Step 2: The Professional Program

The CMA Strategic Leadership Program

Target candidate: University graduates who aspire to senior management and executive positions in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Having successfully completed the CMA qualification step (see “Step 1: Getting Qualified”), candidates progress through the 18-month CMA Strategic Leadership Program concurrent with full-time employment. This dynamic program explores and applies the practices that innovative enterprises adopt to succeed in a competitive global environment.

The program allows candidates to develop six functional competencies and four enabling competencies, as follows:

Functional Competencies	Enabling Competencies
• Strategic Management • Performance Measurement • Performance Management • Financial Resource Management • Risk Management and Governance • Financial Reporting	• Problem Solving and Decision Making • Leadership and Group Dynamics • Professionalism and Ethical Behaviour • Communication

At the heart of the program is a series of interactive sessions allowing candidates to exchange views and experiences on program concepts under the guidance of experienced moderators. Each of the program modules include one of these two-day interactive sessions. Candidates also complete a series of individual and group management projects applying these concepts to their own organizations.

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Course Description

Year One is the Development Phase and will consist of three modules. Cases will be assigned for each module and will focus on different industry sectors including manufacturing, services, government and not-for-profit. The majority of the assessments in this phase will be individually-based.

Upon completion of the Strategic Leadership Program Development Phase, candidates will be required to write the CMA Case Exam. This four-hour exam will test a candidate’s understanding of the competencies and the higher order skills of strategic thinking, analysis, integration, judgment and written communication introduced thus far in the program.

This exam will be offered twice per year, in May and September.

Candidates will then enter the Application Phase of the Strategic Leadership Program. Fostering group development as well as focusing on communication, leadership, decision making,ethics and problem solving skills will be at the core of this three-module Phase.

The final evaluation component of the Strategic Leadership Program remains the CMA Board Report. Here candidates will demonstrate, both orally and through a written submission, their mastery of the knowledge and competencies to join the profession – and become Certified Management Accountants.

At the heart of the Strategic Leadership Program are interactive sessions during which candidates exchange views and experiences on program aspects under the guidance of experienced moderators. Each of the program modules includes a two-day interactive session. Candidates also complete a series of individual and group management projects applying the concepts to their own organizations.

Next Steps:

For more information on how to register for the CMA Strategic Leadership Program and for registration deadlines, please click here.