Accounting Certifications Employers Want to See

Accounting Certifications Employers Want to SeeAccounting Certifications Employers Want to SeeEarning finance and accounting certifications is a big step toward improving your marketability and career advancement as a professional in this field. Continuing education is an investment in time and money, of course, and your employer may help make the case for credentials. Robert Half research shows that a majority (72 percent) of CFOs interviewed say their company will cover all or some of the cost of obtaining a professional certification, and 76 percent said their organizations help in maintaining such certifications once theyre earned.What are the best accounting certifications?The answer depends on your career path, specialization plans, resources and eligibility. Of the numerous certifications, each has its own requirements with regard to education, work experience and examination. Each, too, has specific skills to be gained by attaining it and ways in which it would benefit your c areer and positioning as an expert in the field of accounting and finance.Certified Public AccountantChartered in aller welt Management AccountantCertified Management AccountantChartered Financial AnalystCertified Financial Services AuditorCertified Internal AuditorCertified Fraud ExaminerCertified Government Auditing ProfessionalCertified Information Systems AuditorCertified Information Technology ProfessionalLets first take a closer look at three certifications geared to careers in corporate accounting.Certified Public AccountantThe Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license has a long reputation as the gold voreingestellt for accounting and finance roles in the United States. With this accounting certification, you validate your expertise in forensic accounting, tax, compliance, risk management and other skills that can lead to top CPA jobs.Granted by American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)Estimated cost $2,000 to $3,000Prerequisites Five years of higher educati on, a minimum number of continuing education credits in business and accounting (typically about 150), and verified relevant experienceExam requirements Four levels can be taken in any orderTime to certification Passing the CPA exam usually takes a year exam and license requirements vary state by state, but fruchtwein state boards require one year of accounting experience before you get the license.Ongoing requirements Requirements for continuing professional education (CPE) credits vary by state.Who should get it This designation is a versatile one, as CPAs work in public accounting, management accounting, governmental accounting, taxation, financial advisory, compliance and other roles. The CPA is highly valued throughout the accounting industry, and some companies require it for managerial jobs. If you know you want to make your career in accounting and have the time and money to invest, the CPA is a good credential to pursue.Learn more about how to make the fruchtwein of your ac counting and finance career and find your next job.LET US HELP YOUChartered Global Management AccountantThe Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) financial certification is a in aller herren lnder designation for CPAs working in business and government. Its an achievement that demonstrates your competency in management accounting skills and your expertise in developing strategy that connects all aspects of business.Granted by Both AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), two of the worlds leading accounting organizationsEstimated cost $325 plus membership fee for AICPA for CIMA, cost of designation is included in membershipPrerequisites Any AICPA member is eligible, with an experience requirement of three years of relevant, work-based, practical management accounting experience. CIMA members are already qualified.Exam requirements One computerized case study taken on site, which asks for long-form, written answers that reflect management accounting competenciesTime to certification Exams offered four times a year results released within four weeksOngoing requirements Membership in good standingWho should get it Finance and accounting professionals who want their experience and skills recognized throughout the world, in addition to research, tools and a global networkCertified Management AccountantThe Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification is sponsored by the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), and is recognized globally. Professionals who hold this accounting certification demonstrate mastery of critical accounting and financial management skills from a generalized, managerial and internal perspective.Granted by IMAEstimated cost $1,000 to $2,000Prerequisites A bachelors degree and two consecutive years in financial management or management accountingExam requirements Two levels, with a total exam time of eight hoursTime to certification Typically one to two yearsOngoing requirements 30 hours of CPE credit sWho should get it Many accountants choose to get both the CPA and the CMA, as there is considerable overlap in the exam topics. The CMA is often considered a more practical application of the theoretical concepts tested in the CPA exams and is recommended for accountants in the corporate sector, particularly in large, multinational companies. If you are considering a career as a financial analyst, or already working as one, youll want to look at the CPA license, as well as professional finance certifications.Here are five certifications for careers in banking and financial services.Chartered Financial AnalystChartered Finance Analyst (CFA) certification demonstrates your knowledge and competence regarding principles of portfolio management, investment analysis, economics, and professional and ethical standards.Granted by CFA Institute, a nonprofit based in the U.S.Estimated cost $2,500Prerequisites A bac helors degree and four years of relevant experienceExam requirements Three levels, with a total exam time of 18 hours you must pass one level before you move to the nextTime to certification Can be completed in 18 months, but most people take more than two yearsOngoing requirements A recommended 20 hours of CPE credits, with at least two hours of standards, regulatory and ethics educationWho should get it This has become a must-have for security analysts and asset managers in the investment community. Finance professionals who are (or aim to become) equity analysts, fund managers or hedge fund managers will also find the CFA useful, as will anyone who hopes to reach the CFO or senior finance manager levels. If you are pursuing a career in audit, however, it wont be particularly useful to you.Certified Financial Services Auditor The Institute of Internal Auditors Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA) is a specialty certification for audit professionals who have a minimum of two years of experience in financial services organizations, such as banks, holding and investment companies, insurance companies, credit agencies, or security and commodity services.These certifications are geared to audit, fraud and risk management careers.Certified Internal AuditorThe Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) is the only internationally accepted designation for the internal auditor career path, and people who hold this financial certification demonstrate competence in areas such as risk and control and information technology, as well as proficiency in working with internal staff and external clients.Granted by Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)Estimated cost $1,500Prerequisites A bachelors degree and two years of internal audit experience (but a masters degree can substitute for one year of experience)Exam requirements Three levels, with a total exam time of 6.5 hoursTime to certification Typically a year to 18 monthsOngoing requirements CPE credits are required the number depends on your work statusWho should get it The CIA is really only useful to internal auditors, with particular importance for those who would like to become managers or chief audit executives.Certified Fraud ExaminerAvailable to members of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) is beneficial for finance professionals focused on anti-fraud endeavors across private and public agencies. Passing the CFE exam demonstrates expertise in the four main areas of fraud examination Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes, Law, Investigation, and Fraud Prevention and Deterrence.Applicants for the CFE exam need to submit documentation of their education and work experience, along with three professional recommendations.Certified Government Auditing ProfessionalThe Institute of Internal Auditors offers the Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP) for audit practitioners in the public sector. It demonstrates skill in the unique requirements of government auditing. To qualify for the exam, auditors must have two years of experience in government auditing.Here are two certifications for accountants with information technology careers.Certified Information Systems AuditorAccountants holding a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification can show they have a proficiency in information systems control, security and auditing.Granted by ISACA (previously known as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association)Estimated cost $450 for members $650 for nonmembersPrerequisites No experience is required to take the examExam requirements 150 questions four hours, on site at locations worldwideTime to certification A minimum of five years of professional information systems auditing, control or security work experience is required for certification, with some substitutions possibleOngoing requirements Maintenance fees and CPE hoursWho should get it Information systems audit, control and security professionals who d esire global recognitionCertified Information Technology ProfessionalOffered by the AICPA, the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) is a specialty credential for CPAs who want to demonstrate technology skills that can help a company span the gap between business concerns and technical consideration. Aside from passing the CITP exam, additional requirements include having a minimum of 1,000 hours of business experience and 75 hours of continuing education in information management and technology assurance within the five years preceding application for the CITP.Certifications for specific rolesAccounting education, from associates, bachelors and graduate degrees to certifications, is valuable not only for moving your career forward but also for expanding your skills and expertise to become a more well-rounded professional.It can also help you become a more desirable job candidate or employee, one who can command a higher salary. According to the Robert Half Salary Gui de for Accounting and Finance Professionals, specialized certifications can put you at the higher end of the compensation tables.What are the most highly sought accounting jobs and the credentials that would boost your resume if you were aspiring to them? Heres an alphabetical list of a fewAccounts receivable/accounts payable - Most accounts receivable/accounts payable professionals hone their skills with on-the-job experience. But an accounts receivable or accounts payable certification can make you a more desirable applicant or move you up the job ranks. AR professionals might look into Accredited Receivables Manager (ARM) or Accredited Receivables Specialists (ARS) certifications. AP professionals might consider the Accredited Payables Manager (APM) and Accredited Payables Specialist (APS) credentials.Auditors - To reach higher-level auditing positions, youll want to consider a Master of geschftsleben Administration (MBA), as well as a CPA or CIA. IT auditors should look into t he CISA, rather than the CIA.Business and business systems analysts - Business analysts and business systems analysts can increase their marketability by acquiring an MBA. If you want to go a step further, you can sit for the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) or Certification of Competency in Business Analysis (CCBA).??Compliance professionals - The options for compliance certifications vary, depending on your industry and specialization, and they are almost as numerous as regulatory mandates. Options include the Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP), Certified Compliance and Regulatory Professional (CCRP), Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP) and Investment Adviser Compliance Certification Program (IACCP).Controllers - If youre a controller on the job market, an MBA will distinguish you from other candidates, especially if its accompanied by a CPA or CMA credential. Its important to note that most employers prefer the CPA, making it one of the most in-demand certifications.Cost accountants, staff accountants, senior accountants - You can propel yourself upward in these accounting jobs by obtaining a CPA or CMA. Employers prefer the CPA, and if youre looking to hit senior or management levels, an MBA can help you get there.Financial analysts - To make the preferred candidate list as a financial analyst, youll need a CPA or an MBA. Having both is even better.Payroll professionals - Looking to land your dream payroll job? The Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation can help you make it to supervisory roles.Have you seen enough acronyms for one article? Heres another The AICPAs Certified in Entity and Intangible Valuations (CEIV) credential is for CPAs and finance professionals to demonstrate a commitment to enhancing audit quality, consistency and transparency in fair value measurements for public company financial reporting purposes in the U.S.When considering what accountant certifications to pursue , carefully study how each might help advance your career. Your choice may be swayed, for instance, by whether you work in private vs. public accounting. The niche that is your companys focus might also dictate your direction as well as your own career aspirations.Do you have the certifications needed to set yourself apart from other candidates and command a higher salary? If not, theres no time like the present to show employers you mean business and increase your career opportunities by investing in professional development. Tags

Content Marking Institutes GM on why brands need storytelling campaigns

Content Marking Institutes GM on why brands need storytelling campaignsContent Marking Institutes GM on why brands need storytelling campaignsLadders recently spoke with Stephanie Stahl, General Manager of Content absatzwirtschaft Institute, who discussed a variety of topics including how brands and business can effectively apply storytelling to their absatzwirtschaft campaigns, how technology has changed the content absatzwirtschaft field, how marketers can best measure success, and much more. Get to know her below.What initially attracted you to the field of content marketing? Before working in the field of content marketing, I was in the print/digital media business for many years. In all of my years of reporting, writing, and editing, I realized that great content whether it is from a journalistic organization or an enterprise or an agency or an individual blogger is worth consuming. So, the idea of creating compelling content that helps companies build trust and relationships with prospective or existing customers was very appealing. After many years of working as a journalist and editor for UBM, I took on a leadership role in the content marketing services business and had the opportunity to help many technology companies with content creation, distribution, promotion, optimization, etc.Please tell me a little about the Content Marketing Institute/UBM and your roleIm the General Manager of the brand, which UBM acquired in 2016. UBM is now owned by Informa and the Content Marketing Institute is part of the Informa Tech business unit. CMI provides education, training, events, consulting and research to help marketers improve their strategies and their results through great content, processes and technology. Whether companies are trying to generate demand, raise awareness of their brand, learn about innovative technologies, or network with a vibrant community, CMI has something for practitioners as well as decisions makers. Our daily blog offers a new a rticle each day to help marketers do something - or do something better our Chief Content Officer digital magazine offers compelling and provocative content for executives we have multiple in-person events (Content Marketing World, ContentTECH Summit) webinars online training benchmark research strategy consulting and more.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWhy is content marketing such a talked about and important field nowadays for brands/marketers? A decade ago, it was a nice-to-have in a marketing strategysomething to experiment with. Today, it is a must-have as traditional advertising has become less effective and sometimes very distracting. Look no further than the significant increase in the usage of ad blockers. Using creative and compelling content to attract the attention of an audience, to engage an audience, to build loyalty from an audience, to ideally create long-te rm relationships with customers who are willing to tell others about you, to share your content, to share their experiences with you thats the goal. And marketing teams in large enterprises, in small and midsize companies, and in start-ups realize the value that great content and storytelling can create in terms of a competitive advantage. CMIs annual Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends research continues to show year-over-year growth and increasing success rates among B2B and B2C marketers who are using content to connect with prospects and build long-term relationships with customers. What steps should those brands and businesses new to the field take to apply storytelling in their marketing campaigns? Storytelling helps humanize a brand and create emotional ties with an audience or community. It also gives customers a sense of beliefs, values, and personality of the brand. Fundamentally, it starts with an agreed-upon mission statement. It should be clear and direct - tell your read ers who you are, what audience you intend to help, and how you are going to help them. For example, Content Marketing Institute is the leading global content marketing education and training organization (thats who we are), teaching marketing and content professionals (thats the audience we are creating content for) how to attract and retain customers through compelling, multi-channel storytelling (thats how we are going to help them). Then, you need to focus on hiring the right team and/or agency so that you can set your content strategy who is your desired audience? what will your workflow look like? what technologies do you need? how often will you publish? what channels should you use? etc.Your team should include writers, editors, copy editors, and designers, of course (whether on-staff or freelancers). But you also need to think about distribution, promotion, audience development, personalization, sales enablement, etc. when building the team to help you get the fruchtwein ou t of your efforts. Youll need to think about what technologies you need and collaborating with IT professionals in your organization. Youll need to have someone analyzing your content performance and making sure you are getting the ROI you are seeking. You might even consider having a researcher on staff or working with a third-party research team to help with original research, which is a great way to create compelling content.What should they avoid? What mistakes have you seen? For brands that have been using content in their marketing efforts for some time, an omnichannel approach can be very effective. But for those that are just starting out, trying to be in too many places at one time can be a big mistake. It just dilutes the efforts. Get really good at a couple of things before trying to expand. Also, its good to experiment with different content types (written, audio, video), but you need to study very carefully what resonates with your desired audience and master what works .How important of a role does technology play in the content marketing field and specifically in your work? Simply stated, its critical. Marketers need to first determine needs and proper processes before choosing specific technologies, but there are so many innovative and necessary technologies available today to increase efficiency, to manage content production, to optimize distribution, to improve workflow, to manage assets locally or globally, to manage social media, to scale enterprise content, to make marketers lives so much easierWhat technology/innovation/platform has had the most profound effect on the field of content marketing in the past year or two, and why? Its impossible to choose a single technology Thats elend a cop out There are so many great technologies available today (just look at Scott Brinkers infographic), but it really depends on the organizational size and need. A great workflow platform can be life-changing. An AI-based tool can replace timely, manual pro cesses or help with corporate governance, a content management platform can help a team operate fluidlyit all depends on the need.What are the biggest challenges, from a creative and/or business standpoint, that those in content marketing face nowadays? Well, there is no shortage of content available today. So, the focus really must be on creating the best content. Great content all the time Theres no room for noise and distractions that have turned people away from annoying digital advertising. Mediocre content will be ignored. Thinly-veiled sales pitches will be ignored. Poorly researched content will be ignored. Most consumers these days arent willing to give second chances, so the content must be great, it should educate, solve a business need, entertain, or all of the above.How can marketers best measure success with content marketing? Marketers should decide up front what is the most important result from their content efforts. Is it the number of clicks? Is it time on site? I s it time watching a video? Is it the number of subscribers to a podcast? Is it the number of times content is shared? Is it the number of conversions to a revenue-generating product? Is it brand awareness to help recruit skilled workers? Ultimately, we all want our content to help our bottom line, but how we get there differs among brands. Whatever metric is most important should be measured relentlessly so that smart decisions can be made. And I can pretty much promise any marketer that if their content focuses solely on product pitches and me me me information rather than customer needs, theres no reason to measure at all.What has been your career highlight/proudest career achievement and why?Ive often consulted with clients about not worrying about creating tons and tons of content just to see what sticks. Focus, instead, on creating really great content in the formats and on the channels that matter most to your desired audience. Its been gratifying to see a single print produc t or a single webcast lead to some truly amazing results (revenue) for clients. It reinforces the notion that marketers should aim to make every piece of content great and to focus on the channels that work best for your audiences needs. These are career highlights for sure. And, yes, of course, its fun and rewarding to be able to have amazing storytellers such as Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling and Henry Rollins join us for Content Marketing World. Its nice to have influential storytellers give our audience so many great ideas and words of wisdom. I get to work with an amazing team at CMI and our community is awesome.

Overachieving Manager Puts 110% Into New Resume

Overachieving Manager Puts 110% Into New ResumeOverachieving Manager Puts 110% Into New ResumeOpsLadder member Leshia Evans had herbei first resume makeover in 20 years. A professional rewrite let her numbers speak for themselves.Leshia Evans hadnt needed a resume for more than 20 years. Loyal to her company, she never needed to look for a job.Evans, of Cumming, Ga., has worked in the electrical industry for 30 years, the last 20 of them at a global engineering company with annual revenues of $110 billion. Evans started there as a rtlich engineer and left the company as a senior commodity manager when she was laid off earlier this year.Her old resume needed to be recharged and modernized.The OpsLadder member tried including a summary section that read more like a cover letter, she added pages of testimonials and references from former colleagues, and she embedded her photo in every copy of her resume.What she didnt know Each of those are grounds for rejection.Either by an impatient h uman recruiter or an automated applicant tracking system (ATS), these formats are unacceptable. ATS software frequently dismisses long resumes and embedded images, said J.M. Auron, a certified professional resume writer who works with Ladders resume-writing services and helped Evans update her document. In addition, many human-resources professionals are instructed to reject resumes submitted with photos to avoid claims of discrimination.She hadnt written a resume in 20 years, said J.M. Auron, the resume writer who worked with Evans. She hadnt looked for a job in 20 years. (She) had no need to even think about writing a resume in 20 years because of an extremely stable job history.Auron did away with the photo, the references and the summary, and he immediately set about crafting a document that brought to life an impressive array of performance numbers throughout a long career.Back in the huntEvans is looking for a job similar to the one she had before she was laid off a senior com modity manager in the electrical, power, or oil and gas industry. A commodity manager produces quotes, plans and spec reviews negotiates and strategically aligns the commodity with technical support, risk management, industry and technology trends, she said. Also included in this position is supplier management and reporting.Auron began using Evans summary statement to paint a compelling portrait of an overachiever.She never missed a quota in 20 years, Auron said. In the last 10 years, she has been between 30 percent to more than 100 percent over quota, he added. So writing a resume for someone like her was a piece of cake. You just work with the numbers.Indeed, as one of the subsections in Evans updated resume noted she dramatically exceeded targets year over year. From 2000 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, Evans performance ranged from a low of 131 percent to a high of 203 percent of her goals.He also dropped the long, conversational summary, which might have been c onfused with a cover letter.Evans original resume beganStrategic purchasing of medium and high voltage switchgear 2.4kV to 800kV for the Strategic Industries Division, Power Systems Division and the Technical tafelgeschirr Division throughout the US.Aurons revised versionBusiness and product savvy professional with more than two decades of experience slashing costs, and developing long-term customer and vendor relationships. Talented technical commodity manager with in-depth, diverse technical knowledge of electrical power and distribution commodities, and application and procurement of MV/HV engineered equipment for large project jobs in the Metals, Paper, Water, Mining, Oil Gas, International and Service Solutions industries.Aurons new version emphasizes what Evans says is her greatest strength Exceeding goals.