CMA Strategic Leadership Program (SLP)

2008 Strategic Leadership Program Information and Application

After successfully completing the Entrance Examination, candidates progress through the two-year Strategic Leadership Program concurrent with full-time employment.

This dynamic program focuses on how innovative enterprises conduct business in contemporary society. It explores and applies the practices these enterprises adopt to succeed in a highly volatile and competitive global environment. By focusing on business processes, CMA’s Strategic Leadership Program equips the prospective CMA with the strategic management capabilities demanded by today’s leading enterprises.

The program’s content represents the best practices employed by successful enterprises to achieve market dominance. An organization’s competitive growth strategies – whether it’s introducing new methods, modifying existing ones, or eliminating products or services depending on market opportunities – are the foundation of the program.

The Strategic Leadership Program is presented in two phases, each integrating the six functional competencies and four enabling competencies.

Functional Competencies

• Strategic Management
• Performance Measurement
• Performance Management

• Financial Resource Management
• Risk Management and Governance
• Financial Reporting

Enabling Competencies

• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Leadership and Group Dynamics
• Professionalism and Ethical Behaviour
• Communication

Year One is the Development Phase and will consist of three modules. Cases will be assigned for each module and will focus on different industry sectors including manufacturing, services, government and not-for-profit. The majority of the assessments in this phase will be individually-based.

Upon completion of the Strategic Leadership Program Development Phase, candidates will be required to write the CMA Case Exam. This four-hour exam will test a candidate’s understanding of the competencies and the higher order skills of strategic thinking, analysis, integration, judgment and written communication introduced thus far in the program.

This exam will be offered twice per year, in May and August.

Candidates will then enter the Application Phase of the Strategic Leadership Program. Fostering group development as well as focusing on communication, leadership, decision making, ethics and problem solving skills will be at the core of this three-module Phase.

The final evaluation component of the Strategic Leadership Program remains the CMA Board Report. Here candidates will demonstrate, both orally and through a written submission, their mastery of the knowledge and competencies to join the profession – and become Certified Management Accountants.

At the heart of the Strategic Leadership Program are interactive sessions during which candidates exchange views and experiences on program aspects under the guidance of experienced moderators. Each of the program modules includes a two-day interactive session. Candidates also complete a series of individual and group management projects applying the concepts to their own organizations.

Only those individuals who have successfully written and passed the CMA Entrance Exam may submit this package for consideration. If you have recently written or are planning on writing, please review the application process before you receive your entrance exam results.

Please note if you are writing part one of the Entrance Exam in June, you must have received notification from our office about your eligibility to apply to the SLP before submitting the package to the CMA Alberta office. Notification of eligibility will be mailed in mid-July. If you are eligible for the Strategic Leadership Program commencing in September, please submit the application and practical experience report (PE report) linked below.

Please note: you will have to download these files

Strategic Leadership Program application form
Practical Experience Report
2008-2010 Schedule A
2008-2010 Schedule B

What are the requirements for practical experience?

See the full description of our practical experience requirements.

Questions?

If you have further questions, please contact Sara Blanchard , Coordinator, Strategic Leadership Program, by phone at 403.269.5341 or 1.877.CMA.2000.

Please note that, due to the provincial focus of the accreditation process, all inquiries about the SLP in Alberta must be directed to CMA Alberta. If you need to contact another CMA Canada-affiliated jurisdiction, view the CMA provincial and territorial offices list.