CMAs Stepping Up: Profile of Gopinath Mallipatna

In conjunction with IMA’s new integrated advertising campaign, we’re spotlighting members of the CMA^® (Certified Management Accountant) community from around the world. This issue’s featured CMA is:

Name: Gopinath Mallipatna, CMA
Company name: SatSure
Title: CFO and Director
Location: Bangalore, India
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gopinath-m-41651a55/

How did you learn about the CMA and what made you decide to pursue it?

I have been associated with companies who have a global presence for the last 20 years.  Although I had acquired qualifications that are highly accepted both locally and globally, it was the additional knowledge from a global organization like IMA that was interesting to me. I found out about the CMA while I was searching for such certifications on the Internet. The urge to gain more knowledge as well as the access to the global network of IMA members impressed me to pursue this certification.

How has being a CMA added value to your career?

I have been in senior roles at multinational companies with a global presence, and as we grew, we needed to upgrade our knowledge time and again and keep pace with the latest trends in the profession. The CMA as a qualification has had a significant impact as colleagues and partners have appreciated the professionalism in which I have been able to address any issue.

Can you describe a moment in your professional career when your skills as a CMA were recognized – that you “felt seen” for your expertise and insights?

There are many such instances, but if I have to pick one, I would say it involved internal controls. I have implemented internal controls in organizations that I have been associated with using the COSO Internal Control–Integrated Framework, with the five components that include risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, control environment, and monitoring activities. The highlights and discussions about the organization’s risk and mitigation opportunities became prominent and have been appreciated.

What’s the best piece of advice you would give to CMA hopefuls?

From a cost-benefit analysis, the CMA stands out in comparison with any international/global qualifications. Your confidence levels will keep increasing as you progress towards achieving the qualification and afterwards. So, please go ahead and take a shot at it—you will never regret it.

What do you predict will be some of the biggest trends of the next 10 years for the accounting profession and how do you think the CMA has prepared you to meet them?

At various discussions—including webinars, seminars, and conferences that IMA and others have hosted—topics like data analytics, forecasting tools, data security, automation, etc., are discussed often. There’s no doubt that businesses require (a) a lot of insights derived from accounting and finance for easier and accurate decision making, (b) automation of processes such that errors are minimized, (c) tools that help businesses forecast better from the usage of Big Data, and (d) how tools and processes can be implemented to secure the data that has been generated so far. As CMAs and finance professionals, we are unique in the way we discuss, communicate with stakeholders, implement the processes, and provide guidance to ensure we are ready for the changing trends in the industry.

Please visit the IMA website to learn more about the CMA certification.