The Future of CMA: Expert Insights with Avinash Kulur & Brian Hock

The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential has become one of the most regarded in the fields of accounting and finance. Brian Hock, the founder of HOCK International, recently spoke with Avinash Kular from Lakshya to discuss the future of CMA , how the student body is changing, and how AI will affect the accounting field. Their talk gave useful information to people all over the world, many of whom became CMAs, work in the field, or teach.

Before jumping in the blog, let's watch this exclusive talk between Brian Hock and Avinash Kulur, discussing the Future of CMA!

 

The Key Expert Insights on CMA with Avinash Kulur & Brian Hock 

Brian Hock and Avinash Kular's conversation was a wonderful example of how CMA education and the finance industry are changing. The most important things to remember are to start early, be flexible, and keep learning, whether you're a student just starting out or a working professional seeking to move up.

CMA is more than just a certification; it's a way of thinking about your profession that enables you to lead with knowledge, flexibility, and common sense.

1. "You Know More Than You Think You Know" is a way to get over your fear of exams.

Brian Hock started the conversation by talking about one of the most common worries among those who want to become CMAs: test anxiety. Even if they've been studying for months, many students still feel unprepared. Hock told the students that it's normal to feel unsure, but most of them know more than they think.

He said that pupils often think about what they don't know instead of what they do know. His advice was simple but strong: you will never be 110% ready; just focus on what you know, stay confident, and take the test. This kind of thinking helps candidates go from thinking to doing.

2. The Right Study Materials and Preparation Plan

When Brian questioned students about HOCK materials, they revealed that they found the real CMA exam to be slightly easier than HOCK's practice tests. This planned design makes sure that candidates are overprepared and sure of themselves during the real test.

He talked about how HOCK keeps improving its resources by getting comments and updating its content to match the IMA's syllabus. Every idea, from complicated financial ratios to basic notions, is set out to assist students in learning both "how" and "why."

3. Changing Student Demographics: The Rise of the Young CMA Aspirant

Hock has seen a huge change in the CMA student body over the past 25 years. Today's average CMA candidate is younger, knows a lot about technology, and likes microlearning. Because of social media and people's shorter attention spans, students now want 30- to 45-minute study sessions instead of long ones.

Hock has Internationally changed its learning system to include realistic study schedules, time estimations for each course, and study modules that may be changed. The goal is to enable students to make continuous progress, even if they don't have a lot of time, while still keeping the quality and depth needed to pass the CMA exam.

4. CMA for Working Professionals: Connecting Knowledge and Experience

Avinash asked a critical question: How can the CMA help experienced professionals keep up-to-date in today's business world?

Brian said that the CMA is more than simply a test; it's a way to move up in your profession. CMA helps people relate their work position to the bigger aims of the company, whether they are coming back to accounting after years away or moving within finance.

Hock added, "CMA helps professionals understand how their work affects the whole business."

"This knowledge makes them valuable assets who can think beyond accounting entries and help make strategic decisions."

CMA gives mid-career professionals an opportunity to compete with younger workers by improving their technical and management abilities.

5. The Job Factor: Getting your CMA is only the start

"Will I get a job after CMA?" is one of the most important things students ask."

Brian's answer was practical but yet hopeful. You can find a job after passing the CMA exam, but to keep it, you need to be proficient at talking to people, giving presentations, and working with others. It's important to know a lot about technology, but it's also important to be able to explain it and use it well in real business situations.

He stressed:

• Getting a CMA helps you get an interview.
• To stay and flourish in your employment, you need to add value.
• You don't have to do an impressive job on your first one; just get started and learn.

In today's environment, being able to adjust and having experience is more important than being perfect. The most important thing is to get started, whether that means taking your test or starting your first job.

6. Are CMA and AI competitors or partners?

AI (Artificial Intelligence) are the two letters that shape every sector, and no modern discourse about accounting can ignore them.

Avinash wanted to know if AI may make CMA less valuable or get rid of accounting employment. Brian stressed that AI will not take over skilled workers, but it will take over duties that are done over and over again.

He said that data entry, administrative tasks, and basic math may be done automatically, but making decisions, interpreting information, and thinking strategically are still things that people do. CMAs learn how to read figures, look at qualitative aspects, and make smart business decisions, things that AI can't do.

“AI won't take your job if you know how to use it. CMAs that can use both real intelligence and artificial intelligence will be the most successful in the future.

In short, CMA professionals who use AI technologies like Power BI, Tableau, and new analytics platforms will not only be relevant, but they will also be at the forefront of change in finance.

7. The key to living a long life is being able to change.

Brian talked about his 25 years of expertise and how one thing has always been true: being flexible is what makes you successful. AI won't get rid of accountants any more than Excel did. The challenging part is learning, growing, and using new technologies well.

He joked that putting "Excel skills" on a resume used to be noteworthy, but now it's just expected. In the same way, knowing how to use AI will be a basic job requirement in a few years. The sooner pupils start using it, the better their chances are of getting a job.

8. Last Thoughts: The CMA Edge

At the end of the conversation, Brian and Avinash mutually agreed on one important point: focus on getting the three letters: CMA.

AI may be the most talked about topic, but CMAs provide real intelligence that helps businesses make decisions in a world full of data and change. The message to pupils was clear: don't be afraid of AI; use it to become better.

Brian said it best:

"Change always brings new chances." CMA gets you ready to make that change happen.

 

Did you know? More than 100,000 professionals around the world have the CMA certification. It is one of the fastest-growing certificates in management accounting. Global finance leaders love this curriculum because it focuses on strategy, performance, and analytics.

 

FAQs on The Future of CMA 

Does CMA still matter now that AI is here?

Yes, for sure. AI can help with but not replace the work of CMA experts, who are trained to analyze, understand, and make business decisions.

Is it possible for working professionals to effectively pursue CMA?

Yes. The CMA's focus on management and decision-making helps professionals progress in their careers, and the flexible exam structure lets them study while they work.

How long does it take to become ready for CMA?

Depending on their study plan, how often they study, and how well they know accounting topics, students usually take 6 to 9 months to finish both portions.