“TWO CERTIFICATIONS, ONE BIG DECISION: ACCA VS CMA KSA”
Amid the growing popularity of numerous advanced accounting certifications, some common names you might be familiar with are ACCA and CMA; Saudi students often remain confused about choosing between these two academic paths. Well, their confusion is valid as both the qualifications are value-adding, but to get rid of this indecisiveness, aspirants must be able to differentiate between the two academic paths. By exploring and comparing all the academic and career aspects of ACCA vs CMA Saudi Arabia, finance aspirants can easily pick the qualification that is most aligned to their career goals.
However, usually aspirants don’t have much exposure to advanced academic paths or their career prospects, which is a huge obstacle in choosing the best, value-adding credential. Nonetheless, to save students from this struggle, we have done all the research work and brought forward an insightful guidebook that will enlighten readers with all the essential details about either of these qualifications.
OVERVIEW OF ACCA VS CMA SAUDI ARABIA
The ACCA qualification in Saudi Arab is widely popular amongst finance students and is highly valued in the job market; academically, the credential stands out for its global recognition and diverse yet value-adding curriculum. The ACCA course in Saudi Arab is well-tailored and is up-to-date with the industry trends and demands, which enhances the worth of ACCA professionals in the practical world.
On the other hand, the CMA qualification in Saudi Arab is also amongst the top global accounting certifications; the credential is focused on strategic management, financial planning, financial analysis, and strategic decision-making. The CMA course in Saudi Arab equips aspirants with sufficient skills and knowledge to secure a success-driven role in the professional world.
QUALIFICATION STRUCTURE ACCA VS CMA SAUDI ARABIA
The ACCA course in Saudi Arab is structured uniquely to focus on diverse areas of study; the credential consists of thirteen exams, which are divided into three academic levels (Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, & Strategic Professional). Here is a complete academic curriculum of the ACCA qualification in Saudi Arab:
| APPLIED KNOWLEDGE
(fundamental level) |
APPLIED SKILLS
(Intermediatory level) |
STRATEGIC PROFESSIONAL
(Advanced level) |
| Financial Accounting | Financial Management | Strategic Business Reporting |
| Management Accounting | Performance Management | Strategic Business Leadership |
| Business & Technology | Financial Reporting | SELECTIVES: (ANY 2) |
| Taxation | Advanced Taxation | |
| Audit & Assurance | Advanced Audit & Assurance | |
| Corporate & Business Law | Advanced Performance Management | |
| Advanced Financial Management |
Whereas, the CMA course in Saudi Arab is also a multi-level program that focuses on slightly different accounting and finance areas; in comparison to the ACCA qualification, CMA is not as lengthy, rather, it consists of two parts (exams) only. The parts and their focus areas are listed below:
- The first part is known as Financial planning, Performance, and Analytics; some of the focus areas are budgeting, financial reporting, performance management, internal controls, etc.
- The second part is known as Strategic Financial Management; this CMA part covers essential areas like corporate finance, risk management, financial statement analysis, investment decisions, etc.
ACCA VS CMA SCOPE IN SAUDI ARABIA
The ACCA qualification opens the door to diverse career opportunities in Saudi Arabia; some of the top employers value professionals with this credential. Apart from that, diversity in roles and flexibility to work in numerous sectors enhance the number of opportunities for ACCA-qualified professionals; the job roles are progressive, typically ranging from junior to executive-level positions. Some of the common job roles for ACCA professionals in Saudi Arabia include auditor, financial controller, CFO, tax consultant, financial reporter, accountant, etc.
On the other hand, CMA professionals are also valued in Saudi’s job market for different roles such as budget analyst, FP&A manager, and cost accountant, etc; the global recognition of the credential and the advanced skillset that it equips candidates with gives them an edge to outshine in the practical world and increase the number of work opportunities locally as well as internationally.
CONCLUSION
Indeed, either of the academic paths offers different content of study by focusing on slightly distinguished areas of finance or accounting; regardless, both qualifications are globally acknowledged and value-adding for finance aspirants. However, ACCA offers a comprehensive curriculum and diversity in academics and career; nonetheless, students are encouraged to choose the path that best aligns with their career goals and is more focused on their area of interest.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Q1: Which is the easiest module of the ACCA qualification in Saudi Arab?
Ans: According to students’ reviews, we can confidently say that the easiest modules of the ACCA qualification are from the Applied Knowledge level, as they cover foundational knowledge and concepts; to be more precise, these papers are Management Accounting, Financial Accounting, and Business & Technology.
Q2: What are the academic requirements of the CMA qualification in Saudi Arab?
Ans: To become a CMA-qualified candidate, one must complete/pass the two academic parts, earn two years of credible work experience, and once they get the membership, they must adhere to the IMA ethics statement as well as religiously complete CPE.
Q3: What is the estimated timeframe of completion of ACCA vs CMA Saudi Arabia?
Ans: It can vary based on every individual’s academic experience; however, the expected timeframe to complete ACCA in Saudi Arabia is around 3-4 years, whereas to complete CMA in this region, it can take around 12-18 months.
