Voyage of CMA Success: A Story of an Enteng Alumnus

“Hesitate less and do more.” — U.S. CMA Passer, Chester Cortez

The threads woven into the children’s consciousness transcend the reality of youth to illuminate their ambition and explore the dimensions of human potential to meet beyond the known. As the sun sets in the landscape of modernization, dream rises as a sign of being human — envisioning and living one’s blank canvas.

A Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is a management accounting and financial management professional credential granted by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) in the United States, and in the evolving platform of the Philippines’ workforce, the CMA certification holds a crucial reputation — as a beacon of excellence and determination. Its license has a firm grasp in the profession, and the path towards certification encompasses a cycle of adversity yet molds the dreamers to rediscover their capacities for the reformation they can contribute to society.

Expanding His Name

As CMA license continuously emerges to the public, there is Chester Cortez, a 24-year-old native of San Fernando Pampanga, whose unwavering ambition and dedication fueled his journey. The former Managing Editor at The Enterprise from 2020-2022, Chester’s journey to becoming a CMA was not easy, but his experiences and skills earned on that path have proven invaluable in his accounting career.

Cortez started as a reportorial staff and cartoonist at The Enterprise, eventually becoming the managing editor, which equipped him with valuable skills. The obstacles and dilemmas faced at the publication honed his strength, which he found and brought to the CMA certification.

From Curiosity to College Pursuit

The curiosity sparked when a seminar speaker with the CMA’s credentials brought inspiration during the enteng alumnus high school days. While unaware then, his pursuit of higher education paved the way to understanding its international recognition and significance.

The CMA qualification holds significance in the Philippines as it validates a candidate’s proficiency in management accounting and financial management. It can improve individuals’ professional prospects and offer new opportunities, particularly in industries requiring economic competence and strategic decision-making.

This curiosity to carry the CMA title abroad motivated him to walk the same road, diligently preparing with the support of Insights North Review Center.

The Spark of Interest

Cortez’s interest in the certification was further stoked by hearing the term used on campus throughout his college years. He intended to take something other than the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination (CPALE) and found information about the CMA certification.

Although unpopular compared to other accounting examinations, CMA certification has a low passing rate, and its emphasis on adding value to businesses and other specialized characteristics fueled his ambition — leading him to investigate this unusual career path in accounting.

Further, the program, divided into two parts: Financial Planning, Performance and Analytics, and Strategic Financial Management, typically takes candidates 12 to 18 months to complete. The alumnus believed the certification’s most significant factor lies in its strict approach. CMAs are evaluated based on analytical capabilities, problem-solving abilities, and practical application. The process teaches candidates to focus on something other than memorization and reform as accounting professionals capable of providing relevance based on experiences, not just merely theory.

Hence, Cortez opted for self-study and relied on online practice exams at his own pace. He thoroughly identified areas for betterment and stayed alert during the process. Passing a CMA exam on the first attempt is rare, but his success can be rooted in his personalized study approach.

Looking Backward and Forward in a Changing Landscape

The certification sets Cortez apart from other accounting professionals for its internationally recognized specialization. Upheld by the IMA, the CMA’s international presence solidifies its continued legacy and relevance in major countries such as the USA and United Kingdom. His CMA training has come in handy at Scrubbed, where he provides accounting services to clients across the United States.

In times of rapid technology, he highlighted that CMAs, like other accounting professionals, must focus on critical thinking and produce unique insights. This ability to add essence beyond the automated reach ensures continued relevance in the transforming accounting and finance sectors.

Looking back, he would advise his younger self to hesitate less and do more. His CMA path has demonstrated that confidently accepting chances and overcoming hurdles can lead to growth.

The relevance of license builds the gap in connecting personal interests and social welfare. In the legal lenses, it serves as a reflection of intellect, yet beyond their perceived image, it intervenes in the collective human drive — to generate, harmonize, and extend the mere legality.

License is not just a title. Underneath a particular reputation lies a testament to humanity’s order of perseverance, innovation, and the awareness to implant skills in modern society. Through the seeds of knowing one’s pursuit, the license is more than a legal certificate — it reflects human dignity, potential, and engagement, as it dwells upon understanding human realities to triumph in holistic development.

LAYOUT ARTIST: Gabrielle Nicole Salagubang
PHOTO SOURCE(S): ISDCOnline_LumenLearning