Post job

Best senior accounting manager certifications

The best certifications for a senior accounting manager are Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA).

Senior accounting manager certifications demonstrate your competency as a senior accounting manager to employers. However, not all senior accounting manager certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best senior accounting manager certifications. Obtaining a senior accounting manager certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

5 best senior accounting manager certifications

1. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Certified Public Accountant candidates must pass a national exam certifiying that they are eligible to be licensed in the state(s) of their choosing. Information about state licensing requirements is made available in the Licensed Occupation tool.

Certification details
  • 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? 
Certifying website
Certified Public Accountant
Certifying organization
American Institute of Certified...

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.

Certification details
  • 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. 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.

Certification details
  • 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

4. Certified Resume Specialist: Accounting and Finance (CRS+AF)

The CDI Certified Industry Resume Specialist allows you to gain certification in your chosen industry.

Certification details
  • 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)
Certifying organization
Career Directors International

5. 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.

Certification details
  • 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)

What is the best certification for a senior accounting manager?

The best senior accounting manager certification is Certified Public Accountant (CPA). The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. 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 senior accounting manager certification:

  • To become a certified Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you need to pass the exam.
  • Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for senior accounting managers?

The most in-demand senior accounting manager certification is Certified Public Accountant based on all active job postings. Having this senior accounting manager certification will give you access to more senior accounting manager jobs with higher salaries.

Best certifications

The most common combination of senior accounting manager certifications include: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA).

Online courses for senior accounting managers to earn certifications

Advertising disclosure

1. Financial Accounting - Closing Process

udemy
4.3
(964)

Conquering the Closing Process: A Thorough Exploration of the Final Step in Accounting...

2. Financial Accounting-Debits & Credits-Accounting Transaction

udemy
4.5
(781)

Masterclass: Learn Accounting Principles, Financial Statements, Transactions & More in this Comprehensive Course...

3. Financial Accounting - Subsidiary Ledgers & Special Journals

udemy
4.5
(580)

Mastering Special Journals and Subsidiary Ledgers: A Comprehensive Guide to Streamlined Accounting Practices...

4. Financial Accounting & Excel-Comprehensive Accounting Course

udemy
4.3
(736)

Comprehensive accounting course to learn the accounting cycle in a practical way and pick up critical Excel fundamentals...

5. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement

udemy
4.6
(930)

Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...

6. Financial Accounting: A Comprehensive Guide with E-book

udemy
4.5
(3,466)

Unlock Financial Accounting Mastery: Comprehensive Course for Students, Professionals, and Business Owners...

7. Accounting & Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training

udemy
4.6
(16,804)

Accounting & Financial Ratio Analysis made easy. Learn important accounting skills that will get your foot in the door!...

8. Cost Accounting: Introduction to Management Accounting

udemy
4.6
(1,071)

Learn Cost Accounting for Management. Includes Process Costing, ABC Systems, Variance Analysis, Cash Budgets and more...

9. Financial Accounting-Depreciation Calculation & Fixed Assets

udemy
4.5
(341)

Optimizing Asset Management: Comprehensive Guide to Property, Plant, and Equipment Accounting...

10. Payroll Accounting: Laws, Calculations, and Journal Entries

udemy
4.4
(1,649)

Master the complex world of payroll with practical examples, legislation insights, and comprehensive problems...

11. Become an External Auditor - External Audit Process Level 1

udemy
4.5
(362)

External Audit Process : Financial Statement Accounting : Business Valuation Methods : Certified Public Accountant (CPA)...

12. Introduction to Sarbanes Oxley (SOX)

udemy
4.3
(387)

This course is an overview of the proper processes, controls and tests for adequate internal control...

13. Accounting 101: Accounts Payable Best Practices For 2023

udemy
4.4
(1,180)

Avoid common mistakes and pitfalls when it comes to Accounts Payable. No more fraud, incorrect payments or voided checks...

14. Principles of Financial Accounting

udemy
4.5
(875)

Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...

15. Accounting, Bookkeeping & Financial Analysis (Accounting)

udemy
4.5
(521)

Accounting & Bookkeeping Basics. Accounting & Financial Analysis Concepts. Learn Accounting & Bookkeeping...

16. Accounting 101 - The Principles Of Accounting

udemy
4.4
(647)

The Easiest Course In Accounting!...

17. Excel Accounting Problem

udemy
4.3
(348)

Learn How to Create an Accounting Worksheet Using Microsoft Excel from a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)...

18. Accounting & Bookkeeping Masterclass - Beginner to Advanced

udemy
4.5
(4,371)

Accounting, Bookkeeping Introduction, Accounting, Bookkeeping Entries, Accounting, Bookkeeping Adjustments & Reports...

19. Cost Accounting and Financial Management - A Complete Study

udemy
4.8
(268)

Learn theory and practical concepts in Cost Accounting and Financial Management with loads of video lectures...

20. Governmental Accounting 100

udemy
4.6
(355)

Fund accounting-governmental accounting-General Fund & government-wide activity transactions-modified accrual method...

Browse executive management jobs