ACCA members receive access to US management accounting credential

• Bachelor’s degree requirement waived for ACCA members seeking CMA certification

The ICMA (Institute of Certified Management Accountants) Board of Regents, representing the certification division of IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), has voted to waive its usual bachelor’s degree requirement for ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) members wishing to earn IMA’s CMA (Certified Management Accountant) credential.

This is the latest outcome of a strategic partnership between IMA, the US-based association of accountants and financial professionals in business, and UK-based ACCA.

The bachelor’s degree waiver will allow all ACCA members around the world, regardless of background, access to IMA’s CMA credential.

ACCA members who would like to take advantage of obtaining a US credential can earn the CMA after successfully completing the two-part CMA exam and satisfying the two-year experience requirement in a management accounting job role.

This is a benefit to ACCA members who wish to have a US-based credential or who wish to have additional recognition of their expertise in management accounting and access to practitioner tools exclusively focused on this role.

Jeff Thomson CMA, IMA president and CEO, said: “ACCA and IMA share consistent values, one of which is opportunity. This waiver offers a clear and tangible opportunity for all ACCA members. Both organisations recognise the value of certification and learning that comes through a rigorous exam process.”

Helen Brand, Chief Executive of ACCA, said: “Our global strategic partnership with IMA was created with the aim of bringing benefits to our members. Our partnership agreement is based on ‘empowering accountants and financial professionals to drive business performance.”

“We welcome this new opportunity for our members specialising in management accounting roles and the enhanced recognition this can bring, especially for our many members who work for US-headquartered corporates,” Brand added.

Further details about the CMA certification program can be found on IMA’s website www.imanet.org/acca