Expand Your Accounting or Finance Career with These Certifications

Do you want to expand your financial or accounting career? Obtaining any advanced certificates may be your best shot. Certifications allow you to pursue specialized roles in fields like fraud examination, financial forensics, or auditing without earning additional degrees. For help finding a great accounting career opportunity, start your search with PrideStaff Financial.

Certified Public Accountant:

A CPA license is the most popular accounting certification for accounting and finance roles. This designation validates your expertise in tax, compliance, risk management, forensic accounting, and other areas. Depending on where you work, some employers will cover the cost of certification, which can run anywhere from $2,800 to $4,000. You will need roughly five years of higher education (bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, or finance plus additional courses) as well as verified work experience. If you know you want to make your career in accounting, the CPA is the primary credential to pursue.

Chartered Global Management Accountant: 

The CGMA financial certification is a global designation for CPAs working in business and government. It’s an achievement that demonstrates your competency in management accounting skills and your expertise in developing strategies that connect all aspects of the business. You can get this certification through the AICPA. Exams are offered four times a year. AICPA emphasizes that its mandatory leadership course is online and provides 1-, 2-, or 3-year licenses that allow busy professionals to study at a pace that works for their schedule. This certification is great for those who already have a CPA or who are in finance and who want their experience and skills recognized throughout the world. You will also be offered membership and ongoing education, research, scenario-planning tools, and networking opportunities.

Chartered Financial Analyst:

The CFA certification is great for your knowledge and competence regarding portfolio management principles, investment analysis, economics, and professional and ethical standards. There are three levels to the exam, 4.5 hours per exam—you must pass one level before you move to the next. You must also have a bachelor’s degree and relevant work experience. This is important for asset managers and research analysts in the investment community and for some chief executives and consultants. Finance professionals in equity analysis, fund management, or hedge fund management will also find the CFA certification useful, as will anyone who hopes to reach the CFO or senior finance manager levels.

Internal Auditors:

The CIA certification is the only internationally accepted designation for the internal auditor career path. People who hold this financial certification demonstrate expertise in areas such as information technology and risk and control. You will need a master’s degree and one year of internal audit experience, a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience, or five years of experience. If you want to become a manager or chief audit executive and work in internal auditing, then this certification is for you.

Searching for competitive roles in finance or accounting? PrideStaff Financial has the career opportunities you’re looking for. 

PrideStaff Financial has consistently won awards for exceptional job seeker satisfaction. We can help you stand out against a competitive crowd. Contact us today to learn more.