Top Job Roles You Can Get After CMA USA

The CMA USA was established to provide an objective measure of expertise in management accounting. It is administered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).

Some of the job opportunities available after completing CMA USA are:

1. Financial Analyst

A financial analyst carefully studies market trends and microeconomic factors to help a company make smart investments with its capital. This role may also provide advice to executives on issuing corporate bonds, splitting stock, and other areas of concern. 

Top Responsibilities of a Financial Analyst:

• Analyzing current and past financial data and performance
• Preparing reports and projections based on this analysis
• Evaluating current capital expenditures and depreciation
• Exploring investment opportunities
• Establishing and evaluating profit plans
• Identifying trends in financial performance and providing recommendations for improvement
• Coordinating with other members of the finance team to review financial information and forecasts
• Providing financial models and forecasting

2. Financial Risk Manager

A financial risk manager analyzes data, financial markets, and world events to determine potential threats to an organization’s financial success. Through planning and problem-solving, it’s their responsibility to recommend strategies to counteract potential risks.

Top Responsibilities of a Financial Risk Manager:

• Identify financial, safety, or security risks that the client, company, or organization may face
• Prepare action plans to decrease risk factors
• Gather confidential financial information from clients such as income, assets, and debts
• Manage company insurance policies
• Perform risk evaluation, which assesses the way the company previously handled risks
• Make risk-avoiding adjustments to current methods of operation to minimize their future risks
• Prepare a risk-management budget
• Provide training and certification for organization staff so that they can be aware of risks and try to avoid them

3. Management Accountant

A management accountant must not only be an expert in accounting, but they also must be able to present the data in a practical way that addresses management’s challenges. The main CMA skills applied in the managerial accounting field are risk management, budget planning, strategic planning, and financial data analysis.

Top Responsibilities of a Management Accountant:

• Direct internal financial processes
• Monitor costs, sales, spending, and budgets
• Conduct audits
• Identify past trends and predict future needs
• Assist company leaders with financial decisions

4. Cost Accountant

Cost accountants analyze a business’s production costs to find ways to minimize financial waste and maximize profit. CMA certification will make you a desirable job candidate because cost accounting is a type of management accounting.

Top Responsibilities of a Cost Accountant:

• Developing cost standards for materials and labor
• Designing and implementing cost accounting systems
• Analyzing production costs and recommending changes
• Overseeing annual physical inventory
• Hiring, training, and supervising cost and inventory accounting staff

5. Corporate Controller

The controller manages staff responsible for all financial reporting and accounting operations, including internal and external financial statements and regulatory reporting requirements. Depending on how many years of experience the candidate has, other duties for controllers include implementing internal control systems, evaluating the effectiveness of accounting systems, and monitoring business performance metrics.

Top Responsibilities of a Corporate Controller:

• Planning, directing, and coordinating all accounting operational functions
• Managing the accumulation and consolidation of all financial data necessary for an accurate accounting of consolidated business results
• Coordinating and preparing internal and external financial statements
• Coordinating activities of external auditors
• Providing management with information vital to the decision-making process
• Managing the budget process
• Assessing current accounting operations, offering recommendations for improvement, and implementing new processes
• Evaluating accounting and internal control systems
• Evaluating the effectiveness of accounting software and supporting database, as needed
• Developing and monitoring business performance metrics
• Overseeing regulatory reporting, frequently including tax planning and compliance
• Hiring, training, and retaining skilled accounting staff

6. Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

CFOs are key members of the senior leadership team in charge of capital requirements for the entire business, overseeing financial reporting, company investments, financial forecasting, and making the final call regarding major business decisions.

Top Responsibilities of a Chief Financial Officer (CFO):

• Providing leadership, direction, and management of the finance and accounting team
• Providing strategic recommendations to the CEO/president and members of the executive management team
• Managing the processes for financial forecasting and budgets and overseeing the preparation of all financial reporting
• Advising on long-term business and financial planning
• Establishing and developing relations with senior management and external partners, and stakeholders
• Reviewing all formal finance, HR, and IT-related procedures