What differentiates a CMA from a CPA?
A Certified Management Accountant is part of the management team, focusing on business strategy and strategic decision-making. A CMA understands the business formula for delivering value to the customer, arriving at strategies for identifying, developing, marketing and evaluating a product or service throughout the entire life cycle. He or she assesses the competitive environment and ascertains whether there is a sustainable competitive advantage. Unlike a CPA, which emphasize financial reporting, auditing, theoretical applications and after-the-fact verification, the CMA looks to the future to provide real-world strategic direction, business management and leadership. A CMA creates value, instead of just measuring it.
