Professional Certifications and Why They Should Matter to You

Professional certifications serve as a great way to communicate knowledge possessed by an individual. In some cases, like a CPA, it also grants them increased authority and legal requirements as compared to a non-CPA. For those wondering what the major certifications are, or what they even mean, here is a summary of the major certifications within the accounting, finance, and tax fields.

CPA – Certified Public Accountant

When it comes to anything accounting related, this is the highest level of certification. Besides having the toughest requirements, it also has arguably the most difficult exam to pass for any professional in any industry or job. Those with a CPA certification can sign off on audit reports. Because of the difficulty of the CPA exam, those with a CPA can be trusted to put in the extra work when needed and have a base line of knowledge that is applicable to all of accounting, tax, or audit

CIA – Certified Internal Auditor

This certification communicates that an individual has the knowledge to complete not only internal audits as the name suggest, but also SOX audits. CIA’s posses the necessary knowledge to identify controls, and how to adequately test those controls. Those with CIA’s are typically relied upon to review not only SOX controls, but operational controls as well.

CFE – Certified Fraud Examiner

Individuals with A CFE certification is typically called upon when fraud is suspected. These individuals combine knowledge from forensic accounting, criminology, applicable regulations, and accounting to identify if fraud was committed in a given instance. Besides having great analytical skills, those with a CFE certification also have great people skills as they typically need to interview individuals during a fraud investigation.

CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor

In a world with an ever-growing reliance on Information Systems, those with a CISA are relied upon to test controls over those Information Systems. CISA’s also can provide value from the build side, with identifying control weaknesses within an IT system before it becomes functional to the rest of an organization or for customers.

MBA or a Masters degree

While master’s degrees are not standardized like other certifications, an MBA or Masters degree communicates abilities within a given area. Those with a Masters in Business Administration can be called upon to help with the management and governance of an organization. Those with a Masters in Accountancy have the specialty knowledge need in technical accounting areas.

At Clearview, we expect our team members to attain and maintain their certifications in order to continue to be on the forefront of industry practices, new pronouncements and provide our clients the most qualified and experienced group ready to attack and solve problems and issues facing your organization.

Reach out to us today to see how this phenomenal group of professionals can help your business grow and succeed!

• Scott Freinberg, Director, Risk Advisory
• Kris Pratte, Director, Risk Advisory