Stefano Bianchessi only recently became a CMA^® (Certified Management Accountant), but he’s already finding value in the certification.

Stefano began his career after earning his bachelor’s degree in 2016 and his master's in business administration in 2018 from leading universities in Italy. His first professional post was at GE HealthCare in Milan, where he worked at an internship in accounts receivable and later, as an accounts receivable specialist. After about a year and a half at GE Healthcare, he was selected for the prestigious ASPIRE leadership development program at Baker Hughes, the energy technology company. As part of that rotational program, he served in several finance and accounting roles in Florence and in the U.S.

“The ASPIRE program provided me with a great introduction to FP&A, sparking my interest in that subject as well as internal controls,” Stefano said. After successfully completing the two-year rotational program, Stefano landed a position in Baker Hughes’ London office, first as a lead internal control analyst in 2021 and since 2023, as an FP&A analyst.

Stefano’s interest in earning the CMA began when he was in London. “I’d been involved in FP&A in the energy field and although I had general knowledge, I wanted to improve my understanding of the topic.” He had no interest in earning the CPA, since it didn’t apply to the work he was doing, but when he learned about the CMA from a professional colleague, it seemed like the ideal certification.

Already self-motivated and not far from his student days, Stefano found that studying on his own was the best way to prepare for the exam. He used the Wiley CMA Review materials, finding the practice exams especially helpful. He also benefitted from using the test interface to learn what the actual exam experience would be like. “I studied mostly on the weekends, given my demanding work responsibilities. My approach was to review the topics and to flag those I had trouble with. Then, I would go back and review those subjects and make sure I thoroughly understood the material. Then, I’d test myself again.”

In terms of his study schedule, Stefano was ambitious. He registered for Part 1 in October 2022 and took the exam only a few months later in January 2023. For Part 2, he registered in December 2023 and gave himself a few more months to prepare, sitting for Part 2 in June 2024.

“I definitely preferred having the longer amount of time to prepare,” he said. “Even though I passed Part 1 with only three months of studying, it was a pretty aggressive timeline. I’m glad I gave myself more time to prepare for Part 2, especially because it covered topics that I was a little more unfamiliar with.”

Looking back on the experience of preparing for the exam, Stefano’s advice for candidates is simple but insightful: “Know yourself. Try to figure out when you’re most productive, when you’re most alert, and take advantage of that knowledge. Don’t try to study at a time that isn’t good for you or that doesn’t suit your lifestyle or personal rhythms.”

Of the benefits of the certification, Stefano noted that it has made him feel more confident in his daily work. “It’s also given me more confidence in conversations with colleagues and other professionals. It’s been a good boost, and I know I’m only just beginning to see the rewards.”