CFA vs CMA can be understood as both are prestigious certifications that open doors to rewarding careers in finance. Where, CFA career opportunities includes investment analysis, portfolio management, and asset valuation. CMA includes financial accounting, cost accounting, and strategic financial management.
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CMA is a corporate finance certification that helps you advance in your career as finance professionals. Meanwhile, CFA is a course for financial analysts and people interested in researching and managing stocks and assets.
Both the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) are prestigious certifications that open doors to rewarding careers in finance. However, choosing the right one depends on aspirants specific career goals and interests.
CMA vs CFA - Course Highlights
One of the essential courses in portfolio financial analysis is Chartered Financial Analyst. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is a broad field of study that focuses on equipping you with investment and financial management skills and knowledge. Because CFA is a self-study programme, you are not required to attend regular courses.
| Particulars | CFA | CMA |
| Full-Form | Chartered Financial Analyst | Certified Management Accountant |
| Governing Body | CFA Institute | Institute of Cost Accountants of India |
| Duration | 2 - 4 years | 6 months - 3 years |
| Fees | INR 40,000 - 1.25 Lakhs | INR 40,000 - 1 Lakh |
| Average Salary | INR 6.84 LPA | INR 5.72 LPA |
CMA vs CFA - Overview
The CMA is a financial accounting and strategic management qualification. Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is a worldwide recognized certificate that focuses on corporate finance and management accounting. You may expect to work in a variety of firms and have a highly fulfilling career. CMAs work in an organization's accounting, corporate finance, and strategy teams.
The CFA course is a globally recognized professional qualification that assesses and certifies financial analysts' competence and integrity. People interested in stock research, hedge funds, asset management, and other investment management should take this course. The CFA charter is widely regarded as the gold standard in financial analysis and is one of the most prestigious awards.
Read More: CFA Pass Percentage
CMA vs CFA - Eligibility
CFA and CMA are certifications that have rigorous courses, and you must fully understand if you are eligible to apply for these certifications before proceeding to study these courses. Both courses are generally pursued after graduation and have significant work experience, making them highly competitive and enriched with specialized knowledge.
CFA Eligibility Criteria
Those who wish to study CFA have to fulfil certain criteria to appear for the examination.
- You must have graduated from a recognized university with at least 50% scores.
- you can be graduates from any stream and field.
- you must have gained at least four years of work experience before applying for the first level of examination.
Read More: How to Become CFA?
CMA Eligibility Criteria
- you must have completed class 12 from a recognized board.
- you must have gained at least two years of work experience before applying for the first level of examination.
CMA vs CFA - Benefits of Pursuing
Both equally valuable certifications in finance, you may wonder which course is better for them: CFA or CMA? This makes it harder for you as they might not fully understand the scope of these courses and what you stand to gain from them. The courses that you take will affect their career path, and hence the benefits of each have been highlighted below.
Benefits of Pursuing CFA
- Scope: The CFA Curriculum is a worldwide recognized programme that gives you a solid foundation in financial analysis. Asset management, equities research, investment management, hedge funds, and other topics are covered in the certification.
- Opportunities: CFA is a tough course to crack, and the certification is not just a sign of knowledge but also of determination and great ability to work under pressure. The course opens more opportunities for certification holders and brings them a competitive edge over their peers.
Benefits of Pursuing CMA
CMA is a certification that you can use to accelerate their career growth in the field of finance. This course is essential for you interested in building bigger careers in valuations, capital management, etc.
- Scope: The CMA curriculum prepares you for careers in a variety of sectors and corporate responsibilities. The certification enhances one's knowledge of working capital management, financial statement analysis, and valuation concerns, among other topics.
- Duration: CMA is a comparatively shorter course than CFA. Depending on the you' ability, it can be completed within six months or take up to 3 years. The IMA requires you to complete the course within three years after registration.
- Exam Schedule: The CMA course allows you to take tests on any given day during the testing period. CMA examinations are accessible for testing six months of the year. Because the CMA tests are computerized, applicants may generally complete them on their own time, according to their own schedule. Exams are normally accessible in January/February, May/June, and September/October.
CMA vs CFA - Syllabus
The syllabus of both programs differs due to the difference in the aims and objectives of the courses. Both certifications provide different levels of competency and knowledge on varying subjects that meet the certification objectives.
Subjects in CFA:
- Professional Ethics
- Investment Decisions
- Risk Management
- Decision Analysis
- Corporate Finance
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Internal Controls
- Cost Management
- Performance Management
- Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting
- External Financial Reporting Decisions
Read more on CFA Syllabus and Subjects
Subjects in CMA:
- Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning
- Alternative investments
- Derivatives
- Fixed Income Investments
- Equity Investments
- Corporate Finance
- Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Economics
- Quantitative Methods
- Ethical and Professional Standards
Read more on CMA Syllabus and Subjects
CMA vs CFA - Career Prospects
CFA and CMA are highly specialized certifications that have many advantages in the job market. you who complete this course have a great competitive advantage over other you in the field of finance.
CMA Job Profiles
Aspirants can bag a package of INR 12 to 20 LPA concerning the job and the candidate's qualifications. A few of the options are listed below in the given table
| Job Roles | Salary |
| Chief Financial Officer | INR 13.45 LPA |
| Financial Analyst | INR 14.7 LPA |
| Financial Controller | INR 18.38 LPA |
| Chief Investment Officer | INR 12 LPA |
CFA Job Profiles
The salaries for these jobs rises exponentially, with CFOs and CIOs expecting to earn over INR 1 Crore per annum by mid-careers. These fields are, thus, some of the best career options for you who are interested in the field of finance.
| Job Profile | Salary Package |
| Risk Manager | INR 10 LPA |
| Investment Manager | INR 7 LPA |
| Chartered Financial Analyst | INR 9.5 LPA |
| Private Bankers | INR 9 LPA |
Read more on CFA Salary
CFA or CMA - Which One to Choose?
you must consider the following factors before enrolling in CFA Course to understand its benefits.
Job Profile: If you want to work in equities research, investment banking, or portfolio management, they'll need a CFA. CMA certification is intended to help you enhance their capacity to make strategic business decisions based on the organization's financial status. The focus has been to learn about management accounting in particular.
Demand: Accounting is seen as a must in organizations. Therefore, the CMA certification is in high demand always and across different industries. The role of a CFA is an indispensable part of business management, and organizations in public and private sectors employ their services/
you must analyze the pros and cons of each with care before deciding a career path that they are interested in and are passionate about. These factors have a heavy impact on the final decision, and you can find the best choices for them by studying the differences between CFA and CMA.
Read More: CMA vs MBA
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