Popularity of US CMA Course in India _ Zell Education

1. The Growth in Popularity of US CMA Course in India Overview The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential provided by the Institute of Management Accountants in USA has gained significant attraction all over India since its advent, almost ten years ago. The field of financial planning, analysis, control and decision support are provided by the CMA qualification. It prepares management accountants and finance for action required in the strategic management within a global economy that is increasingly becoming dynamic. Lets discuss the popularity of US CMA course in India. According to IMA, as of 2022 in terms of number CMA holders across the world India is second after US. The popularity of US CMA amongst India’s accounting professionals is indicative that the fleeing population prefers to occupy jobs globally, and for higher salary. The number of CMA course and certification registrations has been increasing at over 20% year-on-year, showing clear interest in the program. Important factors are pushing more Indian accounting and finance professionals to earn the US CMA designation.

2. Increasing MNCs Establishing Presence in India India has seen a steady rise in multinational companies (MNCs) setting up operations in the country over the past two decades due to economic liberalization and market-friendly policies. MNCs now contribute significantly to India’s GDP and job creation. The popularity of US CMA certification can be attributed to its worldwide recognition and strategic financial planning concepts relevant to business expansion. Many of these MNCs have their headquarters in the US or have global shared services centers based there. They prefer to hire candidates with US certifications like the CMA due to the following reasons: Uniformity in Accounting Practices: Adoption of US certifications leads to alignment of Indian operations with the global accounting practices followed within the organization. This enables smoother functioning. Performance Benchmarking: Global finance teams are able to set goals objectively, measure performance, and compare results across different country operations. Talent Development: Structured training helps staff develop expert finance skills as per globally benchmarked standards regardless of their geographical location. This aids in succession planning and talent mobility across regions.

3. The increased presence of US MNCs and alignment of Indian arms to US corporate culture has significantly boosted the popularity of credentials like the CMA in India in the last 5-7 years. Worldwide Recognition The US CMA qualification is recognized and valued worldwide, especially in countries like the United States, Canada, the Middle East and China. This gives it a global edge and international mobility for certified professionals. Owing to the popularity of US CMA in the workforce, many B-schools have started offering preparatory courses for the exam. ● Portability Across Countries CMA-certified accountants enjoy swift visa processing and ease of getting work permits across global economic hubs like: 1. United States: The IMA-CMA certification is licensed by all 50 American states and considered at par with other US accounting credentials like CPA, CFA etc. It is the fastest pathway for immigration to the USA through programs like H1B and EB2. Over 100,000 CMAs are currently employed in America. 2. Canada & Australia: Management accountants with a US CMA are prized by Canadian employers for accounting, strategy and financial planning roles

4. across various industries. Certified CMAs also get extra migration points while applying for PR visas as skilled professionals. The same is the case with Australia. 3. Middle East: Countries like UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman are actively recruiting senior finance professionals and CXOs holding the reputed CMA qualification from the USA, offering lucrative tax-free salary packages. 4. China & Hong Kong: The majority of Fortune 500 companies have offices in China. They prefer employing CMA credential holders for uniformity in global accounting practices and seamless collaboration between regional teams. ● Globally Benchmarked Program The US CMA course is administered by the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), the world’s leading finance association dedicated solely to management accounting and financial management professionals. The 2-part CMA exam is competency-based and tests real-world application of knowledge on Financial Planning & Analysis, Corporate Finance, Decision Analysis, Risk Management, Investment Decisions and Professional Ethics. It meets the highest global benchmarks in rigor and quality of the curriculum. Partnerships with renowned business schools like McGill Executive Institute

5. (Canada) further bolster its pedigree as a gold standard in financial planning and analysis. These reasons have exponentially boosted the global reputation of the US CMA certification in the last decade and expanded its scope beyond American shores into every major world economy.

7. A Short-Term Professional Program The US CMA course is designed as a flexible and structured certification that can be completed alongside full-time work in just 12-16 months. The popularity of US CMA among entrepreneurs is growing as it helps them make key investment and financing decisions for rapid growth. Self-Paced Learning: Professionals can self-learn the subjects at their convenience without needing to enroll in full-time classes. Study manuals, online classes, mock tests and expert mentorship provide a structured framework. Exam-Based Testing: The evaluation methodology is exam-based, objective and focuses on practical real-world applications of knowledge through analysis of scenarios and problems. 2 Parts: There are two exam parts, each having two papers – multiple choice questions and essay-type descriptive questions. Candidates can give the parts one by one at their own pace. Accessible from Anywhere: CMA allows professionals from any geography to improve their skills by giving online proctored exams in their city. This removes geographical barriers.

8. CMA-certified professionals need just two years of relevant work experience in fields like budgeting, financial planning & analysis, management accounting, costing etc. This can be completed along with self-paced exam preparation over 1.5 years. So, within 12-16 months of signing up, financial executives can fulfill all CMA requirements without needing to take a career break. Career Prospects with Top-Tier Employers The US CMA opens up rewarding career opportunities both in India and abroad. Surveys show certified management accountants earn 35%-45% higher compensation compared to non-credentialed peers. Despite the growing popularity of US CMA courses, enrollments remain male-dominated, though experts encourage more women to acquire this strategic financial skillset. In India, CMA-certified professionals are increasingly valued by large corporates, multinationals, consulting firms, banks and accounting practices for the following roles: ● Financial Planning Managers ● Cost Accounting Managers ● Investment Analysts

9. ● Business Analysts ● Business Development Managers ● Finance Controllers ● Commercial Managers Top global recruiters like Amazon, Deloitte, E&Y, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Walmart, Shell and IBM actively hire and reward CMA credential holders with lucrative salary packages. Kickstart Your Entrepreneurial Journey with a Head Start For professionals aspiring to launch their ventures, the CMA course provides a strong foundation across all critical areas to set up and manage a company as certified management accountants. Financial Planning: Prepare accurate cash flow statements, balance sheets, working capital projections, cost & profitability analysis and funding requirements for smooth business operations. Costing: Expertise in decision-making concepts like target costing, life cycle costing and value analysis to maximize profitability and efficiency.

10. Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of tax codes and laws across GST, corporate and labor laws applicable for business entities in India for legal compliance. Technology Integration: Learn manufacturing, retail and service industry best practices to optimize performance via emerging digital technologies like AI, predictive analytics, blockchain etc. Strategic Thinking: Understand market dynamics to identify new growth avenues, competition mapping, trends analysis and craft differentiated business strategies. Leadership Skills: IMA’s management accountant code of ethics instills principles of trust, accountability, transparency and integrity to lead by example. With the popularity of US CMA, IMA’s India chapter is actively organizing information seminars and preparation workshops in metro cities. This 360-degree skillset positions certified CMAs as the ethical backbone for corporates and gives entrepreneurs a strategic head start to set up, manage and scale their own companies. Conclusion The rising popularity of US CMA courses in India is attributable to the country’s integration with the global economy and the increased presence of

11. MNCs with bases in America. The course is widely respected worldwide for its rigorous curriculum. It expands the career prospects of Indian candidates beyond geographical borders while helping global corporations benchmark professional competencies. The exam-based structure also makes it a convenient and fast-track option for working professionals to upgrade their finance skills and earnings potential without a career break. No wonder it is emerging as the preferred global finance credential for smart Indian millennials looking to take their careers to new heights both within and outside India. FAQs Does US CMA have value in India? Yes, the US CMA credential is highly valued in India due to the rising presence of MNCs with US headquarters who prefer to align their global operations with American business culture and accounting practices. It provides uniform training in finance concepts to Indian employees, enabling easier performance management across geographical locations. Does US CMA have scope? The US CMA certification has immense scope in India as well as abroad. Surveys show CMA-certified professionals earn 35-45% higher than non-credentialed peers. Top global and Indian corporates across banking,

12. financial services, information technology and manufacturing sectors actively recruit and reward CMA credential holders for a variety of strategic finance roles. Is US CMA worth doing? Yes, US CMA is absolutely worth pursuing for Indian finance professionals looking for global job mobility and higher earning potential. The course expands career opportunities abroad while opening up senior management roles with attractive salary packages across top Indian and multinational corporations. Where is CMA most demanded? The US CMA credential is highly in demand in India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), China, Canada, Australia and New Zealand due to rising globalization and the presence of multinational companies in these countries. Job surveys show that certified management accountants tend to earn higher remuneration compared to non-credentialed accounting and finance professionals in these regions. Anant Bengani, brings expertise as a Chartered Accountant and a leading figure in finance and accounting education. He’s dedicated to empowering learners with the finest financial knowledge and skills.