Choose the Right Certification

"Finance has typically been an accounting function, but I think over time it has become a lot more strategic. Technology has helped drive this as well. It’s not just about looking backwards. It’s about looking forward, taking those numbers and figuring out what they mean for the future. With the speed of business, you need a skillset that converges all of those things into one. This is what FP&A is moving towards and I fully believe the future leaders, including CFOs and CEOs, are going to come from the FP&A track."

"I first found Certified Management Accountant (CMA) sponsored by IMA and after studying for it for two months, I realized that the exam focused more on accounting rather than corporate financial analysis. I think people working in finance departments should consider FP&A even if they have other accounting designations. I especially appreciate that the FP&A exam includes three important aspects: theories, usage of Excel in financial analysis, and the appropriate steps to do in order to deal with various business scenarios, which FP&A professionals encounter every day. Therefore, I decided to choose FP&A over CMA as there is no other comparable designation that give me this almost-tailor-made professional training."

"I started off my career in public accounting as a CPA. Once I was in healthcare, I really started to gain an interest in understanding the operational drivers, the importance of big data and the growing role of FP&A. For me, being in healthcare feel like I’m helping to make a difference by helping support those clinical leaders and helping to make decisions that allow us to have the funding needed or get new programs open."

"I started my job search after I had finished my FP&A. I ended up at Tana Exploration as the controller and director of finance, where I ran the entire finance department. The FP&A propelled me immediately to the top of the finance chain."