Institute of Management Accountants

In the United States, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants are responsible for quality assurance (QA) reviews for public business entities and nonpublic entities, respectively. The IMA is an organization that represents management accounting professionals who do not provide auditing services and therefore are not subject to mandatory QA reviews. Nevertheless, as reported by IMA, it is aware of the close relationship between management accountants and audit professionals and is committed to promoting best practices related to the accountancy profession.

Consequently, IMA leadership has considered and evaluated the need to be actively involved in this area and concluded that at this time, given the existing environment and its mandate, its involvement in QA reviews of audits is not deemed necessary.

IMA has demonstrated an ongoing process to maintain its level of fulfillment with the SMO 1 obligations and is committed to continuous improvement.

Current Status: Sustain

IMA is responsible for initial and continuing professional development (IPD and CPD, respectively) for Certified Management Accountants (CMAs) in the United States. Individuals wishing to qualify as CMAs are required to complete a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, complete practical experience requirements in management accounting or financial management, successfully complete the CMA Exam and fulfill minimum annual CPD credits. IMA reports that it has implemented IPD and CPD requirements for its Certified Management Accountant qualifications that fulfill those of the revised IES.

IMA’s Committee on Academic Relations developed a process for identifying business programs that meet the quality educational standards required to enable students to earn the CMA designation, and helps other schools develop such programs. In 2019, IMA released the Management Accounting Competency Framework to define professional competencies in the accounting profession. The Framework is revised on an ongoing basis to reflect changes in the profession.

IMA offers CPD programs that are approved by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and geared towards the professional development of accountants and financial professionals in business. Furthermore, IMA has been working on enhancing its examination process.

IMA has demonstrated an ongoing process to maintain its level of fulfillment with the SMO 2 obligations and is committed to continuous improvement.

Current Status: Sustain

The Public Company Oversight Board is responsible for setting auditing standards for public business entities and the Auditing Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is responsible for setting auditing standards for nonpublic entities. IMA does not play a role in setting auditing standards and is focused on addressing the needs of management accounting professionals, which are distinct from professionals working in public accounting roles. Nevertheless, IMA has committed to enhancing its members’ knowledge of audit-related standards through organizing webinars and conferences and disseminating information on international developments. IMA also participates in international standard-setting process by providing comments to IAASB exposure drafts.

IMA has demonstrated an ongoing process to maintain its level of fulfillment with the SMO 3 obligations and is committed to continuous improvement.

Current Status: Sustain

IMA is responsible for setting ethical requirements for its members and reports that it has adopted its Statement of Ethical Professional Practice that, according to IMA, is no less stringent than the IESBA Code of Ethics. IMA has a mechanism in place to periodically review its Statement of Ethical Professional Practice to ensure that it is no less stringent than the IESBA Code of Ethics.

To support its members, IMA has a Standing Advisory Committee to evaluate IMA’s Statement of Ethical Professional Practice, requires completing ethics-related courses as part of its continuing professional development requirements, and maintains an ethics helpline as a resource to any professional to provide clarification on applying the IMA Statement for on-the-job ethical situations.

Current Status: Sustain

Given IMA’s focus on management accountants, the organization reports that it does not directly participate in the adoption and implementation of IPSAS. Nevertheless, IMA reports in its SMO Action Plan that it maintains relations with the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board and provides input on technical matters affecting IMA members.

IMA reports that its leadership has considered and evaluated considered ways to comply with the requirements of SMO 5 and, apart from its general intention to perform policy dialogues, does not deem further involvement in public sector accounting matters to be feasible at this time.

Current Status: Sustain

IMA is responsible for establishing an investigative and disciplinary (I&D) system for its members and, accordingly, has established Board Policy C-400 “Ethics Compliance Procedures.” IMA reports that the investigative and disciplinary processes within C-400 is in line with the SMO 6 requirements.

IMA has regularly demonstrated an ongoing process to maintain its level of fulfillment with the SMO 6 obligations and is committed to continuous improvement.

Current Status: Sustain

In the United States, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is the entity responsible for the adoption of accounting standards and it has been working with the IASB since 2002 to achieve convergence of IFRS and U.S. GAAP. While IMA has no responsibility for the adoption of IFRS, it indicates that it is active in this area through ongoing initiatives, which include: (i) monitoring the convergence project of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) standards; (ii) communicating developments and updates to its members on the standards and developments; and (iii) providing continuing professional education and webinars on the standards.

In addition, IMA reports that it maintains relations with the FASB and the IASB and participates in the standard-setting process by providing comments to the standards consultations.

IMA has demonstrated an ongoing process to maintain its level of fulfillment with the SMO 7 obligations and is committed to continuous improvement.

Current Status: Sustain