On a recent episode of The Young Professionals Podcast, Jason Nye, Senior Operations Manager at AICPA® & CIMA®, discussed the wide range of opportunities available to those who earn the CGMA® designation.
He argues management accounting is too often perceived as a dull profession, when in reality it can mean working in exciting cities around the world and within finance functions of business and industry, ranging from sports and fashion to government and healthcare.
Here are four ways earning the CGMA designation can unlock exciting career opportunities
Develop in-demand skills for job security
Management accountants, and especially those with the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA®) designation, have a valuable blend of number know-how and business acumen.
To earn the CGMA designation you must demonstrate proficiency in core accounting knowledge and business management, with the ability to combine both and distill insights that can steer businesses in the right direction. Even with the rise of artificial intelligence, these skills remain essential for business.
“In good and bad times in business, you always need finance professionals”, Nye said. “In good times you need them there to make sure you continue to perform well, but in bad times you also need those finance professionals to identify what the problems are in the business and help you to improve them in the future.”
Work across industries and sectors
Every organisation needs people who understand the numbers and the business and can bring those together. As a management accountant, you can work in the finance department of your favourite football club, a multi-national company, a not-for-profit — the opportunities are nearly endless. You can also work in a variety of roles, including consultant, finance director, CFO, CEO or business owner.
When searching on job boards, Nye recommends looking for finance jobs in addition to accounting roles to discover a wider range of opportunities.
“If you search for finance jobs you may find more opportunities than if you only look for accountancy jobs”, he said. “It's also worth taking a look at a company's website to understand their recruitment cycle, and when might be the best time to find those opportunities.”
Gain access to global opportunities
The CGMA designation is globally recognised, and the skillsets developed are relevant around the world.
“We're not just talking about in the UK — we have [CIMA] members and [CGMA candidates] working across the world”, Nye said. “If individuals are looking for a qualification that has that sort of global passport, that portability to travel and work with your studies, there are absolutely opportunities to do that.”
If you live in England and opt for CIMA’s Apprenticeship pathway, some employers may give you the option to work in different office locations around the world. And there are also global opportunities for those who opt for the other two pathways: the CGMA Finance Leadership Program and the Self-tailored Learning Pathway.
Build a dynamic career
People may imagine accountants crunching numbers in a windowless office, but management accountants leverage numbers to make better decisions for the future. They aren’t repeating the same dull tasks day in and day out.
Management accountants need to understand business operations more broadly, so they often collaborate cross-functionally with other teams and advise executives on high-level decisions.
Where do you want to take your career? The CGMA designation will help you get there.
Watch the entire interview with Jason Nye to hear more about the world of management accounting, and discover how you can take the first step toward earning the CGMA designation.
