u/TheeAnuj

Hi everyone,

I recently took my US CMA Part 2 exam and have now started preparing for Part 1. Alongside my CMA studies, I'm thinking of learning some technical skills that could improve my career prospects.

My current plan is to start with Advanced Excel while preparing for Part 1. After completing the US CMA, I want to build strong skills in:

Advanced Excel

Power BI

SQL

Basic Python

I wanted to ask people who are already working in finance or data analytics:

•Is it realistic to transition into a Data Analyst role with a US CMA plus these technical skills?

•Will this combination help me land a well-paying entry-level job?

•Does this seem like a good career plan, or would you recommend a different path?

I'm genuinely interested in combining finance and data analytics, so I'd really appreciate any advice or suggestions from people with experience.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I'm from India and currently pursuing the US CMA. I recently took my Part 2 exam, and if everything goes as planned, I'll complete Part 1 in the next 6–7 months.

I specifically want to hear from Indians who have already completed the US CMA and are working in India.

Over the past few months, I've been reading a lot of posts on Reddit about ACCA affiliates struggling to find jobs in India. Many people say they've been applying for 5–6 months, sending hundreds of applications, but getting only a few responses and often not even reaching the interview stage. Reading those experiences has honestly made me a little worried.

My concern is this:

If ACCA affiliates are facing such difficulties, what is the situation for US CMA holders in India? Since the US CMA is generally a shorter qualification than ACCA (in terms of syllabus and duration), does it become harder to find a job after completing it, or is the market demand better?

By the time I finish the US CMA, I'll still be in my 2nd year of graduation (B.Com). So I also wanted to ask, Is it possible to get a decent job in India after completing the US CMA before finishing graduation, or do most employers require a completed bachelor's degree?

To improve my profile, I'm planning to learn Advanced Excel, Power BI, SQL, and a little Python before I start applying for jobs. I'm hoping these skills will make my resume stronger.

My long-term plan is to complete the US CPA after the US CMA, but right now my biggest concern is getting my first job in India.

I'd really appreciate hearing real experiences from Indian US CMA holders, whether your experience was positive or negative. Any advice or suggestions would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance!

I’ve finished my CMA Part 2 exam and took a few days off to rest. Now I’m planning to start preparing for Part 1, and I’d really appreciate some guidance from those who have already cleared it.

I’m planning to take the CMA Part 1 exam sometime between January 15 and January 20.

Do you think this is enough time to prepare? Also, how does Part 1 compare to Part 2 in terms of difficulty? Which sections should I focus on the most, and what study order or flow would you recommend for covering the syllabus effectively?

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I took the CMA USA Part 2 exam on June 18, and as I expected, the essay window opened for me.

For the MCQs, with about 1 hour and 20 minutes remaining, I still had around 10 difficult questions left that I had skipped earlier. Since I felt I would need more than an hour for the essays, I decided to make my best guesses on those MCQs instead of spending too much time on them. Honestly, even if I had used the remaining 20 minutes on those questions, I don't think I would have solved them correctly. Overall, I feel my MCQ section went well.

For the essays, I got 12 questions and attempted all of them. There was only one question that I couldn't explain very well. In a few questions, I think I didn't connect my answer properly to the scenario. For example, one question asked me to define value engineering and explain how the company applied it. I defined value engineering correctly, but I wasn't able to clearly explain how the company applied it in the given case. I made a few mistakes like that, but overall I completed all the essays and typed decent answers.

Now I'm constantly thinking about my result and whether it will go in my favor. I'm also confused about whether I should purchase the CMA Part 1 batch now or wait for the result.

Based on this situation, what do you think? Do I still have a reasonable chance of passing?

Hi everyone,

I'm considering pursuing the US CPA and would love to hear from people who have either recently completed it or have been using it in their careers for some time.

​

A few questions I'd appreciate your honest thoughts on:

​

How is the current job market for US CPAs in your country? Is there strong demand, or has it become more competitive recently?

Have you been getting interviews and job opportunities, or are you facing a lot of rejections despite having the certification?

If you were already employed before obtaining the CPA, did it lead to a promotion, salary increase, or better career opportunities?

How much of a difference has the CPA made to your earning potential?

Which country are you based in?

​

Please share both positive and negative experiences. I'm trying to get a realistic picture of the career impact rather than just marketing claims.

​

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I'm considering pursuing the CMA (USA) and would love to hear from people who have either recently completed it or have been using it in their careers for some time.

​

A few questions I'd appreciate your honest thoughts on-

​

1. Have you been getting interviews and job opportunities, or are you facing a lot of rejections despite having the certification?

2. If you were already employed before CMA, did it lead to a promotion, salary increase, or better career opportunities?

3. How much of a difference has CMA made to your earning potential?

4. Which country are you based in?

​

Please share both positive and negative experiences. I'm trying to get a realistic picture of the career impact rather than just marketing claims.

​

Thanks in advance!

My exam is next week, and I'm thinking about taking mock tests. I only have access to Surgent, though I've never studied with it; it's just lying around. Since I don't have any mock tests right now, I'm thinking about taking mock tests from Surgent.

​

I just want to know if Surgent's mock tests are exam-oriented, and if taking Surgent's mock tests is worth it or a waste of time.

Hi everyone, I wanted to ask those who have already appeared for the exam in this window about the overall paper level. How difficult are the MCQs — are they mostly moderate or very hard? Also, are the questions lengthy or tricky, and what type of questions are asked the most?

I have prepared Sections A, C, D, and E quite well. I have done less question practice for Section F, but I think I can manage that. I only have a little difficulty in Section B. So, I wanted to know which sections are the most important and which sections usually carry the highest number of questions in the exam.

It would also be really helpful if you could share some tips on time management during the exam, how to approach the essays, and the best way to write answers for essay questions.

I am preparing for US CMA part 2 and I am going to give the exam in June.

I know that the paper is completely unpredictable and everyone's paper is different. Therefore, everyone should do 100% syllabus.

But I still want to know what are the most important topics in every section of US CMA part 2 for exam. I have done 2-3 revisions. But, now I want to do selective study and focus on my weak areas and daily MCQ practice.

Apart from this, what else should I do and what are the main topics that I should do, please tell me this.

I am preparing for US CMA part 2 and I am going to give the exam in June and I want to ask you how should I study right now

I have chosen essay for the paper. I attempt an average of 100 questions a day. Before starting the questions, I watch lectures on YouTube related to the concepts. I make short notes of the theory which will help me in essays. Right now I am not enjoying studying at all, but this never happened before. Earlier I used to enjoy studying a lot. Maybe I should change my studying style, so how should I study, how many questions should I attempt and what things should I keep in mind while studying, keeping in mind the current time, please help me in this.