The Career Path Ahead What to Expect After Your ACCA, CMA USA or CFP Certification

12 April, 2025
by Ansa Antony

Having completed your professional certification either in ACCA, CMA USA, or CFP, there’s the obvious question of what lies ahead.

Bagging a certification in either of these prestigious finance & accounting exams reflects your skill, hard work, and dedication and will go a long way into paving a fire-proof career.

There are so many opportunities that await candidates who have cleared any of these three exams. This blog will guide you on what you can do next after earning the respective certifications.

What Awaits After Earning Your ACCA, CMA USA, or CFP

Let’s look at 5 key aspects that await you after completing either of these top financial certifications.

1. New Career Doors Open

Once you’ve cleared your ACCA, CMA USA, or CFP exams, you’ve opened the doors to a world of new careers and opportunities. Depending on the specific certification you hold, you can work your way through the ranks.

ACCA holders can work globally in roles like financial accountant, auditor, risk manager, or even CFO. The ACCA is highly respected in the UK, EU, Middle East, and Asia.
CMA USA professionals have great scope to excel in management accounting and corporate finance roles. They can work in positions like financial analyst, controller, and finance manager as next steps, especially in multinational companies.
CFP holders can work across roles like financial planner, investment advisor, or wealth manager, working either independently or with firms that specialize in personal finance and asset management.

2. Increased Earning Potential

With certifications in ACCA, CMA USA, or CFP, you can decisively earn high salaries and lead a comfortable lifestyle that fits your aspirations.

ACCA professionals typically earn between $40,000 to $100,000 annually, depending on experience, job role, and location. Senior ACCA members command higher salaries in roles such as finance managers, auditors, or CFOs in markets like the UK, Middle East, and Asia.

Source - https://careers.accaglobal.com/article/acca-salary-survey-2024-global-insights/

CMA USA holders often earn between $70,000 to $120,000 per year. According to the IMA Global Salary Survey 2023, CMAs earn approximately 58% more in median total compensation than non-CMAs. This premium reflects their value in strategic and decision-making roles in finance.

Source - https://www.imanet.org/en/Newsletters/2023/January/CMA-Salary-Survey

CFP professionals have the immense potential of earning salaries in the range of $60,000 to $130,000 annually based on the quality of their financial planning and advisory services.

Source - https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/personal-financial-advisors.htm

3. Networking and Recognition

With the certifications come your membership in prestigious organizations such as the ACCA, IMA (for CMA), and FPSB (for CFP).

You can gain significantly by participating in the exclusive networking events, webinars, and training sessions for members hosted by these boards.

This helps you to stay updated with the current industry trends and build valuable connections with professionals in your field. Moreover, the post-nominals (ACCA, CMA, CFP) next to your name can boost your credibility and command respect from clients, peers, and employers.

4. Continuing Professional Education

Your education doesn’t stop by earning the certifications. The respective boards of ACCA, IMA, and IFSB ensure that you undergo continuous professional education so that you stay updated and ahead of the competition.

This might involve attending workshops, taking refresher courses, or completing ethics training modules. In the process, you can also revise what you already know so that you provide top-quality services at all times.

5. New Challenges and Responsibilities

With certification often comes a step up in responsibility. You may find yourself managing teams, leading audits, advising clients on financial strategies, or making critical decisions that affect a company’s future.

While this can be challenging, it's also immensely rewarding and contributes to your growth as a professional. In the process, you’ll grow as a finance professional and gain a sense of satisfaction in your vast repertoire of skills.

Enroll in Professional Financial Courses Now

Now that we’ve highlighted all the major possibilities after earning certifications such as the ACCA, CMA USA, or CFP, you might be interested in taking these courses.

At My Logic, we’ve designed offline and online finance courses for these three certifications as well as other reputable ones.

Check out our ACCA course here: https://www.mylogic.ac/acca.aspx
Check out our CMA USA course here: https://www.mylogic.ac/cma-usa.aspx

Check out our CFP course here: https://www.mylogic.ac/cfp.aspx

My Logic is a pioneer in catering world-class training in financial professional courses like CMA (USA), CPA (USA), ACCA, CIMA, etc, to students across the globe. We offer top-class online training videos along with online interactive classrooms that help you crack competitive finance and accounting exams.