands on much stronger ground than US based IMA does.
I think the CMA from the IMA may actually be a more mature certification. When appearing for CMA exams, you are expected to know basic accounting, you are basically being prepped for professional, practical, on the job kind of work, more, so to say, professiona/executive management/financial accounting type work. In essence, I think CMA or CFM from the IMA is what is guaged for accounting majors in university, and having seen through and read almost all of these books, I think the CMA makes for a mature accounting certification.
CIMA sponsored Certifications, however, cover both accounting and non accounting majors. They start with the basic, with the idea of converting all the jobless into some kind of accountants, and are much more commercial, which means they market at a much larger level, and are, therefore, better in the international recoginition department. I haven’t invested in upper level CIMA books yet, so I’m not sure how challenging they really are. With their syllabus, however, it seems like the last 5 CIMA papers are pretty much an IFRS version of the CMA/CFM exams, which would make it relatively similar.
However, if you ask me, I think the CMA is more respectable, because the IMA is more of an accounting club; CIMA markets to invite everyone. But then, marketing is king.
Ultimately, it depends on WHERE you are looking to work. Inside the US, definitely IMA based certifications. Outside the US, preferably CIMA. In neutral ground like Dubai, where the public arena sees both CPAs ad CAs, it’s a hit or miss, because as the economy develops, the success of the IMA or CIMA path will depend on the route the government takes towards formulating laws pertaining to businesses and financial reporting. But given the global switch to IFRS, even in the US, CIMA may make for a much safter bet. But you can’t rule IMA out, because since the US is trying to bridge the gap between US GAAP and IFRS, IMA will also offer continuing education to make you IFRS compatible as a CMA or CFM.
The choice, my friend, is a personal one.
March 30th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
That’s the question I carry on my monkey back for almost 6 months now. You look to me that you got all those CMFCACIPC certificates? Wow!
Perhaps you can turm my head in the right direction. I would like to make a certificate but I am by far no accountant. I have a finance degree and worked in controlling and in finance, and I like to keep it that way. But, my intention is some sice Finance Director in Asia or UAE. I like to read the accountants work, I like to discuss with them on a professional level, but I don’t want to be the bookkeeper who is discussing whether one bill goes down this account or the other. I already got sweet with the CFA, but its said that there is not much financial planning in there. It would be more for analysts in the outside world who consider a buyout…
So what certificate you would suggest?
Thanks, Tobi
March 30th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Tobias,
You’re stuck upon a question that many people in the business world who deal with finance are.
I don’t have any certifications. I’ve been practicing corporate accounting for over 7 years (seeing as how I’m 25, that’s just about a third of my life), and I can tell you something that not many others can: the certifications, for the most part, are superficial qualifications. I own the books for the CIMA and CMA both. I have decided that I’m going to do them both, because in the world east of the United States, it is not what you know, it is who you know and what you can flash, i.e., it is not a matter of how good you are, it is a matter of showing professional qualifications.
That said, you have been working in controlling and finance, and you want to work toward moving up as a Finance Director, and for that, you need to have some sort of an accounting background, which means you would possibly need CIMA, given the fact that you’re chosen location is Asia or the Middle East.
You see, no matter what, every accountant needs to understand the concept of bookkeeping. Ultimately, in many ways, double entry bookkeeping exists to provide accountants job security, to cloud and confuse the books so much that it takes an accountant to decode them and “present” them to the rest of the business management team. Therefore, you don’t have to be a bookkeeper to do something like this, but you need to know how to do it.
The thing is, the typical finance director does not do bookkeeping for a living, but it is his job to make sure that the right bill goes under the right classification, because if it doesn’t it could throw off your entire basis of discussion with a Managing Director or Executive Director. So, you’ll need to make sure that as a Finance Director, your underlings are doing the right kind of work.
Now, what is it that Finance Directors see on the job, and how key is CIMA or IMA to it? Well, not much, but these courses are so wide in the ground that they cover, and they are capable of giving you some of the tools that you may need on the job. But nothing prepares you for it.
I’ve worked for about 20 different companies, and I’ve typically worked with upper management or MDs who had a difficult time dealing with accountants or bookkeepers. CIMA will not prepare you to deal with the job practically, neither will CMA. I now have a client who has a problem that neither of the certifications resolve. Party X did a management buyout of Company Y two years ago. Company Y owned Party Z 80,000 pounds sterling at the time of the buyout, but no payments were being made. The loan had been on the books for a couple of years. After Party X completed the buyout and the Company was renamed Company O, the loan was moved onto the books of Company O. After three years, Party Z decides that they never wanted the money back. Now, Company O is expanding, but the loan of 80,000, which has gone on all the tax returns, and has been on the books for years, is hampering Company Os plans for growth, because when investors and lenders look at that loan, it’s a big flag of the company’s existing liability, which really doesn’t exist. You are the Finance Director, and the MD tells you to get rid of this problem.
Now, how do you do it? This is not a simple matter of making a journal entry and writing it off. The government will be involved (come tax time), as are financial institutions (come loan time). How do you deal with it?
This is part of the slightly dirty work senior accountants / FDs have to do. If you read the latest version of Financial Management & other such magazines, the dirty work for FDs has gone up; it has become a diverse field.
One thing is for sure, and you’re right, the CFA is not for where you are headed. If I were you, I would stick to CIMA for Asia or the UAE. But looking at the mentality in that market, you could get a CMA and CFM with 6 exams from the US based IMA, and the CIMA with 15 exams from the UK. Two look more flashy than one; that’s why I am now seriously looking into do doing all of them. But, start with CIMA. East of the US, go for CIMA; it is considered the Financial/Accounting Executive’s qualification.
And as an FD, I have to say, that you cannot escape accounting or bookkeeping. There may be less of it at the FD level, but it will come to you in spurts.
August 16th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Hello there,
I’m qaulifying to become a CA in South Africa at the end of the year. I feel the CA qaulification is over rated here. I want to come to the US and hopefully make a life for myself. Will my CA certification hold up in the US? Is there some sort of bridging necessary to CPA? Will I one day end up in an executive position only having the CA certification? To be honest I feel auditing firms only train accountants to be auditors - and in the end that is the only thing you are good at. Am I wrong in saying that you need something else (different work experience) to make it in the business world?
Thanks
August 16th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Vorster,
Yes, bridging will definitely be required to bridge the gap between your CA and the CPA. You will have to sit for a couple of exams depending on the US state that will issue your CPA license, and that really is totally upto you.
Assuming that you are currently a Deloitte & Touch employee, yes, auditing firms on train their employees to become accountants.
You are right in saying that the experience required to make it as a successful finance executive in industry is very different from the experience required to make it as an auditor. That said, audit experience is useful experience. Make no mistake, a finance executive is a challening job; it can be very lucrative at times, but can be followed by extremely boring periods of time, and like all well paying jobs, it requires a lot of political evils, ones that many good people are not capable of.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:03 am
hi,
i’m going to finish my high school this year. Now i’m wondering if i should go for ACCA or taking an accounting degree. Is ACCA very hard to pass? Should i take a degree first then only take ACCA while i’m working?
What is CPA? And what’s the difference between ACCA and CIMA? Which qualification is more demanded in the accounting field now? Is CIMA more to finance? I knew finance jobs are not that boring, but i’m not a smart person, so i scared i can’t make an important decision rightfully and can’t manage my job well.
Which route should i take to have a better achievement in my future career?
Thanks.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Hi asif,
I’m currently in my last year of A levels. I intending to go to university next year where i will be taking an undergraduate degree in Accounting and finance. I was never quite sure on what the difference is between a certified accountant and a chartered accountant. From reading you other artical on this i have learnt the difference. I am confused about what qualification i would need to do after uni. To be honest i knew nothing about these qualification frm CIMA to ACCA, it was only a month ago when i was attending a uni open day that i learnt of the different qualifications.
I am thinking of a CIMA qualification but im not sure. I am actually not evn quite sure what type of accountant i want to be a chartered or a certified accountant. What area of accounting do you think is the most interesting and not borin? I was thinking of chartered accountancy but i am not sure.
I am very confused!
All i know is i want to become a successful accountant minus the long long amounts of paperwork and auditing. Really i would want a role of an accountant where the job is interesting and lively everyday!
Your help help on this matter would be very very much appreciated,
Thank you
October 31st, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Lin,
An Accounting Degree should always be your preference. What you’ll gain from a degree you will never learn from the ACCA, CPA, CMA or CIMA. Plus, University life brings memories that always stay with you.
However, after a degree, it’s good to get a certification, and given the fact that you’re in the Far East, CIMA or ACCA are your best bet. the CPA is the US equivalent of a Chartered Accountant. ACCA is also a form of financial accountants, and the CIMA Certification is guaged toward management accounting.
Now, Financial Accounting requires less imagination and is more about compliance; so if you can read and understand english and can be careful, you can well in this field. Management accounting, on the other hand, requires lots of imagination and business acumen, and can be very difficult for some.
Finance Directors are made up of a mixture of both materials. Ultimately, you must decide. I wouldn’t mind giving you more advice, but you’ve got be specific on what you want to do as an accountant.
November 1st, 2008 at 12:04 am
Sibani, an accounting degree is definitely the right start.
The question you need to ask yourself is, if you don’t want to be an auditor, whether you want to pursue Financial Accounting or Management Accounting.
The difference is quite simple: Financial Accountants report on activity in a business that has already taken place. The work has more to do with financial reporting according to IAS, FASB, SEC, etc. laws, standards and regulations, and the primary function is preparing and managing the preparation of books, internal controls, etc. in a business with a view to be compliant with the requisite standards.
A Management Accountant, on the other hand, typically is the one who gets to plan for the future, and prepares numbers, books, statements etc. baed on judgment, prediction and the understanding of business. These accountants are typically more engaged in the business, need a better understanding of how businesses work and business management, and typically require much more thinking than the role of a Financial Accountant, which in my opinion, can be a brain dead job at times.
Ultimately, though, a mix of the two makes for a good accounting position.
The Chartered Accountant or Certified Public Accountant (CA, ACA, CPA in the US) certifications are aimed at those who want to become auditors. The ACCA, you could say, is aimed at Industry Financial Accountants. The CIMA is aimed at Management Accountants. To make it to the top, you’d better have an understanding of and be damned good at both. The reason? Because for a business, the truth in numbers lies somewhere between the numbers required for compliance and the numbers required to please the management.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Hello,
I have done my MBA finance from IBA and wanted to acquire a further certification. I don’t want to pursue a career in some financial institution and therefore CFA doesnt seem to be a viable option. After some research , I have found that CIMA seems to best complement an MBA Finance. However, I am still confused and seek guidance as to if CIMA is the way to go or not.
November 27th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
hi
i did my mba (finance&IT)in Nagarjuna university.i want do certification on accounteny exept CA.i am notable to decide which one is preferble, could you suggest me which accountensy certification is useful for me.i want do the course as distence mode because i am doing a job in one of reputed company.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
hi
i am icwa, having 7 yrs. of experience in accounts going to do CMA, from IMA(USA). i am from INDIA so i will do through distance learning through (ruskhi careeer Academy). my question is can anybody plese guide about rukhsi course materials ? is that really good to pass IMA in 1 shot?
secondly , is CMA qualification is getting recognized by Indian Companies also?
thanks
subhankar
February 25th, 2009 at 6:56 am
hi,
i am currently studied accounts as an advanced level student and i want tu pursue my carreer in this feild….after reading ur article i am particularly very confused about Whether i shud do ACCA or CIMA…
i am currently in pakistan and as u sed ACCA is a just certification!
would it b wrong if i go for a certification and not for a Degree?
i really need yur advice on this
plzz reply soon.
–>Areej
February 25th, 2009 at 7:06 am
I have a few doubts…
I don’t know why you are saying that ACCA is considered a middle tier qualification. It has the largest following, much more than CIMA. My question is if it is not well recognized will all these people start to do it?
I agree that CIMA is marketing well, much better than ACCA. Because I have seen CIMA ads in local magazines here, but I knew that they don’t have considerable presence in my country. At the same time I see nothing from ACCA.
I am a student of ACCA myself, so a bit disappointed myself, reading your comments.. because I am thinking I have no w chosen something that is second grade.. if that is so, I am thinking of doing CIMA after finishing this one..I hope there are some reciprocal agreements… lol
Please do comment back
February 28th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
A degree is vital for proper understanding and education, I think. Certifications are just a piece of paper, but in the fast approaching communist world certifications are important, and in Pakistan, ACCA over CIMA any day.
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Hi,
I am currently conducting extensive research on the various certifications offered by IMA. Here is my dilemma- I am neither a CPA nor have an undergrad or masters in accounting. Zero accounting background. However, I have been working as an Associate in Structured Finance (specifically Commercial Real Estate Lending for a public Real Estate Investment firm). I do have to deal with some accounting issue in my current position but they only require very general understanding of accounting principles.
I am quite certain about which direction I want to take my career in and it’s not public or private accounting, which rules out the desire to go through the grueling process of obtaining a CPA. I have reviewed the curriculum for the various cert. very carefully and feel that a CMA most appropriately fits my aspirations; moving into a strategic position of managing/planning finance (debt/equity) functions for a firm. In lending as well, I would like to improve my skills in analyzing the financial strength, business model etc for someone I decide to lend to.
That said, I would like some blatant realty check on whether it is even feasible for a non-accountant to pursue a cert. like CMA. I know that majority of CMA aspirants already have CPA’s or accounting backgrounds. The CPA vs. CMA curriculum and job function seem to be very diff, but is there even a market out there for non-accountant CMA’s?
Is there any CMA here who was not already an accountant, and can share some of their experience with me? I would be very grateful.
Thanks
Rhea
March 24th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
You may have to double check with the IMA, but I beleive for the CMA you need an undergraduate in accounting, whereas you don’t for the CFM. The curriculum is virtually identical, with only ONE differing paper.
I don’t think the market in the States is very big for non-accountant CMAs; probably not if accounting is where you are headed. if it is relevant to your current position, it may very well help you out.
From an academic standpoint, yes, CMA would be useful in terms of managing and planning the finance functions of a firm.
March 27th, 2009 at 4:29 am
Thanks so much CommieB. I really appreciate your response. I did check with IMA and they didn’t require an accounting degree. Thanks again.
April 16th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
hi
i have done accountancy in my ug and lookin to do a professional degree in accountancy
i am confused btw acca or cima and cma
which is the best in all this
April 17th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Well, what do you want to do in accounting? There is no best. They’re all rubbish.
May 16th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Hi friends
plz i strongly need your advice, I live in Kuwait, I’m getting confused, which certificate is more marketable in Kuwait & Arabian Gulf (CMA or ACCA) regadless the field i would like to work in, i’m asking about the certificate that can easly find a job & shift my carrer through it, which of these 2 certificates is worth the time & effrots will i pay to get it?
thank you all.
May 16th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Given that the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) have now had 3 of their annual conferences in Dubai, I would say they’re pouring some money into the Gulf Market. I’d say CMA, but I may very well be wrong.
May 16th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
thank you commie B, appreciate your reply, but your answer did not satisfy my need, i’m still waiting for answers
May 25th, 2009 at 12:54 am
Hi,
My name is richard. I would like to find out this: I have a degree in accounting and finance from manchester university. I want to get qualified as AAT. Do I need to do some exam or it will be automatic for me If I applied for AAT qualification.
Thanks
May 27th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
hi, just wondering if iam not wasting my time with CFA certifications, i am a practicing accountant with 6 yaers experince from the homble begining of a bookkeeper to the position of Finacial Accountant,3 years as an external auditor and i feel i just need to go inti ivestment managment & portfilio Mgt just for the money! so what gives ??????
give me something
many thanks
May 27th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Hey Tony. What I can tell you is that if you pursue accounting and make it to a Controller or CFO level, you’ll make more money than the portfolio managers do, unless of course you’re working for Warren Buffet.
If you don’t want to do it because it’s boring, then that’s a different story. That’s the only reason I’d suggest leaving the accounting profession. In terms of job safety and long term career prospects, if you are good, there is certainly money to be made in accounting.
May 30th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Very interesting discussion,. I’m doing a CMA passed two parts, working on the next two. Good to see folks who are discussing real issue with those certification. Glad to see CMA is relevant despite my CPA friends telling me it is irrelevant.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:22 am
Hi Irene,
All over the world public accountants try to convince their industry counterparts that their certifications are superior than theirs. Why, then, audit partners suck up to CFOs and director level Controllers to get the audit engagement signed remains a mystery to me.
In essence, CPAs in the US or CAs in Europe and Asia are simply reading the law and regulation and following it. Any daft can do that. It doesn’t require thinking and it is brain-dead work.
In industry, you’re actually required to apply your brain to come up with solutions and solve business problems.
You decide who is useless: the one swelled up by bureaucracy or the one who discusses how to run business.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Commie,
Thanks for the feedback and this is very true CPA just follow rules and guidelines and barely go beyond confirming somebody else’s data. Try dealing with Auditors and throw in a question that requires critical thinking. I know that CMA is relevant and very useful for someone who need strategic thinkers and those who can rescue the ship/corporation or steward it to safety and the time has never been more appropriate i.e economic downturn times..
August 31st, 2009 at 7:05 pm
hi,
i have recently completed my A-levels with Accounting and Business studies from Pakistan and now i am planning to start CMA(US). the reason of choosing CMA is this that it will take about one year and it will gave me exemption in first 9 papers of ACCA. but some of my friends say that in this way i cant get strong base.plzz guide me that which is better for me now CMA(US) or ACCA. plz reply me on my this I.D:”alyanbahrian001@yahoo.com”
thanks
waiting 4 ur reply..
September 10th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Thank you very much!! I’d also recommend the following article for those who are interested in becoming a qualified accountant:
http://www.myhowtoos.com/en/at-work-howtoos/66-how-to-become-a-qualified-professional-in-accounting
January 15th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Hi,
This is not relevant with the question people raised here, but I like to take this opportunity to ask the following:
1) What masteral program/course fits for an Auditor (who holds CPA/CIA) that is available here in Dubai?
2) What other certification I can pursue aside from CIA?
I want to study further and comfused what to do next.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Lee,
CIA is for Internal Auditors. If that’s what you want to become, CIA is the way to go. If you want to become a public accountant / external auditor, CPA would be preferred amongst the 2.
What you ultimately want to pursue for that part of the world for becoming an auditor is the Chartered Accountant Certification, the equivalent of an ACA issued by the ICAEW here in the UK. Each country usually has its own institute of chartered accountants (not sure if the UAE does yet). But, for instance, India and Pakistan have their own, and both are equivalent to the one issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
CPA is the American version of this CA/ACA.
February 16th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
o God…am really shouting..what the hell i should do…recently i’ve done A-LEVELS {business studies/accounting}frm pakistan..in ur general views… would u pls clearify that should i go for ACCA or CIMA…i want to have job in UK or in MIDDLE EAST…pls pls reply me on mursalen@swissmail.org…
March 4th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
I have completed CMA from IMS-US… I am confused on way forward for ACCA or CPA… I plan in a long run to be in Middle East, what is better between ACCA and CPA considering middle east market… I believe all CFO’s and equivalent level is dominated by CPA’s in middle east… Correct me if I am wrong… Thanks, Huzayf
March 4th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
IMA - US
March 7th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
I don’t know Huzayf, to be honest. CPA is an American thing, and the Middle East’s love for America in some fields is unquestionable. You’re probably best of with CA or ACA as opposed ACCA or CPA out there I would think.