Those who undertake traditional MBAs (12 subjects or more) have to undertake “financial and management accounting” and “corporate finance” subjects as part of their core subjects in the MBA. Such MBA graduates will be eligible to undertake the two CMA program subjects in order to obtain their CMA qualification. These subjects are:

  • Strategic Cost Management
  • Strategic Business Analysis

Those with MBA (specialization) degrees or those with Executive type MBAs (8 subjects or less) may not cover the “financial and management accounting” and “corporate finance” subjects in adequate depth. Indeed, some MBAs do not cover any accounting or finance subjects in the curriculum. Those with such MBAs will need to do up to four pre-requisite (conversion) subjects, depending on the depth of knowledge covered in accounting and finance in their MBA, before they do the two CMA subjects. These subjects are:

  • Financial Modelling (financial and management accounting with Excel modelling)
  • Financial Management
  • Management Accounting
  • Financial Statement Analysis

Some MBA graduates may have taken one or more of these subjects as electives. Evidence of completion of the following four subjects (via your MBA or via an ICMA Educational provider) will give you Certified Management Accountant (CMA) status, provided you have five years of relevant experience.

  • Financial Modelling (financial and management accounting with Excel modelling), and
  • Financial Management
  • Strategic Cost Management
  • Strategic Business Analysis

Information about undertaking the above four courses online can be obtained from the Wharton Institute of Technology and Science (The Global Business School).