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No CPA, No Problem: Why Some Controllers Opted for Other Professional Credentials

controllers no cpa

Joel Konts was told over and over again during college that if he didn’t sit for the CPA exam and work for a public accounting firm after he graduated, he wouldn’t have the best of luck making a career in accounting.

“I also knew that if I didn’t go for my master’s degree right after graduating with my bachelor’s, I might not have the motivation to [take the CPA exam],” he said. “Instead, I decided to work on my MBA with a concentration in forensic accounting, get an entry-level position in industry, and then I’d pursue the typical accounting course of studying for my CPA and getting in with a public firm.”

But it was as a staff accountant for a Boston-area software company when Konts realized he didn’t need to go into public accounting to have a successful accounting career.

“The CFO at that company took me under her wing right away and made me want to learn more and work harder to take any promotion I could take. I moved up quickly there because of this,” he said.

And because Konts chose an MBA concentration in forensic accounting and fraud examination, becoming a Certified Fraud Examiner was a better fit for his career aspirations than becoming a CPA.

“Through that coursework, the CFE was a designation that was brought up on numerous occasions by professors, and I decided I would study for the exam, obtain the CFE, and have the chance to broaden my opportunities,” he said. “A CFE gives a more in-depth understanding of fraud and forensic accounting—both of which lead to a better understanding of accounting principles.”

Now controller of Manchester, N.H.-based Global Plastics LP, a company that specializes in the distribution of thermoplastic resin, Konts said the CFE credential helps him understand what needs to be done to prevent fraud, better organize the accounting department, and what to look out for when it comes to “iffy” transactions and changes in accounts.

“Just the studying for the [CFE] exam alone really helped provide me with a better general understanding of the field, which I could apply directly to my day-to-day workload,” said Konts, whose ultimate goal is to be a CFO.

Like Konts, there are a plethora of corporate controllers who bucked conventional wisdom that says newly minted accountants should get their CPA and go into public accounting after graduation. Instead, they started their careers in industry accounting and finance roles, and opted for professional certifications, like Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Management Accountant, and enrolled agent.

“I believe that the CMA is growing in stature as a credential and will continue to as the number of CMAs increases, as they have in the last five-plus years,” said Wayne Ledbetter, CMA, CFM, controller of Furniture Services Inc.

Here are the stories of six other controllers who’ve had successful accounting and finance careers without being a CPA:

Melissa Adams, MBA, CMA, Danos

“My career journey didn’t start out like most. I had a lot of luck along the way, as well as really good mentors who put me on the right path,” said Melissa Adams, corporate controller at Gray, La.-based Danos, a family-owned and managed oilfield service provider.

After serving as a facility watch supervisor in the U.S. Navy for five years, she began working as a financial analyst at Kinko’s corporate office.

“I quickly realized that finance and accounting were two very different worlds that were integral to each other,” said Adams, who has an MBA in finance. “I moved up quickly in finance; however, I was very interested in gaining experience in accounting as well. My career aspirations were always to be a controller and a CFO one day, so I would need strong experience in both accounting and finance.”

Adams said the best decision she made was “to take a step backward in my career and move from a financial planning manager to an accounting manager at Danos.”

“I felt this would give me the edge I would need in the future,” she added. “I now truly enjoy both the accounting and financial role that I play for Danos.”

A mentor, who is a CMA, convinced Adams that she, too, should pursue the CMA.

“He felt that with my MBA, this credential would give me an advantage,” she said. “The CMA credential doesn’t only focus on higher-level finance and accounting principles, but it also teaches you how to be a leader as a management accountant. It was a difficult few years to pass these exams and I was proud once I finished.”

Adams said the biggest advantage of having both the CMA and an MBA is that she can look at the organization from a broader view, not just the debits and credits.

“I can think more strategically and help the organization to not only process the monthly close but to budget and forecast effectively in order to solve problems and look into the future,” she said.

Anne Bronchetti, CMA, Velocity

When Anne Bronchetti was in college, the only accounting career path she remembers being discussed amongst the students and professors was the CPA track. There was no talk about the CMA program, accounting and finance opportunities in private or public companies, or even the government sector.

“I kept thinking, ‘Why do all of these people want to do the same thing, and how can there possibly be enough jobs out there for everyone to do it?” she recalled. “Conversations about the CPA track always came with phrases like ‘competition,’ ‘long hours,’ ‘paying your dues,’ and ‘tax season.’ It didn’t sound all that inviting to me. I wanted to do something different in the accounting field, something that would involve me with the organization rather than utilize my services from the outside.”

Bronchetti graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business/economics and was preparing to take the CPA exam, but she changed course and decided to go back to school to get a master’s degree in accounting. The master’s program was less focused on the CPA track and more focused on a holistic view of business, management, and accounting, she said.

“While at grad school, I had come across the CMA program, and soon after took a new position in which I reported to a controller who had passed all four parts of the CMA at once, the first time! I felt that the CMA focused less on tax, which I disliked, and more on financial reporting and management,” Bronchetti said. “I then decided to pursue the CMA, as I realized this would be the perfect complement to my growing interest in corporate accounting.”

She said the CMA gives her a professional advantage because it’s different and makes her stand out compared to her CPA peers.

“The depth and scope of the program prepared me for many areas of accounting, including many that I had not yet encountered, and gave me a very well-rounded background of knowledge,” said Bronchetti, who currently is controller of Velocity, an Albany, N.Y.-based company that specializes in print, promotional products, and warehouse/fulfillment of marketing essentials. “There have been many articles recently addressing the idea that controllers are no longer only expected to manage and control finances, but also to support or readily engage in the areas of insurance, banking, investing, human resources, forecasting, and analysis. The broad scope of the CMA supports this new definition of controller.”

Tracy Gale, EA, Quality Plastics

With a business management degree already in hand, Tracy Gale decided to go back to school at the age of 40 to get an accounting degree, with the intention of becoming a CPA. Gale did earn her accounting degree, but she decided to pursue a different professional designation.

“In the state of Nevada at that time, it was required to complete 750 audit hours under a CPA to get the CPA license. I wasn’t interested in working for a CPA firm for minimal pay to complete that portion,” Gale said. “My interest was in tax and managerial accounting. I wanted to be self-employed and didn’t feel that a CPA license would benefit me more than the EA designation.”

So, after she got her accounting degree, Gale took the Special Enrollment Examination to become an enrolled agent and passed. She then spent several years as a sole proprietor, providing tax preparation and personalized QuickBooks-based bookkeeping services, and was co-owner of a firm that specialized in accounting, bookkeeping, and consulting services for small and medium-sized businesses.

During her time as co-owner of Gibson, Gale & Associates, Gale and her partner, Marie Gibson, had many of the same responsibilities as a controller. That experience helped put Gale in position for the controllership at Quality Plastics, a Sparks, Nev.-based plastics manufacturing company.

“I was working as a part-time, full-charge bookkeeper at Quality Plastics to learn the business and the plastics industry, with expectations that the controller was going to retire,” said Gale, who is currently studying to become a CMA. “I knew I had the experience and qualifications to be a controller without having a CPA designation.”

As a controller, Gale said her experience as an EA and bookkeeper gives her the advantage of “knowing the small details of an accounting system and its reports versus only seeing the financial statements at their completed stage.”

“I believe a good controller needs to be very aware of the data-entry portion so they can better evaluate the finished numbers,” she added.

Wayne Ledbetter, MBA, CMA, CFM, Furniture Services Inc.

While Wayne Ledbetter’s fellow accounting graduates were pursuing jobs with, at that time, the Big 8 firms, he had entered the U.S. Air Force through the ROTC program.

“My career path in the Air Force was in the accounting and finance realm as a budget officer, which meant preparing budgets, reviewing spending against budgets, and recommending courses of action,” Ledbetter said. “It was much more of a managerial accounting role than what you would find at a CPA firm, especially as a recent graduate.”

After separating from military service after four years, Ledbetter chose to go into industry rather than public accounting and joined a manufacturing firm as a staff accountant. That firm was actively involved in the National Association of Accountants, which would become the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) in 1991.

“At that time, I started pursuing an MBA degree and learned that the [CMA] exam covered many of the same topics,” he said. “The CMA also at that time covered operations management, management skills, and finance, which I felt would be needed as I moved up in the organization.”

Ledbetter, who also is a Certified Financial Manager, has served as controller for several organizations throughout his accounting and finance career, including Furniture Services Inc., a position he has held since late 2016. This is his second go-around with the Elgin, S.C.-based company, which provides rental and retail furnishings; he served as its accounting manager from 2002 to 2004.

“I utilize aspects of my CMA and CFM credentials on a daily basis, whether I’m dealing with banking, insurance, financing, or accounting-related issues,” Ledbetter said.

And as an IMA member for more than 30 years, Ledbetter said he has built up an expansive network of professionals with whom he can call “to bounce ideas off of or, in some cases, utilize ideas that they bounce off me that have an impact on making our business more profitable or efficient.”

Eric Vahle, CFE, Riebes Auto Parts

After graduating with a bachelor of science degree in accountancy information systems (a combination of accounting and computer science), Eric Vahle wasn’t sure which direction his career would go.

“I had one interview with a public accounting firm in my last semester of college and felt the environment was not for me,” he said.

But during his final year of college, Vahle had a paid internship with a forensic accounting firm, and he loved the work. Vahle started his professional career as a staff accountant, but as his career progressed, he still had an interest in the forensic accounting field and stayed current.

“In 2012, I was qualified to take the [CFE] exam and passed it. The certification just sort of happened. I was qualified and saw it as a value-adding certification,” he said.

Vahle felt the need to grow more as an accounting and business professional, so he served as controller for a few different organizations before landing at Riebes Auto Parts, a Rocklin, Calif.-based auto parts and accessories retailer, in 2014.

“Because I’ve always seen myself as a quick learner and more of a ‘see the forest for the trees’-type thinker, the controller position was a good fit and is a steppingstone to a CFO seat,” Vahle said.

As a CFE, Vahle believes he is well-positioned to serve as controller of a company in the retail industry because he can spot the many various forms of fraud.

“From cash embezzlement to inventory fraud, it’s always a concern for any controller or loss prevention profession,” Vahle said. “While the CPA exam touches on some areas of fraud, the CFE provides a much more in-depth understanding of the problems some companies are facing.”

Nicole Walters, MBA, Riviera Bronze Inc.

Nicole Walters never wanted to be a CPA. After she graduated college with a bachelor of science degree in management science, Walters fell into a controller position with a fast-growing orthopedics practice in the Los Angeles area.

“They needed someone cheap and fresh from school to help with the books. So, they hired me right out of college,” she recalled. “While working, I decided to get my MBA in finance because, well, why not? And then the role took off and I became their lead finance person, which later developed into their CFO.”

As her role continued to grow, Walters wanted to know more about the accounting side of the position “so that I could make the books as clean as possible for our outside CPA firm.” She ended up going back to school to earn a professional accounting certificate from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

“I figured it couldn’t hurt and would only make me more valuable,” said Walters, who’s currently controller and head of HR for Riviera Bronze Inc., a manufacturing company based in Ventura, Calif. “If I had more time, I probably would’ve taken the CPA exam, but the CMA exam is still something I want to do and is a goal of mine. It’s much more in line with what I do every day.”

She said her MBA has taught her how to balance full-time work and school, and to work with other like-minded professionals to problem-solve and learn new skills.

“The MBA was also very valuable in that it taught me time management and stress management,” Walters added.

The professional accounting certificate allowed her to learn new professional accounting skills, such as tax, and it provided her with the necessary semester units to eventually take the CMA or CPA exams, if she so chooses.

“It has helped because I know exactly what the CPA firm needs from us and important dates, and I now feel very on top of that side of things here,” Walters said.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this article in which the controllers I spoke to offer advice to budding accountants on how they can become a corporate controller without being a CPA.

Image: iStock/DNY59

18 thoughts on “No CPA, No Problem: Why Some Controllers Opted for Other Professional Credentials

  1. Is this article serious? Hands down, the CPA license is the best credential whether you’re in public accounting, corporate/industry accounting, in academia teaching accounting, or in federal/state/local government accounting. It is the gold standard in accounting. All of these other credentials (CMA, CFE, etc.) are largely viewed as lesser credentials when compared to the CPA. Most of the people in this article I bet couldn’t pass the CPA exam or did tried to pass it and gave up. These people went down the easier path of obtaining lesser credentials. To obtain an advantage or an edge in your work career, smart people would obtain both a CPA license and a second credential. Some people even have three or four credentials in addition to the CPA license, (the so-called alphabet soup after a person’s last name). Also, most controller and CFO jobs in private and public companies require a CPA license. HR won’t even entertain a candidate who do not have a CPA. I myself is planning on obtaining a second credential in addition to my CPA license to increase my advantage and earning potential.

    1. Rather than getting another certification, you may want to brush up on your grammar.

    2. to be fair, this is selling confirmation bias and alternative certifications. CPA may be the gold standard, but certifications like EA would suffice for most tax scenarios. it’s all about signaling, and what you do with the certification. there are dumb CPAs who studied to pass, and there are smart CPAs who know that the CPA is simply a hoop to jump through and continue to learn.

      1. in my opinion, the article did its job. selling alternatives to cpa in the controller career path.

        1. You’re entitled to your opinion. But in my opinion, if you’re aiming to become a controller or CFO there’s really no alternatives but to obtain the CPA license. Competition is extremely tough at high-level job openings like for controller or CFO. Just look at any job opening for a controller or CFO. These positions usually (95% probability) require a CPA license. I suspect that the examples/job positions in this article are of the few situations (5% or less probability) that didn’t require a CPA license. Who wouldn’t want to obtain a CPA license if he or she is aiming for a controller or CFO position? Smart people would obtain the CPA license if they want a controller or CFO position. Why would you risk it? Accountants in general are conservative and risk averse. If you’re aiming for a low-level or mid-level job opening, like a senior accountant or accounting manager, then a lesser credential (CMA, CFE etc.) or even an accounting bachelor degree would be sufficient. Again, if you want an advantage or an edge in your work career, a smart person would most likely obtain both a CPA license and a second credential to stand out.

    3. Think @disqus_w0FsryMF5k:disqus has the right mindset. Pissing on the other certifications and putting people down only perpetuates the rigid and restrictive screening culture for the certifications I’m sure you’re also not fond of.

      1. I’m not pissing on the other certifications/credentials. I’m telling the hard truth. Most (95% probability) controller and CFO jobs in private and public companies require a CPA license. Again, competition is extremely tough at high-level job openings like for controller or CFO, similar to a Director or Partner-level position in public accounting firms. I suspect that the examples/job positions in this article are of the few situations (5% or less probability) that didn’t require a CPA license. The higher a person climbs the corporate ladder, the more technical skills, knowledge, and responsibility he or she is suppose to have. That’s the nature of high-level jobs. It goes with the territory. In my opinion, the rigid and restrictive screening culture for these lesser certifications/credentials (CMA, CFE, etc.) are warranted and appropriate.

        1. I don’t know of any interview process where a person can actually show their technical skills and knowledge, especially for a position as high as a controller. Companies require a CPA for their controller position is (1) almost everybody else seems to require it for the position, and (2) the company doesn’t know better. The designation is just a marketing tool for the professional and a way to cut down the number of applicants to a more manageable level.

    4. SullaCPA, your post reeks of arrogance.

      Contrary to popular belief, not everyone wants to be a CPA, and it’s not because they couldn’t pass the exam; for many, the cost to become one would exceed the benefits they would get from being one; for some it would require returning to school to get the necessary 150 college hours and/or the 30 hours in accounting, for others they may have already passed the exam, but they don’t want to risk taking a pay cut or deviating from an already established career path to work under a CPA for a year.

      To suggest that non-CPA credentials professionals are somehow “less than” CPAs or that they took an “easier path” proves my original point. Furthermore, if these are “lesser” credentials, why did the AICPA feel the need to create the CGMA to compete with the CMA, for which no exam was (originally) required?

      For many CFO jobs (controller, not so much), a CPA isn’t NEARLY as much of a requirement inasmuch as it is a preference, in part because a CFO isn’t an accountant, but rather, a finance professional. Put another way, a controller’s job is more tactical, a CFO’s job is more strategic as it relates to how the operations of the business drives the finances.

      In short, a professional who foregoes the CPA in favor of a credential more suited to his/her professional skills is not a disgrace, and should be commended for finding their own path to success.

      1. JustPlainPA,

        It’s not arrogance. It’s the hard truth. Some people can’t handle the truth. I believe you’re in denial. Your first point is the only point I would agree with you on. Some people can’t afford the cost to take the CPA exam and get licensed. I actually know a friend in this exact situation. For your second point, non-CPA accountants with other accounting credentials (CMA, CFE, etc.) did take an “easier path.” The CPA exam is much harder to pass than the other accounting credentials (I’m taking about first-time passing rates). Are you trying to say that the other accounting credentials’ exams (CMA, CFE, etc.) are harder to pass than the CPA exam? Of course not. Also, most people would agree with me on that. Additionally, Non-CPA accountants are “less than” (value less than) CPA accountants. As for evidence, just look at the salaries. Everybody knows that CPA accountants are paid more than Non-CPA accountants. I’ve seen many articles on this topic in the Journal of Accountancy, AICPA, Accounting Today, Accountancy Age, The Wall Street Journal, CFO magazine and, of course, Becker Professional Education. It’s a recurring theme. Companies pay you what THEY THINK you are WORTH (Your value). The market, including supply and demand, RULES. It’s the reason why the CPA license has so much value and prestige. As for your third point, most of the CFO job openings I see require a CPA license. I don’t know exactly where you are looking. Competition is extremely high for CFO job openings. If you’re aiming for a high-level position like this, why wouldn’t you obtain the best credential/gold standard in accounting to give yourself an advantage? Maybe a CFO candidate should even earn a second credential, like the CMA, to give himself or herself a bigger advantage. For your fourth point, I don’t think a non-CPA accountant is a disgrace. But, I do think (along with most CPA accountants and people outside the accounting world) that they were a little bit lazy by taking the easier path to a lesser accounting credential. To obtain a high reward, you have to be willing to put in the hard work.

        On a side note: I prefer the term “accountant” instead of “professional.” A non-CPA professional who has a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) credential is definitely not a “disgrace.” A CFA professional is usually a rock star in the investment/asset management world. In my opinion, the CFA exam is harder than the CPA exam just by looking at the passing rates. The CFA credential is the gold standard in the investment/asset management world. The CPA credential, no matter what accounting area/section (public accounting, corporate/industry accounting, in academia teaching accounting, and federal/state/local government accounting), is the gold standard in the accounting world.

      2. JustPlainPA,

        It’s not arrogance. It’s the hard truth. Some people can’t handle the truth. I
        believe you’re in denial. Your first point is the only point I would agree with
        you on. Some people can’t afford the cost to take the CPA exam and get
        licensed. I actually know a friend in this exact situation.

        For your second point, non-CPA accountants with other accounting credentials (CMA, CFE, etc.) did take an “easier path.” The CPA exam is much harder to pass than
        the other accounting credentials (I’m taking about first-time passing rates). Are you trying to say that the other accounting credentials’ exams (CMA, CFE, etc.) are harder to pass than the CPA exam? Of course not. Also, most people would agree with me on that. Additionally, Non-CPA accountants are “less than” (value less than) CPA accountants. As for evidence, just look at the salaries. Everybody knows that CPA accountants are paid more than Non-CPA accountants. I’ve seen many articles on this topic in the Journal of Accountancy, AICPA, Accounting Today, Accountancy Age, The Wall Street Journal, CFO magazine and, of course, Becker Professional Education. It’s a recurring theme. Companies pay you what THEY THINK you are WORTH (your value). The market, including supply and demand, RULES. It’s the reason why the CPA license has so much value and prestige. Moreover, the AICPA created the CGMA credential to make more money, simple. It’s a revenue gimmick. Actually, I think the CGMA is even a lesser credential when compared to the CMA. The same goes for the CEIV (Certified in Entity and Intangible Valuations) credential. It’s a revenue gimmick. The AICPA already has a “valuation credential,” the ABV (Accredited in Business Valuation) credential. I bet you the AICPA will create another silly redundant credential in the future to make more money.

        As for your third point, most of the CFO job openings I see require a CPA license. I don’t know exactly where you are looking. Competition is extremely high for CFO job openings. If you’re aiming for a high-level position like this, why wouldn’t you obtain the best credential/gold standard in accounting to give yourself an advantage? Maybe a CFO candidate should even earn a second credential, like the CMA, to give himself or herself a bigger advantage. Also, to be a CFO you have to be part accountant. The CFO oversees the whole accounting department/function. So you have to know, not some, but a great amount of accounting. Why do you think companies usually list a CPA license, an accounting degree, and accounting work experience as SOME of the requirements for CFO job openings?

        For your fourth point, I don’t think a Non-CPA accountant is a disgrace. But, I do think (along with most CPA accountants and people outside the accounting world) with good reason that they were a little bit lazy by taking the easier path to a lesser accounting credential. To obtain a high reward, you have to be willing to put in the hard work.

        On a side note: I prefer the term “accountant” instead of “professional.” A non-CPA professional who has a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) credential is definitely not a “disgrace.” A non-CPA professional who has a CFA credential is usually a rock star in the investment/asset management world. In my opinion, the CFA exam is harder than the CPA exam just by looking at the passing rates and what exam takers say about both exams. The CFA credential is the gold standard in the investment/asset management world. The CPA credential, no matter what accounting area/section (public accounting, corporate/industry accounting, in academia teaching accounting, and federal/state/local government accounting), is the gold standard in the accounting world.

      3. JustPlainPA,

        It’s not arrogance. It’s the hard truth. Some people can’t handle the truth. I

        believe you’re in denial. Your first point is the only point I would agree with

        you on. Some people can’t afford the cost to take the CPA exam and get

        licensed. I actually know a friend in this exact situation.

        For your second point, non-CPA accountants with other accounting credentials
        (CMA, CFE, etc.) did take an “easier path.” The CPA exam is much
        harder to pass than

        the other accounting credentials (I’m taking about first-time passing rates).
        Are you trying to say that the other accounting credentials’ exams (CMA, CFE,
        etc.) are harder to pass than the CPA exam? Of course not. Also, most people
        would agree with me on that. Additionally, Non-CPA accountants are “less
        than” (value less than) CPA accountants. As for evidence, just look at the
        salaries. Everybody knows that CPA accountants are paid more than Non-CPA
        accountants. I’ve seen many articles on this topic in the Journal of Accountancy,
        AICPA, Accounting Today, Accountancy Age, The Wall Street Journal, CFO magazine
        and, of course, Becker Professional Education. It’s a recurring theme.
        Companies pay you what THEY THINK you are WORTH (your value). The market,
        including supply and demand, RULES. It’s the reason why the CPA license has so
        much value and prestige. Moreover, the AICPA created the CGMA credential to
        make more money, simple. It’s a revenue gimmick. Actually, I think the CGMA is
        even a lesser credential when compared to the CMA. The same goes for the CEIV
        (Certified in Entity and Intangible Valuations) credential. It’s a revenue
        gimmick. The AICPA already has a “valuation credential,” the ABV
        (Accredited in Business Valuation) credential. I bet you the AICPA will create another
        silly redundant credential in the future to make more money.

        As for your third point, most of the CFO job openings I see require a CPA
        license. I don’t know exactly where you are looking. Competition is extremely
        high for CFO job openings. If you’re aiming for a high-level position like
        this, why wouldn’t you obtain the best credential/gold standard in accounting
        to give yourself an advantage? Maybe a CFO candidate should even earn a second
        credential, like the CMA, to give himself or herself a bigger advantage.
        Also, to be a CFO you have to be part accountant. The CFO oversees
        the whole accounting function. So you have to know, not some, but a
        great amount of accounting. Why do you think companies usually list
        a CPA license, an accounting degree, and accounting work experience as SOME of
        the requirements for CFO job openings?

        For your fourth point, I don’t think a Non-CPA accountant is a disgrace. But, I
        do think (along with most CPA accountants and people outside the accounting
        world) with good reason that they were a little bit lazy by taking the easier
        path to a lesser accounting credential. To obtain a high reward, you have to be
        willing to put in the hard work.

        On a side note: I prefer the term “accountant” instead of
        “professional.” A non-CPA professional who has a CFA (Chartered
        Financial Analyst) credential is definitely not a “disgrace.” A
        non-CPA professional who has a CFA credential is usually a rock star in the
        investment/asset management world. In my opinion, the CFA exam is harder
        than the CPA exam just by looking at the passing rates and what exam takers say
        about both exams. The CFA credential is the gold standard in the
        investment/asset management world. The CPA credential, no matter what
        accounting area/section (public accounting, corporate/industry accounting, in
        academia teaching accounting, and federal/state/local government accounting),
        is the gold standard in the accounting world.

      4. Sounds like lots of Kool-Aid associated with the CGMA.

        It looks like you need to be a member of the AICPA to maintain that CGMA designation, which sounds like annual membership dues to the AICPA must be paid, in addition to fees related to the designation itself. A CPA might pay a respective state education/licensing board annually, but the designation itself does not go dissipate or go bad for nonpayment of fees to an industry group. The ugly, revenue-losing fact for the AICPA is that one can be a CPA for decades, without ever paying any AICPA membership fees, and the AICPA has absolutely no regulatory authority over that person or license, and thus there’s no income-producing consequences for that individual for being a CPA as opposed to a CGMA.

        Going Concern also took a look at the language of the agreements the AICPA has with state societies regarding the CGMA, especially “royalty, revenue-sharing and co-branding opportunities”:
        http://www.goingconcern.com/aicpas-cgma-designation-most-popular-management-accounting-designation-us-says-aicpa/

        What can one do with the CGMA designation?
        1) Can you sign financial statements for a publicly traded company as a CFO? 2) Can you sign financial statements for any company, public or private, that might go to a bank for a loan, or another entity for due diligence purposes?
        3) On behalf of a commercial or nonprofit entity, where you were not a designated third party, the original signer, or an entity officer, can you fill out a power of attorney to represent or speak to the IRS or a state tax agency without the client present on the phone?

  2. At Surgent, we are seeing a rise in our CMA Exam Prep https://www.surgent.com/exam-prep/cma-review/ course. Yes, more opportunities are opening up for CMA but I also think CPA opportunities are increasing as the supply of CPAs relative to demand is tight – especially with large firms and ongoing tax policy changes. It depends if the career is public accounting or other accounting/finance options.

  3. SullaCPA, I saw that you replied to my post to you and I wanted to post a reply directly to your rebuttal, but it appears you deleted your post after the fact, though I have a copy of it in my email notification from Disqus. Since you know what you wrote, I will just respond accordingly:

    I am not in denial of anything, and while there are indeed some hard truths in what you are saying, I will not allow those truths to dictate my destiny as an accounting professional (btw, for the record, I am licensed as a PA in several states, which means I am basically a “C”-less CPA that has all the rights and practice privileges of a CPA, but none of the glory; my licensing anniversary was actually a few days ago).

    Anyway, the essence of your rebuttal was to state that because the path to becoming a CPA was a rigorous process with a difficult exam (three Es and whatnot), it is somehow “better” than being a CMA, an EA, etc. That and you said several times that being a CPA is “the gold standard”. This is why I said your post reeks of arrogance, and let me explain.

    The notion that because one went through a harder process, the end product they seek to become is intrinsically better is flawed. If that was the case, are Marines better than soldiers, sailors, and airmen? Of course not. They all serve a distinct purpose, and they all are working under the same Dept. of Defense to achieve the same outcome: To defend our country against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

    Same in accounting: We are all working together to service our clients and employers be providing quality work in accounting and taxes, some of us work in public accounting, others management accounting, some in tax, some in management consulting or as an executive, and some in finance. We all are achieving the same goal, and some credentials are better suited for us based on what we are doing, and whether that credential will help meet our needs, and for many, the CPA would hinder more than it would help (in economics terms, it’s called the Law of Diminishing Returns).

    So to say that other credentials are less than the CPA is taking the focus off of the collective goal, and placing that focus squarely on the CPA while disparaging other professionals in the process. It gives the perception among other accounting professionals that CPAs come off as obnoxious snobs. It is for this reason that I actually returned an invitation to join the AICPA that they mailed to me along with a strongly worded letter declining their invitation.

    I will just say briefly that while I don’t doubt that many employers say they require their CFOs to be a CPA, I will say that requirement can, and have often been, lifted if the CFO candidate has a strong professional network and/or a solid track record of qualitative and quantitative results working at other companies. Personally, for the many job openings I have seen for CFO, the CPA was almost always preferred as opposed to required.

    Bottom line, it’s not about the accounting professional seeking a credential that is the best (or “gold standard” as you call it), it is about what credential is the best FOR THEM. Put another way, not everyone wants a Mercedes or a BMW when a Ford or Chevy (or for me, an Acura or Lexus) will do just as nicely.

  4. SullaCPA, I saw that you replied to my post to you and I wanted to

    post a reply directly to your rebuttal, but it appears you deleted your
    post after the fact, though I have a copy of it in my email notification
    from Disqus. Since you know what you wrote, I will just respond
    accordingly:

    I am not in denial of anything, and while there are
    indeed some hard truths in what you are saying, I will not allow those
    truths to dictate my destiny as an accounting professional (btw, for the
    record, I am licensed as a PA in several states, which means I am
    basically a “C”-less CPA that has all the rights and practice privileges
    of a CPA, but none of the glory; my licensing anniversary was actually a
    few days ago).

    Anyway, the essence of your rebuttal was to state
    that because the path to becoming a CPA was a rigorous process with a
    difficult exam (three Es and whatnot), it is somehow “better” than being
    a CMA, an EA, etc. That and you said several times that being a CPA is
    “the gold standard”. This is why I said your post reeks of arrogance,
    and let me explain.

    The notion that because one went through a
    harder process, the end product they seek to become is intrinsically
    better is flawed. If that was the case, are Marines better than
    soldiers, sailors, and airmen? Of course not. They all serve a
    distinct purpose, and they all are working under the same Dept. of
    Defense to achieve the same outcome: To defend our country against all
    enemies, foreign and domestic.

    Same in accounting: We are all
    working together to service our clients and employers be providing
    quality work in accounting and taxes, some of us work in public
    accounting, others management accounting, some in tax, some in
    management consulting or as an executive, and some in finance. We all
    are achieving the same goal, and some credentials are better suited for
    us based on what we are doing, and whether that credential will help
    meet our needs, and for many, the CPA would hinder more than it would
    help (in economics terms, it’s called the Law of Diminishing Returns).

    So
    to say that other credentials are less than the CPA is taking the focus
    off of the collective goal, and placing that focus squarely on the CPA
    while disparaging other professionals in the process. It gives the
    perception among other accounting professionals that CPAs come off as
    obnoxious snobs. It is for this reason that I actually returned an
    invitation to join the AICPA that they mailed to me along with a
    strongly worded letter declining their invitation.

    I will just say
    briefly that while I don’t doubt that many employers say they require
    their CFOs to be a CPA, I will say that requirement can, and have often
    been, lifted if the CFO candidate has a strong professional network
    and/or a solid track record of qualitative and quantitative results
    working at other companies. Personally, for the many job openings I
    have seen for CFO, the CPA was almost always preferred as opposed to
    required.

    Bottom line, it’s not about the accounting professional
    seeking a credential that is the best (or “gold standard” as you call
    it), it is about what credential is the best FOR THEM. Put another way,
    not everyone wants a high-end foreign luxury car when a domestic economy car will do just as nicely.

  5. CFE, CMA are ok for people interested to go for employment, If a person wants to be self employed in accounting finance field, will these degrees help as much as CPA helps, Kindly clarify

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