IMA sees growth over past year

The Institute of Management Accountants released its annual review, indicating sustained growth in the organization over the past year.

The IMA now has 110,000 members, surpassing the 100,000-member mark for the first time in its history, according to the report, “Leading in the Digital Age.” In the past year the IMA added more than 39,000 new candidates for the Certified Management Accountant program and 6,000 new CMAs. Student membership grew 39 percent year over year, new CMA candidates grew 52 percent, and new CMAs grew 47 percent. The IMA also introduced a specialty credential, the CSCA (Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis). The organization also introduced some new educational products and services focused on digitization, including one on leveraging Microsoft Excel for data analytics and tech talk webinars with thought leaders in the field of digital transformation.

The report includes commentary from IMA President and CEO Jeff Thomson and IMA chair Alex C. Eng. "It's a transformative time in our profession," said Thomson. "Robotics, artificial intelligence and data analytics are not passing trends. Every business must pivot towards technology and that requires the support of a community. That community is IMA. As IMA renews its commitment to prepare its members for the changing demands of the profession, specifically seizing the opportunities presented by technology, I am confident growth will continue."

Thomson said the CMA program continues to be "the most respected, trusted and fastest-growing certification for management accounting. It provides upward advancement to individuals and a deeper bench of expertise for organizations."

The IMA has created a 2018 Year in Review web page to accompany the report.