The CMA Program

Minimum Entry Requirement - Accounting degree or accounting professional qualification (from a recognised institution)

The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) program is available to those who have obtained an accounting or related degree or are members of a recognised professional accounting body. It is also available to those who have satisfactorily completed the Graduate Licenciate in Accounting from GBS. Students must choose the coursework pathway of the GBS Graduate Professionate program and complete two units of coursework, i.e. 'Advanced Management Accounting' and 'Advanced Strategic Management Accounting', (examined by ICMA). On satisfactory completion of the above educational requirements, the students are awarded the Graduate Professionate in Accounting by GBS. Students completing the full CMA program and having 5 years relevant experience can apply to the ICMA for certification as a 'Certified Management Accountant' (CMA) which is a highly sought after qualification recognised worldwide.

The aim of this programme is to further develop skills of analysis, evaluation and synthesis in the areas of cost and management accounting for associate members and, in the process, create an awareness of some current developments in the profession. The programme can only be taken by a Graduate or Associate member of the Institute.

The programme is not designed as one in which highly structured methods and rules are applied to various topics in order to find one "correct" solution or answer for problems or issues. Rather, it is more a possibilities quest, in which various controversial conceptual and practical issues will be reviewed and analysed, with due recognition to the reality of alternative value judgements. Given the history of recent developments in the profession and business practices, this approach to the study of the subject of management accounting is considered feasible and warranted.

Furthermore, evidence is available that in managerial accounting, procedures continue to evolve and develop. Much of this dynamic activity is in response to changing business practices and policies and the complexity of modern firms.

The two subjects of the CMA Program are:

• Advanced Management Accounting
  and
  
• Advanced Strategic Management Accounting