Career in Finance: The Best Finance Certifications of 2024

If you are considering a career in finance or have already working as one, pursuing a certification can maximize the abilities to deliver high-quality financial analysis and other duties. Certifications will more or less help an individual with what’s missing in terms of needed skills. But, apart from the core financial skills an individual can also learn by enrolling in industry-relevant banking certifications. 

In this article, let’s explore more and understand the best finance certifications to do in 2024.

Certified Management Account (CMA)  

The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is one of the most popular investment banking courses that is offered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). The CMA provides great knowledge of financial accounting and combines the elements of strategic management. This credential is related to teaching the underlying concepts behind an enterprise’s financials and the way strategic business decisions can be reaped from them. 

CMA certification has a final exam with two parts that are tested separately. The CMA can cost anywhere between USD 850 to 2,500 depending on the student or professional who is planning to pursue further studies. The passing rate for the exam is between 40-50 percent. 

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)  

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential is considered as among the most essential certifications for finance professionals and is also relevant for a finance career. For a career in accounting, the CPA is virtually a “must have” certification. There are several organizations who consider it as an option needed for accounting positions. The CPA certification covers many fields like auditing, attestation, financial accounting and reporting, business environment and concepts, and regulation. 

The CPA conducts a single exam that consists of multiple sections. Each of these sections is tested separately, acting as their own exam. Completing the entire certification can cost anywhere from USD 1,000 to 3,000, related to the jurisdiction and study program (self-study or live classes). However, accounting organizations often pay for their employees CPA fees with a pass rate of 50 percent. 

Chartered Investment Banking Professional (CIBP™) 

Investment Banking Council of America (IBCA) is one of the leading providers of the best finance certifications. IBCA credentials and standards aims at validating the professional’s potential and capacity to effectively perform the tasks across the entire spectrum of sub-domains within the investment banking industry. It leads to innovative models, standards, and practices of credentialing excellence for many designations. 

If one who wants to make a mark in their investment banking career, then Chartered Investment Banking Professional certification (CIBP™) is the best investment banking course. This credential offers them thorough research related to other online and offline resources to enhance their knowledge and awareness about how investment banking industry has an impact on the business and on other various industries and how globally many organizations today expect to help them navigate successfully into the future. 

Chartered Investment Banking Professional certification (CIBP™) offers great knowledge to the professionals who are aspiring to break into, grow their careers and maximize their investment banking profile visibility.CIBP™ credential’s main goal is to validate the aspirants’ potential and capacity to better do the tasks across the entire spectrum of sub-domains within the Investment Banking industry. 

With IBCA’s CIBP™ certification, the career in finance enriches. Giving ways to –  

• Develop several various types of financial models valuing debt and equity for M&As and capital raising transactions  
• Perform different methods of valuation  
• Conduct preparation and review various materials in finance like pitch books, investment memoranda, along with finances of clients 

Financial Risk Manager (FRM) 

This Financial Risk Manager (FRM) is accredited by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). This certification helps the professionals to understand deeply about risk assessment. They are trained to assess risk in various insurance organizations, regulatory agencies, asset management organizations, and banks. 

Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) 

This financial certification expands the career opportunity as a government financial manager. It helps to acquire competency in governmental accounting, internal controls, financial reporting, auditing, and budgeting. It is one of the highly respected qualifications that recognizes the specialized knowledge in the said domain. 

Chartered Private Equity Professional (CPEP™) 

Chartered Private Equity Professional (CPEP™) is a professional credential that was developed by the United States Private Equity Council (USPEC). USPEC offers comprehensive private equity course for individuals who are looking to be certified. This certification aims to excel professionally and elevates the finance skills to a level expected by the top private equity and VC firms. CPEP™ is useful to skyrocket the career growth for an individual who is already working in the private equity sector. Added to that, it prepares accounting, finance, and business-study students to take an impressive start in their respective careers. 

United States Private Equity Council (USPEC) is one of a kind certification body that offers private equity credentials that offers aspiring private equity professionals, to help them manage their learning and career-preparation process effectively and be among the top hires in the well-established firms.  

Chartered Private Equity Professional (CPEP™) is a professional credential that was developed by the USPEC. This certification aims to excel professionally and elevates the finance skills to a level expected by the top private equity and VC firms. CPEP™ accelerates the career growth of professionals already working in the private equity space. It ratifies and stamps a candidate’s potential and promise of handling even the most complex of roles and assignments in the private equity domain. 

• Eligibility 

It is a prerequisite to meet certain academic and work experience requirements to get enrolled in the CPEP™ certification. An aspiring individual must have the following: 

• MBA/Masters in the Finance discipline with a minimum of two years of work experience .
• Bachelor’s qualification (with Finance as a major) and a minimum of three years of work experience .

• Studying in MBA/Masters in Finance discipline from USPEC accredited and recognized business schools, universities, and institutions.
• Working in any of the finance sub-functions with a bachelor’s degree and an active credential by CFA, FRM or any other global certification that is recognized by USPEC. 

There will be a 120-days immersion period for the aspirants. Then, they can schedule the exam any time after the 120-days immersion period depending on their flexibility. One will also benefit from 245 days to plan and to take the exam. 

To Conclude… 

To become successful in one’s career, doing the best finance certifications is highly recommended. One must be competent enough and stay updated with the latest advancements and trends to increase employability, enhance one’s career prospects, and to establish the chosen career path.