Certified Management Accountants of Canada

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Certified Management Accountants of Canada (CMA Canada) is the organization that awards the Certified Management Accountant designation in Canada. It began on May 3, 1920, and continues as a not-for-profit under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. The headquarters are in Toronto, and the official languages are English and French.

Until September 2015, CMA Canada granted the CMA credential through its provincial and territorial affiliates, and it was responsible for setting standards, accrediting programs, and managing continuing professional development for CMAs. CMAs use a mix of accounting, management, and strategy to promote corporate accountability and long-term competitiveness. The association offered executive development programs, online courses, and knowledge publications. It published Management Accounting Guidelines and Management Accounting Practices to share best practices; these could be downloaded for free or purchased on CD, and non-members could buy them.

CPA Canada has since taken over the CMA program and publishes updated guidance under its own name, though some documents do not clearly acknowledge CMA’s SMAC origins. From 1953 to 2015, the Society also ran a foundation that supported research in management accounting. The CMA path emphasizes training and practical experience to build competencies in strategic management accounting for senior leadership roles. There are six functional competencies and four enabling competencies.

Path to the CMA designation: candidates must have a university degree and take required subject credits to enter the CMA Entrance Examination. After passing, they enter the Strategic Leadership Programme (SLP). Completing these steps earns the CMA designation. To remain in good standing, CMAs must complete ongoing professional learning and development.