(This article posted with permission from the author, Rick Thompson, current Chair of the IMA Board of Regents.)
Did
you know . . .
The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification
has developed some important attributes during its rich 40 year history. The CMA body of knowledge focuses on the
skill sets needed by accounting and financial associates to drive improved
business performance. The CMA credential
is respected by employers who seek to improve decision making capabilities and develop
their financial team. The CMA credential
is sought by professionals who wish to increase their potential for promotion
and increase compensation.
The preparation and study for the CMA exam will increase
competencies in financial planning, risk analysis, internal controls, and
decision making. A passage from one of
the great icons of American industry, Andrew Carnegie, reminds us, "Think
of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear,
glorious life lies before you. Achieve!"
The New Year is the
perfect time for pause and reflection concerning our careers, and for
determining if additional personal growth steps are needed as we look to the
future.
It is during the
season of the New Year that we are reminded of Janus, the Roman god of
doorways. The pictures of Janus portray
him as standing in a doorway and having eyes, nose and mouth on the front and
back of his head. A doorway represents
an entrance and an exit. Janus is
standing in the doorway, representing the present, and looking forward and
backward at the same time. Janus teaches
us to learn from our past and where we have been and keeping focused on where
we are going.
It was during a
period of self-assessment over a holiday weekend more than 20 years ago that I realized
a professional certification was not an option; instead, it was a requirement. The status quo situation was not
acceptable! My skills needed
improvement, and I did not have time to recreate my career. The great basketball coach, John Wooden said, "Don't
let what you can't do stop you from what you can do." Wooden always provided sound advice both on and
off the basketball court. I chose to pursue the
CMA certification, a decision that
enabled me to validate skills and open doors that would have been closed. The CMA exam was the beginning of numerous professional
exams that made a big difference in my career.
The CMA exam structure and content has changed over the
years to meet the needs of today’s business environment, but it remains a rigorous
exam that prepares business professionals for the future. I am sharing this story because I believe that
others have, or will be, faced a similar situation.
A final thought
this month is provided by Thomas Edison, a genius inventor, who said, "Opportunity
is missed by most people, because it is dressed in overalls and looks like
work." I sincerely hope that 2012 is a great year,
providing you with personal satisfaction and professional career
successes. Please take advantage of the
opportunities that will make a difference, including the CMA credential as a
means to improve your knowledge and achieve your goals.
Rick
S. Thompson, CMA, CFM, CPA (N.C.), CIA, CTP, CFE
ICMA
Board of Regents Chair
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