Professional Management Accounting qualification with a degree

Leaving school closes one chapter of life but opens another chapter, a more serious one as one has to decide on which route takes through to success. Yes, no doubt that there are many roads one can choose from. As the saying goes, all roads lead to Rome. But in reality they don’t and we have to make wise decisions in finding which road leads to Rome, in other words, to success. Self- interest is the key factor that makes the world go round these days. Therefore, the decision here has to be based on the fact which path will provide you with best opportunities.

We can see that majority of school leavers choose some form of accountancy as their professional path. There is an easy way to find out if their decision is sound or not. Take the employment opportunity section of a weekend newspaper or log into an employment website. You will see, most of the vacancies on the site or on the paper are for accounting personnel. From bottom to top. From accounts clerks to financial managers and above, there are plenty of jobs in the sector. So, by making accountancy as their career, our youngsters make the right choice.

Why Choose CMA?

Institute of Certified Management Accountants (CMA) qualification makes you suitable for many jobs. Level 1 of CMA will equip you with knowledge needed for middle level accounting job, with fundamental subject knowledge. Management Accounting Fundamentals, Financial Accounting ( 70%) & Finance, Fundamentals of Management (60%) & Economics, Fundamentals of Management (60%) & Economics, Quantitative Methods for Business are taught in the Level 1. The good thing is even if you never learnt Accounting or Economics in school, you wouldn’t be lagging behind others as CMA will teach you from the basics. In addition, you can enhance your knowledge in English through Business English.

No Matter what you did for A/Ls or wait for results

Yes, CMA will start from fundamentals. Therefore, whatever the stream you studied in school, you won’t be handicapped when you study for CMA. You only need 3 simple passes obtained in any subject stream. And, you don’t have to waste time waiting for results as CMA will let you register pending results. That way, you will be ahead of other by several months.

Never fear about your English knowledge or lack of it

Most of our students, study in the Sinhala or Tamil medium in school. It makes them a little apprehensive about stepping into professional courses that are mostly conducted in English. You can start CMA in the language you are most comfortable with, either Sinhala or Tamil. Of course, in English as well. While doing the first two levels in your preferred language, you can improve your English knowledge.

What can you achieve?

When you get CMA qualification, there is no place you can’t go with it as management accountants get opportunities in a variety of work settings and industries. They have a demand in public and private companies, non- profit organizations and even in government officers. Designations are not limited to management accountant. With CMA under the belt and with right experience you can become a budget analyst, financial analyst, accounting manager, finance controller or chief financial officer. Nothing would stop you even becoming a director or chief executive officer. And needless to say that income soars as the position becomes high.

While following CMA you could register for management degree program at Open University

As the breadth of the CMA syllabus is so extensive, the Open University of Sri Lanka has decided to allow students who successfully complete the Managerial Level (Level 3) to join the 3rd year of its 4-year Management Degree Program. Many CMA students have made use of this opportunity so far, to complete the 4-year degree in just 2 years, becoming doubly qualified to make them valuable products in the job market. CMA takes pride in its students who have obtained double qualifications and holding higher positions in the industry

Career Progression by adding a MBA as well?

Master of Business administration ( MBA) another qualification sought after by many, CMA Professionals seeking higher positions as MBA on top of a profes- sional or academic qualification is a well-regarded in the business sector. There are many UGC approved institutes who offer MBAs in Sri Lanka. Among them, Post Graduate Institute of Management ( PIM), University of Kelaniya, University of Colombo and open university of Sri Lanka accept the CMA qualification as an entry qualification.

Level 1 of CMA will equip you with knowledge needed for middle level accounting job, with fundamental subject knowledge. Management Accounting Fundamentals, Financial Accounting (70%) & Finance, Fundamentals of Management (60%) & Economics, Fundamentals of Management (60%) & Economics, Quantitative Methods for Business are taught in the Level 1. The good thing is even if you never learnt Accounting or Economics in school, you wouldn’t be lagging behind others as CMA will teach you from the basics.

Without financial burden

CMA is the most inexpensive route to become a management accountant in Sri Lanka. As CMA earned the reputation of being the national management accountancy qualification by being incorporated under an Act of Parliament, the key objective of CMA is to provide opportunity for students from all strata of society to pursue a career in management accountancy. With a fraction of the cost of qualifying with foreign management accountancy body, a student can complete CMA.

For further information of registration and other facilities offered by CMA, visit the website http:// www. cma- srilanka. org or call 0112596696 / Mr. Indika on 0777593562 /Mr.Amith 0714705527