If there's a will, there's a way
CMA Gold Medalist states “CMA fulfilled my dream to qualify as a Professional Management Accountant” and I won the final level Gold medal”
The Dream
English idiom says that if there is a will, there is a way. This was proven to be correct by countless people on countless occasions. However, many of us tend to forget this, the moment an obstacle finds its way to our life’s journey. Angeline a young girl who dreamed since her tender years to become a professional management accountant did not flinch when her Advanced Level results,2 As and a C did not give her sufficientZ-score to get into a University to follow a degree program that supportedher dream.
“I specifically went into the commerce stream at advanced level because I always dreamed of becoming a professional accountant. I just did not want to do anything that would interfere with my objective”
Angeline, attended Methodist College,Colombo throughout her primary and secondary education. She was an active member of school debating team,drama society and netball team.
The Alternative Route
“I started looking for alternative routes to achieve my objective. The idea of becoming just an accountant did not have any appeal to me. Therefore, after discussing with my parents and the elimination process, there were only two paths for me to choose from”.
The options that were available for Angelineto become a professional accountant and to consider her desire to become a management accountant were looked into and also whether to consider a local or a foreign course or to go overseas.
“I weighed the pros and cons of all and looked at the syllabusesand discussed with friends and my commerce teacher and parents as well. I found that CMA was set up with the technical expertise of CMA Canada a leading global management account- ing body and gave the strength in maintaining international quality while the cost of CMA was very much lower, those who passed out had ready jobs and thesewere important facts that influenced the final decision of my higher education path. I felt that CMA offered what I was looking for; majoring management accounting, financial accounting, strategic management, while learning many other useful subjects such as law and taxation, IT, communication, Human Resource management and Marketing and ends up with the Integrative case Study which encompasses all subjects covered in the syllabus.
Another aspect that interested me was that my A/L economics teacher had explained us the importance of studying Management Accounting as it dealt with the present rather than the future.
Incorporation by an Act of Parliament and Foreign recognition:
The other important reason why I chose CMA was thatCMAwas incorporated by an Act of Parliament and is today the National Professional Management Accounting Body in Sri Lanka.CMA had also been recognized by International Bodies in the regions as well as Globally and were members of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), a full member of International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) the global body for Professional accounting institutes in the world.
From the beginning,Angeline studied with Jayasekara Management Center (JMC)which is aneducational institute approved by CMAto provideeducation for CMA examinations. She also used the CMA study material which assisted her in the studies.
Practical Training and Job Opportunities:
“I sought Practical Training only after I completed the third stage of CMA as the practical training is flexible and can be done while studying or after completion of studies or midway during studies. CMA found me a good training opportunity to do my internship at Remedium (pvt) Ltd and that company finally wanted me to join their permanent employment and I had a secure job. But my dream was to join the public sector and serve my country.Presently, I am employed with the Ministry of Home Affairs as aPublic Management Assistant. The professional knowledge I gained through comprehen- sive study modes of CMA proved to be extremely useful in carrying out my day to day duties at work”.
CMA Pathway to obtain a University degree:
CMA also provided the pathway for me to obtain a university degree. During the beginning of 2016 I registered with Open University of Sri Lanka to follow Bachelor of Management studies (BMS) degree. Following the CMA qualification puts me in a very advantageous position when I decided to add a Management Degree in to my resume. At the successful completion of the Managerial Level of CMA (Level III), students are eligible to obtain exemptions for the first 4 Levels of the Business Management Degree (BMS) of the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) and have only two levels to complete to obtain a Bachelors’ Degree.
Won the Founder President Lakshman R Watawala Gold Medal for the Best Overall Performance:
When Angeline sat the final level that is the Integrative Case Study Examination in 2016 May, she passed with flying colors bagging the Merit prize, awarded for most outstanding performance.
At the recently held annual convocation of CMA, Sri Lanka, she graduated as a passed finalist short only of the three year practical training requirement to become a member of CMA. There wasn’t a happier person than Angeline at the graduation as she was adorned with the Founder President Lakshman R Watawala Gold Medal for Overall Best Performance.
“CMA always assisted and guided me in all my achievements. I am very glad that I could pay my gratitude to them by performing well”
Now she graduated as a passed finalist. “CMA alwaysassisted and guided me in all my achievements. I am very glad that I could pay my gratitude to them by performing well” Angelinehas two more years of practical training to complete the mandatory practical training requirement before she becomes a full fledged member of CMA, Sri Lanka. This will entitle her to use the designation “ACMA”.
She is also planning to do her Masters in Management (MBA)after obtaining her membership as the Post Graduate of Management (PIM) accepts the CMA qualification for entry into the Masters Programme.
CMA the National Professional Management Accounting body in Sri Lanka are proud that they have been able to provide the youth of Sri Lanka a professional management accounting qualification with knowledge and skills to make Sri Lanka a Knowledge Hub. “My career plan is to advance in the field of management accountingand become a CFO one day. I will work with determination to fulfill my dream”.