The IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) based in Montvale, New Jersey (USA) was founded in 1919 and since then has become today's leading association for accountants and financial professionals working inside organi-zations. Today, IMA represents more than 80,000 accountants and financial professionals in business from all around the world. IMA's mission is to provide a forum for research, practice development, education, knowledge sharing, and the advocacy of the highest ethical and best business practices in management accounting and finance. IMA does this by:
• Offering a rigorous, highly respected credential – the CMA® - that recognizes and rewards expertise
• Building a peer network of professional relationships to share industry experience, access career opportunities, and make business contacts to last a lifetime
• Providing extensive education programs to advance professional knowledge, and increase leadership potential
• Advocating for the profession in a challenging regulatory environment
The CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is the advanced professional certification specifically designed to measure the accounting and financial management skills that drive business performance. One of the CMA's key features is its approach to provide a sound body of knowledge by integrating numerous different aspects of US-American based accounting in a very practical oriented manner.
CMA candidates are required to demonstrate in-depth knowledge in a great variety of fields such as management accounting, financial accounting, and corporate finance. Strong emphasis is placed on an integrative understanding of covered topics. In consistence with its body of knowledge the CMA exam procedure is highly demanding, requiring candidates to perform under time pressure.
To participate in the CMA program, candidates must fulfill the following education and experience requirements:
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Two continuous years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management.
Both requirements may be completed prior to or within seven years after passing the examination.
After certification, every CMA is required to attend 30 hours per year of CPE (Continuing Professional Education), including a minimum of two hours of ethics, and to pay annual IMA Membership dues to maintain active status.