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Best finance associate certifications
The best certifications for a finance associate are Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI).
Finance associate certifications demonstrate your competency as a finance associate to employers. However, not all finance associate certifications provide the same value.
Below is a list of the best finance associate certifications. Obtaining a finance associate certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
9 best certifications for finance associates
| Rank | Finance associate certification | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) | CFA |
| 2 | Certified Management Accountant (CMA) | IMA |
| 3 | Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI) | LOMA |
| 4 | Certified Resume Specialist: Accounting and Finance (CRS+AF) | CDI |
| 5 | International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA) | ACAT |
| 6 | Certified Financial Planner (CFP) | ABTrainingCen... |
| 7 | Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) | Association o... |
| 8 | Certified Sales Professional (CSP) | MRERF |
| 9 | Certified Financial Planner (CFP) | CFP |
9 best finance associate certifications
1. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
The CFA charter is recognized as the definitive standard by which to measure the competence, integrity, and dedication of serious investment professionals.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required?
2. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
The CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is the advanced professional certification specifically designed to measure the accounting and financial management skills that drive business performance.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
3. Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI)
The Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI) Program is a three-course education program in Bahasa Indonesia specifically designed to meet the industry education requirements of professionals in Indonesia. Recognized by the Insurance Directorate, Ministry of Finance and the Life Assurance Association of Indonesia (AAJI), who also requested LOMA create the program, the CPLHI Program provides a comprehensive business education for life and health insurance professionals.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? No
4. Certified Resume Specialist: Accounting and Finance (CRS+AF)
The CDI Certified Industry Resume Specialist allows you to gain certification in your chosen industry.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
5. International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA)
ACAT seeks to ensure that all accredited individuals possess both the theoretical knowledge and the practical knowledge necessary to be successful practitioners. For that reason, candidates for accreditation must satisfy an experience requirement before becoming fully credentialed: three years of related work experience, up to two of which may be satisfied through college credit. Related work experience includes verifiable experience in accounting, financial services, or other field requiring a practical and theoretical knowledge of the subject matter covered on the ACAT Comprehensive Examination for the International Accredited Business Accountant. Those who pass the exam but who have not met the experience requirement may market themselves as having passed the ACAT Comprehensive Examination for International Accredited Business Accountant, but are not entitled to use the IABA designation.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? No
6. Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
The Certified Financial Planner designation covers investments, income taxation, insurance and financial planning, and retirement and estate planning.Individuals must complete the following required curriculum and pass the CFP exam to earn this designation.HS 300: Financial Planning HS 311: Fundamentals of Insurance Planning HS 321: Income Taxation HS 326: Planning for Retirement Needs HS 328: Investments HS 330: Fundamentals of Estate Planning
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? No
7. Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is a global body for professional accountants with 219,000 members and 517,000 students in 179 countries. It was granted a Royal Charter in 1974 which commits it to acting in and upholding the public interest. ACCA works through a network of 110 offices and centres and 7,571 Approved Employers worldwide, and 328 approved learning providers who provide high standards of learning and development. In addition to IFAC membership, ACCA is represented on key regional forums including the ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA), the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA), Accountancy Europe, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC), the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA), and is a member of CCAB in the UK and Ireland. It undertakes wide-ranging capacity building work globally and has an extensive network of partnerships with other professional accountancy organizations.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? No
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
8. Certified Sales Professional (CSP)
The Certified Sales Professional (CSP) program gives a thorough understanding of consultative selling. From business creation to improved time and territory management; goal-setting to prospecting, and everything in between, attendees return to the territory with a renewed enthusiasm for selling.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
9. Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
The CFP certification process, administered by CFP Board, identifies to the public that those individuals in the U.S.who have been authorized to use the CFP certification mark have met rigorous professional standards and have agreed to adhere to the principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism and diligence when dealing with clients.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
What is the best certification for a finance associate?
The best finance associate certification is Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is awarded by the CFA Institute. The advanced certification is for more experienced employees as it often requires some work experience to acquire.
Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this finance associate certification:
- To become a certified Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), you need to pass the exam.
- This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
- Renew certification every year.
What are some of the most in-demand certifications for finance associates?
The most in-demand finance associate certification is Certified Financial Planner based on all active job postings. Having this finance associate certification will give you access to more finance associate jobs with higher salaries.
What certifications can impact a finance associate career and salary?
The Chartered Certified Accountant certification will help you to secure a finance manager position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A finance manager's average salary is $105,468 whereas finance associates make an average salary of $81,339.
The most common combination of finance associate certifications include: Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI).
Online courses for finance associates to earn certifications
1. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement
Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...
2. Financial Accounting-Debits & Credits-Accounting Transaction
Masterclass: Learn Accounting Principles, Financial Statements, Transactions & More in this Comprehensive Course...
3. Financial Accounting & Excel-Comprehensive Accounting Course
Comprehensive accounting course to learn the accounting cycle in a practical way and pick up critical Excel fundamentals...
4. Payroll Accounting: Laws, Calculations, and Journal Entries
Master the complex world of payroll with practical examples, legislation insights, and comprehensive problems...
5. Principles of Financial Accounting
Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...
6. Financial Accounting: The Complete Introductory Crash Course
Learn the Basics of Financial Accounting: Financial Statements, Debits and Credits, The Accounting Cycle and More!...
7. Financial Accounting - Subsidiary Ledgers & Special Journals
Mastering Special Journals and Subsidiary Ledgers: A Comprehensive Guide to Streamlined Accounting Practices...
8. Financial Accounting: A Comprehensive Guide with E-book
Unlock Financial Accounting Mastery: Comprehensive Course for Students, Professionals, and Business Owners...
9. Accounting Made Easy: A Quick Guide to Financial Accounting
Accounting is not about Math, it is about concepts. And no one said it has to be hard. Learn the basics in just 2 hours!...
10. Excel Accounting Problem
Learn How to Create an Accounting Worksheet Using Microsoft Excel from a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)...
11. Accounting & Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training
Accounting & Financial Ratio Analysis made easy. Learn important accounting skills that will get your foot in the door!...
12. Accounting basics, create financial statements easily
Discover, develop, practice your financial information and explore the world of accounting...
13. Microsoft Excel for Finance, Accounting & Financial Analysis
Excel tips & tricks for Accounting, Finance and Financial Analysis. Learn from the Bestselling Accounting Instructor...
14. Financial Statements: Balance Sheet, Income Stmt, Cash Flow
How To Quickly Read & Understand The Big 3 Financial Statements: Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement...
15. Accounting, Finance and Banking - A Comprehensive Study
Learn Fundamentals to Advanced Concepts of three different but interrelated domains in a single course...
16. Introductory Financial Accounting
Learn the basics of Accounting including: the accounting cycle, inventory, depreciation, receivables, and more!...
17. Accounting & Bookkeeping Masterclass - Beginner to Advanced
Accounting, Bookkeeping Introduction, Accounting, Bookkeeping Entries, Accounting, Bookkeeping Adjustments & Reports...
18. ACCA: FA (F3) Financial Accounting
Let's get to grasps of how to perform the basics of financial accounting...
19. Finance & Accounting for Management Consultants and Analysts
A practical guide that will help you understand financial statements & do financial analyses during consulting projects...
20. How to Read Financial Statements: Build Financial Literacy.
Read financial statements and speak the language of business without the drudgery of a traditional accounting course...