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Best senior staff accountant certifications
Senior staff accountant certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an senior staff accountant to employers. However, not all senior staff accountant certifications provide the same value for job seekers.
The best certifications for a senior staff accountant are Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).
Below is a list of the best senior staff accountant certifications. Obtaining an senior staff accountant certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
6 best certifications for senior staff accountants
| Rank | Senior staff accountant certification | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certified Public Accountant (CPA) | AICPA |
| 2 | Certified Management Accountant (CMA) | IMA |
| 3 | Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) | CGMA |
| 4 | Certified Resume Specialist: Accounting and Finance (CRS+AF) | CDI |
| 5 | International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA) | ACAT |
| 6 | Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) | Association o... |
6 best senior staff accountant 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.
- 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?
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. Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
The CGMA letters are worth having after your name. They stand for Chartered Global Management Accountant and they show employers that you mean business. The CGMA designation is the most widely held management accounting designation in the world. It boldly announces your commercial skills, strategic vision and transformational mindset. Employers, colleagues and stakeholders alike will recognize that you’ve got entrepreneurial and leadership acumen. That you’re in a pivotal position to analyze information, advise strategy and drive business success. And they’ll know all this just by looking at those four letters after your name.
- 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? 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. 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)
What is the best certification for a senior staff accountant?
The best senior staff accountant 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 staff accountant 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 staff accountants?
The most in-demand senior staff accountant certification is Certified Public Accountant based on all active job postings. Having this senior staff accountant certification will give you access to more senior staff accountant jobs with higher salaries.
What certifications can impact a senior staff accountant career and salary?
The Certified Public Accountant certification will help you to secure a senior accountant position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A senior accountant's average salary is $69,205 whereas senior staff accountants make an average salary of $65,019.
The most common combination of senior staff accountant certifications include: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).
Online courses for senior staff accountants to earn certifications
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7. Accounting & Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training
Accounting & Financial Ratio Analysis made easy. Learn important accounting skills that will get your foot in the door!...
8. Principles of Financial Accounting
Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...
9. Accounting 101 - The Principles Of Accounting
The Easiest Course In Accounting!...
10. Introductory Financial Accounting
Learn the basics of Accounting including: the accounting cycle, inventory, depreciation, receivables, and more!...
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12. Accounting 101: Accounts Payable Best Practices For 2023
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15. Financial Accounting: A Comprehensive Guide with E-book
Unlock Financial Accounting Mastery: Comprehensive Course for Students, Professionals, and Business Owners...
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