US CSCA (Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis) is a specialty credential designed by the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants, US) to help candidates master the concepts and techniques that are required to earn a seat at the leadership table, and becoming a key player in driving the strategic planning process at their organization. The CSCA (Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis) is a specialty credential designed specifically for CMAs*, which complements and expands upon the strategic planning and analysis skills developed through the CMA (Certified Management Accountants) certification. This credential helps to master the concepts and techniques that are required to earn a seat at the leadership table and become a key player in driving the strategic planning process at your organization.

COURSE DURATION

40-75 hours of study suggested, depending on your level of expertise

The CSCA exam will cover and test three content areas:

The strategic planning process

  • What is strategy?
  • Role of the finance team in the strategic management process
  • Vision, mission, and goals
  • Analytical planning tools and frameworks

Environmental scan and competitive analysis

  • Macro environmental forces
  • Industry economic market structure
  • Industry segmentation
  • Industry life-cycle analysis
  • Threat of new entry and/or substitution
  • Supplier and buyer power
  • Complementary products and services
  • Competitive intelligence
  • Competitive forces analysis
  • Competitive rivalry
  • Financial analysis of competitors
  • Innovation, change, and market disruption

Internal analysis

  • Organizational culture and core values
  • Strengths and weaknesses
  • Core competencies
  • The value chain
  • Operational effectiveness

Financing strategy

What is competitive advantage?

  • Delivering unique value
  • Differentiated competencies

Business level strategies

  • Low cost
  • Differentiation
  • Value innovation
  • Market segmentation
  • Pricing as a strategic lever
  • New product and new market development

Functional level strategies

  • Operational excellence
  • Quality optimization
  • Technology as a competitive advantage
  • Innovation strategy

Strategy in a global context

  • Market expansion
  • Value chain optimization
  • Risks of conducting international business

Corporate level strategies

  • Horizontal and vertical integration
  • Strategic alliances and joint ventures
  • Strategic outsourcing
  • Diversification
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Restructuring

Sustaining competitive advantage

  • Barriers to imitation
  • Capability of competitors
  • Industry dynamism

Analyzing strategic alternatives

  • Marginal costs and revenues
  • Adding or dropping products and services
  • Customer profitability analysis
  • Investment decision analysis
  • Scenario planning

Strategy implementation

  • Alignment of tactics with long-term strategic goals
  • Change management
  • Strategy deployment, including challenges and prioritization
  • Linking strategy to the strategic financial plan
  • Forecasting financial statements and organizational performance
  • Financing for growth
  • Characteristics of a successful strategic management process

Risk management

  • Risk analysis
  • Mitigating risks
  • The role of enterprise risk management (ERM)

Strategy measurement and organizational performance

  • Evaluation and control
  • Balanced scorecard
  • Strategy map
  • Benchmarking
  • Reporting results

Governance, social responsibility, and ethics

  • Agency theory
  • Role of the Board of Directors
  • Role of the CEO and the CFO
  • Incentives
  • Organizational structure
  • Ethical decision-making
  • Social responsibility

Certified Management Accountants Hold positions ranging from staff accountant to CFO on the basis of their expertise and training in strategic planning knowledge for current or future roles.

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