Two new IMA certificate programs are now available for finance professionals to learn sustainable business practices and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I).
Both new IMA certificate programs include a cumulative assessment where participants can earn a professional certificate and digital badge, the accountancy body said.
“The certificate programs serve as a type of training for all professionals, specifically for senior leaders who need to get up to speed on both areas, and for future leaders to see that they are making a difference,” said Jackie Oppenheim, CPTD, CAE, vice president, education and career services at IMA. “Achieving these certificates demonstrates to employers a level of competence and understanding of how these two areas affect the accounting and finance function, and the ability to contribute too.”
The IMA Sustainability Business Practices Certificate will give participants the basics about sustainable business practices, how they relate to current issues the world is facing, and how all of it will impact financial processes and strategic directions moving forward, IMA pointed out.
The program — consisting of six courses — covers topics including the demystification of ESG matters, partnering for the integration of sustainability in business, and strategies, planning, performance, monitoring, and reporting in a sustainable business environment, IMA added.
The IMA Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Practices Certificate will give participants the tools and practices to foster a DE&I environment, IMA said.
The program — consisting of five courses — features interactive exercises that demystify DE&I, reveal the overlap between DE&I and sustainability, and illustrate ethical imperatives to champion DE&I initiatives within the accounting and finance profession, the accountancy body noted.
The content is based on IMA’s thought leadership and research publications, IMA said.
Finance professionals who are interested in details of the two new IMA certificate programs can visit https://bit.ly/3fr38pd (sustainability) and https://bit.ly/3BV3sUr (DE&I), according to the accountancy body.
