Accountant → Controller → CFO
Technician entry routes, management accounting, then a chartered/CPA licence and CGMA.
Typical roles: Accounts Assistant · Accountant · Financial Controller · Finance Director · CFO
The track, phase by phase
Foundation
- AAT L3 AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting
- ACCA FIA ACCA Foundations in Accountancy
- CIMA CertBA CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting
- ICAEW CFAB ICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business
Core
- AAT L4 AAT Level 4 Diploma for Professional Accounting Technicians
- CMA Certified Management Accountant
- CIMA Dip MA CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting (Operational level)
- ACCA DipIFR ACCA Diploma in International Financial Reporting
Advanced
- US CPA Certified Public Accountant (United States)
- ACCA ACCA Qualification (Chartered Certified Accountant)
- ICAEW ACA ICAEW Chartered Accountant (ACA)
- CPA Canada Chartered Professional Accountant (Canada)
- CA (India) Chartered Accountant (India)
- CIMA Adv Dip MA CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting (Management level)
Mastery
A suggestion, not a set of prerequisites: one or two certifications per phase is plenty.
Accountant → Controller → CFO on the Finance & Accounting map
Verified against issuers' official pages · updated · 148 active certifications
How to read the map
- Each tile is one certification: its abbreviation and, when the issuer publishes one, a listed-cost band. Hover (or open) a tile for the full name and issuer.
- Within each level the most recognised certifications come first (industry recognition, and how many career tracks use them); "+N more" lists the rest.
- under $300
- $300 to $999
- $1,000 to $2,999
- $3,000 or more
- No sign: price not published by the issuer
- Upcoming Announced by the issuer but not yet available: not counted
- Solid border and a phase number: on this track
- Dashed border, greyed: not on this track
Accounting & Chartered Qualifications 38 certifications16 on this track
Beginner, 14 certifications
- Phase 1: FoundationAAT L3, AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians)
- Phase 1: FoundationACCA FIA, ACCA
- Phase 1: FoundationICAEW CFAB, ICAEW
- Phase 1: FoundationCIMA CertBA, CIMA (AICPA & CIMA)
- AAT L2, AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians)
- AAT L1 Bookkeeping, AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians)
- AAT L2 Bookkeeping, AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians)
+7 more+9 more beginner Accounting & Chartered Qualifications certifications
Intermediate, 9 certifications
- Phase 2: CoreAAT L4, AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians)
- Phase 2: CoreCMA, IMA (Institute of Management Accountants)
- Phase 2: CoreACCA DipIFR, ACCA
- Phase 2: CoreCIMA Dip MA, CIMA (AICPA & CIMA)
- Phase 3: AdvancedCIMA Adv Dip MA, CIMA (AICPA & CIMA)
- Phase 4: MasteryCSCA, IMA (Institute of Management Accountants)
- CGFM, AGA (Association of Government Accountants)
+2 more+3 more intermediate Accounting & Chartered Qualifications certifications
Expert, 15 certifications
- Phase 3: AdvancedACCA, ACCA
- Phase 3: AdvancedUS CPA, AICPA / NASBA / State Boards of Accountancy
- Phase 3: AdvancedICAEW ACA, ICAEW
- Phase 3: AdvancedCA (India), ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India)
- Phase 3: AdvancedCPA Canada, CPA Canada / provincial CPA bodies
- Phase 4: MasteryCGMA, CIMA (AICPA & CIMA)
- CA ANZ CA, CA ANZ
+8 more+9 more expert Accounting & Chartered Qualifications certifications
Audit, Fraud & Forensics 5 certificationsnot on this track
Beginner, 2 certifications
Intermediate, 1 certification
Expert, 2 certifications
Investment Analysis & Asset Management 35 certificationsnot on this track
Beginner, 14 certifications
- SIE, FINRA
- CFA UK IMC, CFA Society of the UK
- IOC, CISI (Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment)
- NISM V-A, NISM (National Institute of Securities Markets)
- NISM VIII, NISM (National Institute of Securities Markets)
- Series 6, FINRA
- Series 63, NASAA (administered by FINRA)
+7 more+9 more beginner Investment Analysis & Asset Management certifications
Intermediate, 13 certifications
- CFA L1, CFA Institute
- CFA L2, CFA Institute
- Series 65, NASAA (administered by FINRA)
- Series 7, FINRA
- NISM X-A, NISM (National Institute of Securities Markets)
- NISM XV, NISM (National Institute of Securities Markets)
- Series 66, NASAA (administered by FINRA)
+6 more+8 more intermediate Investment Analysis & Asset Management certifications
Expert, 8 certifications
- CAIA, CAIA Association
- CFA L3, CFA Institute
- ABV, AICPA
- CEFA, EFFAS (European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies)
- CQF, CQF Institute (Fitch Learning)
- Series 24, FINRA
- CMT, CMT Association
- CISI Dip CM, CISI (Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment)
+3 more expert Investment Analysis & Asset Management certifications
Financial Risk, Compliance & AML 26 certificationsnot on this track
Beginner, 4 certifications
Intermediate, 17 certifications
- ACAMS CAMS, ACAMS
- CRCM, American Bankers Association (ABA)
- AIA, Institute and Faculty of Actuaries
- IRM ICERM, Institute of Risk Management (IRM)
- SOA ASA, Society of Actuaries (SOA)
- CFCS, ACFCS
- ICA Adv Cert AML, International Compliance Association (ICA)
+10 more+12 more intermediate Financial Risk, Compliance & AML certifications
Treasury & Corporate Finance 7 certificationsnot on this track
Beginner, 2 certifications
Intermediate, 4 certifications
Expert, 1 certification
Wealth Management & Financial Planning 19 certificationsnot on this track
Beginner, 2 certifications
Intermediate, 10 certifications
- CFP, CFP Board (US) / FPSB (outside US)
- ChFC, The American College of Financial Services
- CII DipPFS, Chartered Insurance Institute (CII / PFS)
- CLU, The American College of Financial Services
- RICP, The American College of Financial Services
- ChSNC, The American College of Financial Services
- RMA, Investments & Wealth Institute
+3 more+5 more intermediate Wealth Management & Financial Planning certifications
Expert, 7 certifications
- IWI CIMA, Investments & Wealth Institute
- CII APFS, Chartered Insurance Institute (CII / PFS)
- CPWA, Investments & Wealth Institute
- AEP, NAEPC (National Association of Estate Planners & Councils)
- CAP, The American College of Financial Services
- CISI CWM, CISI (Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment)
- PFS, AICPA
+2 more expert Wealth Management & Financial Planning certifications
Tax 5 certificationsnot on this track
Beginner, 1 certification
Intermediate, 3 certifications
Expert, 1 certification
Sustainable Finance & ESG 13 certificationsnot on this track
Beginner, 3 certifications
Intermediate, 10 certifications
- GRI CSP, GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)
- SCR, GARP
- CESGA, EFFAS (European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies)
- CFA CRVI, CFA Institute
- IFRS FSA, IFRS Foundation
- ACCA ProDipSust, ACCA
- Cert CRP, Chartered Banker Institute
+3 more+5 more intermediate Sustainable Finance & ESG certifications
Expert, 0 certifications
None listed
Other Finance & Accounting career tracks (8)
Retired / replaced (1)
No longer offered by their issuers, so not on the map. Holders keep them; each page says what replaced it, where anything did.
About this map
Compiled and verified by CertAscent against issuers' official pages.
Not affiliated with the issuers; certification names are trademarks of their owners. Prices, requirements and availability change: confirm on the issuer's official page (linked from every certification page) before you register or pay.