Top 10 Accounting Director Certifications

Certifications are important for an accounting director in the job market because they demonstrate a level of expertise and knowledge that employers look for when making hiring decisions. They provide assurance that the candidate has the necessary skills and training to do the job well. Certification also helps potential employers to assess the applicant’s qualifications and experience, as well as their professional commitment to excellence. Certifications can also provide a competitive edge in a crowded job market, since they are evidence of specialized knowledge and dedication to the profession.

The article reviews some of the top certifications for Accounting Directors and explains how they can help to enhance an accounting director's career.

What are Accounting Director Certifications?

Accounting director certification is a professional designation that demonstrates a mastery of accounting principles and practices. It is earned by completing a rigorous program of continuing education and passing an examination. The certification helps validate the knowledge and expertise of those who have achieved it, making them more attractive to employers and clients. It also gives the individual the confidence to handle complex accounting issues with a greater degree of accuracy and authority. Additionally, many organizations offer additional benefits to individuals who have obtained this certification, such as higher salaries, better job opportunities, or even promotion opportunities.

Pro Tip: Invest in an accounting director certification program to help you stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices in the industry. This will ensure that you have the most current knowledge to make informed decisions and lead your team effectively.

Related: What does an Accounting Director do?

Top 10 Accounting Director Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Accounting Directors today.

1. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is a professional certification offered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). The CMA is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated expertise in financial planning, analysis, control, decision support, and professional ethics. It is one of the most respected credentials for management accountants and financial professionals.

To become a CMA, you must meet certain educational requirements and pass two exams administered by the IMA. To qualify for the exams, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and two years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management.

The exam process consists of two parts: Part 1 – Financial Planning, Performance and Control; and Part 2 – Strategic Financial Management. Each part consists of 100 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within four hours.

The cost to take both parts of the CMA exam is $415 for members of the IMA ($515 for non-members). Additionally, there are fees associated with applying to take the exam ($100 for members/$150 for non-members) as well as fees associated with maintaining your certification ($50 per year).

Overall, it takes approximately 6-12 months to complete all steps necessary to become a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

2. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a professional designation given to individuals who have met specific educational, experience and testing requirements set by the state in which they practice. CPAs are responsible for providing financial advice, preparing tax returns, auditing financial statements and records, and performing other accounting-related services.

To become a CPA, candidates must complete an accredited college degree program in accounting or a related field. Generally, this requires at least 150 semester hours of college credit from an accredited institution. After completing the required coursework, candidates must pass the Uniform CPA Examination administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The exam consists of four sections: Auditing & Attestation; Business Environment & Concepts; Financial Accounting & Reporting; and Regulation.

Once all requirements are met, applicants must apply for licensure with their respective state board of accountancy. Each state has its own application process and fees associated with becoming licensed as a CPA. Generally speaking, it can take anywhere from 6 months to 1 year to become fully licensed as a CPA depending on the state you are applying in.

The cost of becoming a CPA varies depending on where you live and what type of program you choose to pursue. Generally speaking, most states require that applicants pay an application fee ranging from $50-$400 when submitting their application for licensure. Additionally, there may be fees associated with taking the Uniform CPA Exam which range from $200-$1,000 depending on your location.

3. Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) is a professional designation given by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). It is a globally recognized certification for internal auditors that demonstrates their commitment to the profession and their expertise in auditing, control, and governance. The CIA designation is held by more than 100,000 professionals in over 180 countries.

The CIA program consists of three parts: Part 1 – The Internal Audit Basics; Part 2 – Practice of Internal Auditing; and Part 3 – Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing. Each part requires passing an exam with a score of at least 70%.

It typically takes two to five years to complete all three parts of the program. However, this timeline can vary depending on the individual’s experience level and study habits.

To get started, individuals must first apply to become a candidate for the CIA program through IIA’s website. Once accepted as a candidate, individuals must purchase study materials from IIA or other providers and register for each part of the exam separately.

The cost of becoming a Certified Internal Auditor varies depending on the country you are located in and whether you are purchasing study materials from IIA or another provider. Generally speaking, it costs around $1,500 USD per part for registration fees alone (not including study materials).

4. Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)

Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) is a professional designation awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). The CGMA designation recognizes professionals with advanced knowledge and experience in management accounting, financial management, strategy, and business analysis.

It typically takes three to five years to become a CGMA. To qualify for the designation, you must meet certain educational requirements and have at least three years of relevant work experience. You must also pass an exam administered by AICPA/CIMA.

The cost of becoming a CGMA varies depending on the exam you take and your country of residence. In the United States, for example, the cost of taking the exam is $1,200 USD. After passing the exam, there is an annual fee of $150 USD to maintain your CGMA status.

In addition to passing the exam and paying fees, CGMAs must adhere to ethical standards set forth by AICPA/CIMA in order to maintain their designation. This includes continuing education requirements and adhering to a code of conduct that requires CGMAs to act with integrity and professionalism when providing services.

5. Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)

Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) is a professional certification program offered by the Association of Government Accountants (AGA). The CGFM program was created to recognize and promote excellence in financial management in the public sector. It is designed to ensure that government financial managers have the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to effectively manage public funds.

The CGFM program consists of three exams: Governmental Environment, Governmental Accounting and Financial Reporting, and Governmental Budgeting and Fiscal Policy. To obtain the certification, candidates must pass all three exams within a five-year period.

Candidates can prepare for the CGFM exam through self-study or by attending an AGA-sponsored training course. The cost of taking the exam varies depending on which option you choose. Self-study materials typically cost around $200-$300, while training courses generally range from $1,000-$2,000.

Once all three exams are passed, candidates will receive their CGFM designation and be recognized as a Certified Government Financial Manager.

6. Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) is a professional certification awarded by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). It is a globally recognized credential that demonstrates an individual’s expertise in fraud prevention, detection and investigation. The CFE credential is awarded to individuals who have met the ACFE’s rigorous standards for education, experience, and examination.

The CFE credential typically takes between 6-12 months to obtain. To become a CFE, you must first meet the ACFE’s eligibility requirements which include having a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and at least two years of professional experience in accounting, auditing, fraud investigation or financial crime prevention. Once these requirements are met, you can then apply to take the CFE exam.

The cost of obtaining the CFE credential varies depending on your country of residence. Generally speaking, it costs around $450 USD for members of the ACFE and $550 USD for non-members. This fee covers the cost of registration as well as access to study materials and practice exams provided by the ACFE.

7. Accredited Business Accountant/Advisor (ABA/ABA)

Accredited Business Accountant/Advisor (ABA/ABA) is a designation given by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to individuals who have met certain qualifications and passed an exam. The ABA/ABA designation is designed to recognize those who have achieved a high level of expertise in business accounting and advisory services.

To become an ABA/ABA, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Have at least three years of experience in the field of business accounting and advisory services;

2. Have completed at least 120 hours of continuing professional education in related topics;

3. Pass the AICPA’s Accredited Business Accountant/Advisor Exam;

4. Agree to abide by the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics.

The exam for the ABA/ABA designation consists of two parts: a written portion and an oral portion. The written portion covers topics such as financial statement analysis, taxation, auditing, financial planning, management consulting, and more. The oral portion requires applicants to demonstrate their knowledge through a series of questions posed by an examiner. Applicants must pass both portions in order to receive their ABA/ABA designation.

It typically takes between three months and one year to complete all requirements for the ABA/ABA designation, depending on how much time you are able to dedicate to studying and preparing for the exam.

To get your ABA/ABA certification, you will need to register with the AICPA and pay a fee that varies depending on your membership status with the organization. Generally speaking, it costs around $500-$600 for non-members or $400-$500 for members when registering for both parts of the exam at once.

8. Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA Canada)

Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA Canada) is a professional designation for accountants in Canada. It is the highest standard of accounting qualification available in the country and is recognized by employers, governments and other organizations.

To become a CPA, you must complete an accredited university degree program in accounting, pass the Common Final Examination (CFE), and meet additional educational requirements set out by your provincial or territorial CPA body. Depending on your province or territory, it can take up to five years to complete all of these requirements.

The CFE consists of three modules: Financial Reporting, Strategy and Performance Management, and Governance, Risk Management and Ethics. Each module has two written components that must be completed within one year of each other. The exam fee for each module is approximately $1,000 CAD plus applicable taxes. In addition to the exam fees, there are also registration fees associated with each module which range from $200-$500 CAD plus applicable taxes.

Once you have successfully completed the CFE, you will need to meet any additional educational requirements set out by your provincial or territorial CPA body before being granted your CPA designation. These may include completing additional courses or work experience requirements.

In total, it can cost around $7000 - $8000 CAD plus applicable taxes to become a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).

9. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) is an internationally recognized certification that verifies a professional’s knowledge and experience in the field of information systems auditing, control, and security. CISA is offered by ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the use of good practices in information technology.

The CISA certification requires applicants to have at least five years of professional experience in the field of information systems auditing, control, or security. Candidates must also pass an exam that covers topics such as risk management, IT governance, system acquisition and development, protection of information assets, business continuity planning, and more.

To get certified as a CISA professional, candidates must first complete an application form with ISACA and pay the required fee. After submitting the application form and fee payment, applicants will receive instructions on how to register for the CISA exam. The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately four hours to complete.

The cost for the CISA certification depends on whether you are an ISACA member or non-member. For members, the cost is $575 USD; for non-members it is $760 USD. Additionally, there is a one-time enrollment fee of $50 USD for all applicants regardless of membership status.

10. Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)

Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) is a professional designation given to individuals who have met certain educational, experience and ethical requirements set by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board). CFPs are qualified to provide financial planning advice on topics such as retirement planning, investments, estate planning, insurance, taxes and more.

In order to become a CFP®, an individual must complete the following steps:

1. Complete an accredited college or university degree program in financial planning or a related field.

2. Pass the CFP® Certification Examination.

3. Acquire three years of full-time financial planning experience or equivalent part-time experience.

4. Agree to abide by the CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Financial Planning Practice Standards.

5. Submit a completed application for certification and pay the associated fees.

The cost of becoming a CFP® varies depending on the type of education you pursue, but typically involves tuition costs for coursework and exam fees ranging from $1,000-$2,500 USD. In addition to these costs, there is also an annual fee for maintaining your certification status with the CFP Board which is currently $325 USD per year.

Do You Really Need a Accounting Director Certificate?

An accounting director certificate can be a beneficial addition to any resume, but whether or not you actually need one depends on the job that you are applying for and your overall career goals. Depending on the specific job requirements, an accounting director certificate may be necessary in order to demonstrate that you have the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of an accounting director.

For example, if you are applying for a position as an accounting director at a large firm, then having a certificate could give you an edge over other applicants who do not have one. However, if the job does not require any specialized skills or knowledge related to accounting, then having a certificate may not be as important.

If your ultimate career goal is to become an accounting director, then obtaining a certificate could be beneficial because it shows potential employers that you are serious about developing your knowledge and skills in this field. The certificate also demonstrates that you have taken initiative to learn more about the profession and gain additional qualifications. In addition, it could potentially lead to higher salaries or promotions down the road.

Ultimately, whether or not you need an accounting director certificate depends on what type of job you are looking for and where you want to take your career in the future. If it is something that can help advance your career goals, then obtaining a certificate is likely worth considering.

Related: Accounting Director Resume Examples

FAQs About Accounting Director Certifications

1. What certifications are available for Accounting Directors?

Answer: The most common certifications for Accounting Directors are Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).

2. How long does it take to obtain an Accounting Director certification?

Answer: Depending on the type of certification, it can take anywhere from 6 months to a few years of study and experience to obtain an Accounting Director certification.

3. What is the cost of pursuing an Accounting Director certification?

Answer: The cost of obtaining an Accounting Director certification varies depending on the type of certification and the institution providing the training. Generally, you can expect to pay anywhere from $500-$5,000 for course materials and exam fees.

4. What types of jobs can I get with an Accounting Director certification?

Answer: An Accounting Director certification can open up a variety of job opportunities in accounting departments, auditing firms, financial services companies, and other related fields. Job titles may include Controller, Chief Financial Officer, Risk Manager or Financial Analyst.

5. Are there any continuing education requirements for maintaining my Accounting Director Certification?

Answer: Yes, most certifying bodies require ongoing professional development activities or courses in order to maintain your credential. These activities may include attending conferences or seminars, completing online courses or workshops, or participating in webinars related to accounting and finance topics.