Accountants - public or private - Q on certifications

[Winter]

Hi fellow accountants,

I am thinking about another certification. I have a CPA now. I have looked into CMA, Certified fraud examiner or looking to expand on my IT knowledge. I want to take another certification for the challenge. I am working in private accounting as a controller of a product line. I was just hired for the controller job but can't move on to it yet until our Sarbanes Oxley project is finished. I am the team lead. My employer will not pay for the certification. I think the CMA will be beneficial in my controller job, Certified internal auditor would be beneficial but not what I want to do. The certified fraud examiner looks to be the most interesting of all.

I do not plan on moving now but may in the future. The certification would pretty much only be beneficial ($wise) if I leave my current company.

Just kind of wondering what else would be held in high regard by other employers.

Thanks,
Winter

 

[Debra L]

RE: Accountants - public or private - Q on certificatio...

Hi Winter,

I agree that the CFE is the most intriguing. But unless you are considering going into public accounting or some consulting field, wouldn't it would funnel you into internal audit?

If you are the controller of a product line, it would seem that there are continued opportunities up the ladder where a CMA would be a bonus.

Isn't expanding IT knowledge almost a given for advancement? It's just harder to put on a resume.

My 2 cents, take it or leave it.

Debra

 

[B]

Hey Winter,

I agree with Deb. CFE would be beneficial if you're looking to get into like the forensic division of public accounting, for example, otherwise you'd most likely end up doing some kind of internal auditing or consulting. If you stay where you are than I'd go for the CMA.

I would say figure out what you'd like to do/where you want to go in the future and then you can match it up with what certification would be most beneficial.

Good Luck to you!!

Bianca

 

[Shelbygirl]

Hi Winter.

My husband has his CMA and it has led him to some pretty interesting positions at a public bio-tech company. He started in the accounting department, but then became controller for two of the company's four product lines. After that, he was recruited to be the finance person for all the company's mergers/acquisitions. I see him on the road to CFO, to be honest (but them perhaps I'm a little biased!). He was considering going for his CFA (I think it only required one additional exam with the CMA). If you have any specific questions I could ask him, just let me know.

That's a shame that your company won't pay for your certification, especially since it's so relevant to your job. And how about Sarbanes-Oxley? Are you drowning in the related work, like I am? I'm an actuary for an insurance company, and at my place, we've been scrambling for months getting everything in order. In the long run, it will be great that we are so well documented and reconciled, so to speak, but right now it's a bit overwhelming (and time-consuming), to be sure.

Let me know if you want me to ask my husband anything.
Take Care,
Shelbygirl

 

[Winter]

Hi Shelbygirl,


Sarbanes- what a fright. We are trying to get to the finish line. My biggest problem in this is that the external auditors have to give an opinion on our risk assessment - What scares me is - what criteria are they going to use and who is more qualified to assess the risk of our organization. We will not be done by the time they come in but close. I think there will be a lot of negotiation between accounting firms and companies. Is this really good for the world of business? Some respects yes but we will spend over a million on this project and incur more fees from the auditors.

Good luck in getting to your finish line. I want to be able to walk away soon and just have to abide by my own sarbox rules.


Thanks everyone for the advice. I think the CMA and CFM are the best bet for now. I can always to the fraud examiner later.

Winter