Embarking on a journey to enhance your accounting and finance career? Choosing the right certification is crucial. Let's explore the distinctive paths paved by the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Diploma in International Financial Reporting Standards (DipIFR) to help you align your career goals.
#1 Are you looking to become a Public Accountant?
Becoming a CPA is right for you!
If your goal is to act as a third party, reviewing a company's financials for public disclosure, then the U.S. CPA designation is your ultimate destination. The CPA credential equips you with essential accounting skills necessary in 2024, encompassing responsibilities such as:
- Prepare tax returns for both individuals and organizations.
- Audit, consult, and tax advise firms
- Financially plan for companies
- Analyze financial statements
- Prepare Financial Documents
- Manage Financial Information
Skills you’ll earn with the CPA
- Financial accounting and reporting
- Auditing & Attestation
- Regulations
- Business analysis, reporting & concepts
- Technical know-how
- Accounting automations
- Global GAAP and IFRS understanding
- Taxes and global measurements
If your goal is to act as a third party, reviewing a company's financials for public disclosure, then the U.S. CPA designation is your ultimate destination. The CPA credential equips you with essential accounting skills necessary in 2024, encompassing responsibilities such as:
- Prepare tax returns for both individuals and organizations.
- Audit, consult, and tax advise firms
- Financially plan for companies
- Analyze financial statements
- Prepare Financial Documents
- Manage Financial Information
If you are ready to pursue the CPA designation, you can explore our new flexible approach that accommodates your busy schedule and work demands. Within the CPA exam, you also have the option to specialize in one of three discipline tracks.
Are you eligible to become a CPA?
#2 Do you want to elevate your business
decision making?
Becoming a CMA is right for you!
If you're into making sense of numbers and decoding financial reports, CMA is the place to be. It's not just about basic accounting; here, you dive deep into understanding what those numbers really mean. This insight helps you figure out the right reports to ask for when you need to make smart decisions.
- Build Customer-Driven Operational Strategies for Reliable Forecasts
- Understand different types of cost and their effect on profit and business
- Learn how to manage and what to ask from accountants to take the right decision
- Understand your production variables and profit streams
- Understand how your cashflow relates to the sustainability of your company and production
- Analyze the number and take the right business decisions in:
- External financial reporting decisions
- Planning, budgeting and forecasting
- Performance management
- Cost management
- Internal control
Skills you will earn with the CMA:
Maintain
Budget
Communication skills
Financial Analysis
Cost and variance measurements
Forecasting techniques
Internal
Control
If you’re still wondering whether the CMA is worth the investment, you can check out our latest blog where we uncovered the basics of CMA and the core knowledge you’ll earn with this designation.
Are you eligible to become a CMA?
#3 Are you interested in International Financial Reporting Standards?
DipIFR is the right destination for you!
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) have emerged as a globally recognized framework for financial reporting, ensuring consistency, transparency, and comparability in financial statements. If you are interested in advancing your accounting and finance career specifically in this area, the Diploma in International Financial Reporting Standards is a perfect fit for you. Unlock the following milestones by pursuing the DipIFR:
- Become familiar with the structure of the framework of international accounting
- Identify and apply disclosure requirements for companies in financial reports and notes
- Know how to apply the standards to key elements of financial reports
- Prepare group financial statements including subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures
Skills you’ll earn with DipIFR
- Understand, explain and apply the IASB's Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting
- Identify and apply disclosure requirements for companies in financial reports & notes
- Apply relevant financial reporting standards to key elements of financial reports
- Prepare group financial statements (excluding group cash-flow statements) including subsidiaries, associates & joint arrangements.
- Staying ahead of IFRS changes and updates
Still confused? Gain insights by checking out our exclusive interview with our regional DipIFR winner, Hanaa Sabra as she shares her experience with DipIFR and discusses her career shift after earning the diploma.
Are you eligible to become a DipIFR Holder?
On a final note...
Each accounting and finance designation has a specific career roadmap, it all goes back to your short, medium and long-term career goals. If you’re finding it hard to choose between the 3 designations, you can book your free consultation session with our CPA, CMA or DipIFR program experts to address all your questions.