The survey was developed by Robert Half International Inc. (RHI), a  staffing service specializing in the accounting, finance and information technology fields. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies with more than 20 employees.
 
CFOs were asked, "How valuable is it for an accounting professional's career advancement to have a certification, such as a CPA or CMA designation?" Their responses:

Very valuable 36% 
Somewhat valuable 49% 
Not at all valuable 13% 
Don't know/no answer 2%  
 
"The expanded roles accounting professionals are assuming within corporations today demand a broader understanding of business issues," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International and author of Managing Your Career For Dummies. "Accountants who acquire a professional certification enhance their expertise in areas critical to making strategic decisions, such as budgeting, financial analysis and business management." 
 
Obtaining an accreditation can also have monetary rewards. According to the 2001 Robert Half and Accountemps Salary Guide, having a certification can increase a job candidate's average starting salary by as much as 10 percent. 

Originally published March 21, 2001