The Institute of Management Accountants

In the United States, management accountants and financial professionals are governed by the IMA – the Institute of Management Accountants.

But what does that mean and who is the IMA exactly?

The short story is the IMA offers networking and professional development to accountants all over the world. They are responsible for providing a code of ethics and standards to management accountants.

The IMA is so much more than that though, so let me break out the long story.

The History of the Institute of Management Accountants, or IMA

The IMA was created in 1919. They were originally called the National Association of Cost Accountants (NACA). While their name may have changed, their goal to champion for accountants has been unwavering.

The organization was founded nearly 100 years ago in an effort to grow people’s understanding of an accountant’s role and skillset in management positions. The idea was to take this understanding universally and in 1943 the first international chapter was chartered in Cuba.

In 1957, NACA transitioned to the National Association of Accountants (NAA). As the years went on, the organization continued growing and providing continuous professional support through publications and practices committees.

It wasn’t until 1972 that the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification was created.
What’s so significant about the CMA certification is that it is the first program of its kind to provide continuing professional education in accounting and financial management.

The CMA certification provides candidates with a super-charged skill set. Once candidates have earned the CMA they will be proficient in areas like budgeting and planning, business reporting and decision analysis, as well as risk management.

It wasn’t until 1991 that NAA became the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). Since then they have created other designated programs like Certified Financial Manager (CFM) and Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis (CSCA) credential. The CSCA certification is an upgrade to the CMA, steering your career towards strategy and planning roles.

As of 2016 over 50,000 candidates have earned their CMA certification worldwide.

IMA’s Mission and Core Values

The IMA’s mission is “to provide a forum for research, practice development, education, knowledge sharing, and advocacy of the highest ethical and best business practices in management accounting and finance.”

In order to achieve this mission to do so by offering the CMA credential, growing and nurturing their professional network and by making continuous professional education opportunities available.

On top of all this, the IMA believes in 5 core values.

Respect for the Individual

The IMA values any and all cultural differences and aims to communicate openly and regularly.

Passion for Serving Members

They aim to empower all members and advocate for their growth and continued education. In order to make this possible, the IMA has many volunteers who dedicate both their time and expertise.

Highest Standards of Integrity and Trust

The IMA holds itself and all members to the highest of standards and follows a strict code of ethics.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

Always looking for ways to improve, the IMA spends lots of time researching and publishing new information and innovations. In fact, in 2015 the IMA launched a new line of books, the first being a volume on innovation.

Teaming to Achieve

The IMA believes in the importance of giving credit where it is due and celebrating member achievements. In 1989 the IMA created the Financial Executive of the Year (FEYA) program to do just this.

The IMA’s Global Reach

Since its inception, the IMA has gained a stronghold in 140 countries and opened more than 300 professional and student chapters. It holds offices in 8 international regions and its membership continues to grow annually.

With the number of candidates growing exponentially in the Middle East and Asia it was only a matter of time before the CMA exam was adapted into another language. In 2011 the first version of the CMA exam in simple Chinese was released.

There are other financial bodies that accountants can align themself with, however, I believe that the IMA offers so much to its members. As a member myself, I can vouch for their willingness to grow and innovate.

If you are interested in becoming a member and adding the CMA credential to your resume, click here to learn more.

The Difference Between Wiley, IMA and ICMA

If you are on the path to becoming a CMA then you will likely hear a lot about Wiley, ICMA and IMA. So what is the relationship between all three?

For starters, the IMA is an administrative association that manages memberships and provides support to those individuals, however, they are not at all involved in the grading of CMA exams.

Wiley is an independent CMA exam review program. While they are endorsed by the IMA through a partnership, this has no bearing on whether or not you will actually pass the exam and does not give you a leg up.

How can this be?

Simply put, the ICMA is the examining body for the CMA exam and they do not share any insider tips or secrets to Wiley’s review program or the IMA. They are a completely independent entity responsible for the impartial grading of all CMA exams.

While all of these entities overlap one another, they do not influence your actual exam results.

Looking for more info on the IMA? Drop your questions in the comment section below.

More from Nathan

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Hi, I’m Nathan Liao (aka the CMA Coach)! For the last 10 years, over 82,000 accounting and finance pros came knocking at my door seeking guidance and help. If you’re also aiming to conquer the CMA exam on your very first try—without wasting away time or money—you’ve found your ultimate guide. Dive in deeper to discover more about me and the dedicated team that powers CMA Exam Academy. Click here and let’s embark on this journey together!