Dear all,I was wondering what would be more appreciated by consulting companies? Having a CFA certification, with in-depth focus on financial markets/analysis, etc or a CMA (CIMA) certification, having more "helicopter view" business focus and understanding. I am trying to figure out on which one to focus on now, and I definetely do not want to go for ACCA or any similar certificate.Let's say I am interested in strategy/mgmt consulting in the financial (services) sector, but don't want to limit my choices too much.Any idea what is preferred, and can open more doors in front of me? Please, do share some thoughts.Thanks in advance,Curious

The reality is that there is not much difference between ACCA and CIMA. You can do almost exactly the same exams and both are relatively flexible in work experience - I qualified as ACCA working in industry doing a combination corporate strategy, M&A and finance/performance management jobs. I am now working in FS doing strategy and mgt consulting.While the qualification has helped, the work experience was probably more valuable. Spending 3 years producing internal MI reports with CIMA would have been far less useful, and audit work with either ACCA or ACA accounting firms would not have been so interesting. Consultancies will like an accounting qualification, but unless you want to do Finance function work, you should also focus on getting relevant commercial experience within a good company.I don't work in MBBB, so not sure if this route would help you if that is your goal (although I suspect it would not from reading other posts).

If you want MC then the CFA will be almost useless - and why would you want to put yourself through what is probably the hardest qualification in the world (based on pass rates) if you won't need it? An accountancy qualification would be useful - broadly - for an MC career, but anon has pointed out it is applicable only in financial advisory work; if you want a broader base get some experience then go do an MBA.

I am interested in strategy/mgmt consulting in the financial (services) sector - also.Thinking of taking on a qualification to help me move into this field as all my experience has been in financial (services) sector. Then when I have MC in FS experience - could move to MBA - and enter into the broader world of advisory ?Let me know if u would concur with this plan ?! and as far as qualifications go, I'm thinking CIMA vs MSc in Mang... but CIMA allows working parallel (but useless experience in financial servieces sector?)