The Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Australia (ICMA) was incorporated in 1996 under the patronage of Mr. William Dix (former Chairman of Ford and Qantas) and Professor John Miller (former Director of Consumer Affairs, Chairman of Pannell, Kerr, Foster and holder of numerous senior academic positions). Its objectives are to provide a professional organization for management accountants and to encourage, disseminate and promote the specialization in organizations in Australia. Similar specialist bodies have been operating in most English-speaking developed countries, e.g. the USA, UK and Canada, and from 1996 in Australia.
Certified Management Accountants (CMAs) are strategic value creators who apply pro-active financial skills and forward-looking management to provide innovative business solutions. CMAs bring the knowledge and experience to the different functions within an organization, such as information management, treasury, efficiency auditing, marketing, valuation, pricing and logistics that maximize enterprise value.
CMAs are important assets in all types of organizations. They analyze operating results, review performance, audit operations, and resolve issues that enhance the strategic objectives of the organization. CMAs appreciate the business approach for managing customer value, formulating strategies, and valuing equity. CMAs are value creators, not just merely accountants who adhere to compliance with the profession.