Our mission
To provide a forum for research, practice development, education, knowledge sharing, and advocacy of the highest ethical and best business practices in management accounting and finance.
The IMA mission is to provide a forum for research, practice development, education, and knowledge sharing, while advocating for the highest ethical and best business practices in management accounting and finance. It serves as a global association for professionals, assisting them in expanding their skills and advancing their careers.
- Education and development: Promoting the professional growth of management accountants and finance professionals.
- Ethics and advocacy: Championing the highest ethical standards and best practices in the industry.
- Knowledge sharing: Providing resources, research, and a community for networking and professional development.
- Support for the profession: Acting as a resource for over 100 years to help members excel in their roles.
Our vision
To empower and connect business professionals to build a positive future.
Our strategy focuses on empowering and connecting business professionals to build a positive future. IMA aspires to be the go-to-source for individuals in need of relevant and timely knowledge and skills that equip them to inform and drive strategic decisions and outcomes for their organizations.
Our core values
Respect for the individual
The unique perspectives of our members, volunteers, employees, and strategic partners are celebrated and valued. We believe differences make us stronger.
Teaming to achieve
Working together is the only way we will achieve our goals. We believe collaboration, shared purpose, and mutual support will enable us to deliver more for our members.
Passion for serving members
Helping members learn, grow, connect, and succeed in their careers is our purpose. We judge our products and services based on the impact they make on members’ professional lives.
Highest standards of integrity and trust
IMA’s reputation is built on ethics and accountability. We uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct for our professional community, maintaining the credibility and trust of management accountants in society.
Innovation and continuous improvement
Evolving alongside trends in the profession, we encourage a culture of experimentation and forward-thinking. Curiosity, creativity, and learning drive our progress.
Winning aspiration
- Customer understandingWe will understand the career needs and experiences our customers seek to help them advance and reach their career goals.
- New markets and prioritized existing marketsWe will leverage our global reputation and footprint to ensure we operate in markets where IMA's value proposition resonates most.
- Partnerships and alliancesWe will partner with corporate and academic stakeholders to provide them with solutions and offerings most important to their success.
- DigitizationWe will use technology to enable greater connections and experiences with our members, communities and stakeholders.
- Career-centric product developmentWe will develop products and services aligned to the real-life career journeys of our customers.
- Seamless member experienceWe will provide our members and customers with seamless ways of interacting and transacting with IMA throughout the world.
100 years of history
For more than 100 years, IMA has been a champion of and resource for management accounting and finance professionals.
Our story is one of steady transformation yet unwavering commitment:
As we’ve progressed through each decade, we’ve never lost our mission-led purpose to uphold the profession.
The organization was established in Buffalo, New York, by a group of 37 charter members who recognized the growing need for specialized accounting practices in the industrial sector. J. Lee Nicholson, often referred to as the “father of cost accounting,” served as the first president. Over the decades, the association evolved, changing its name a few times before finally becoming IMA in 1991 to reflect the broader scope of management accounting.
NACA founded
The organization was founded as the National Association of Cost Accountants (NACA) to promote knowledge and professionalism among cost accountants and foster a wider understanding of their role in management.
CMA established
Our name was changed to the National Association of Accountants (NAA), beginning an era in which we would later develop our hallmark credential, the CMA.
IMA evolves
The organization’s name was again changed to the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), signifying our broader role as the association for accountants and financial professionals in business.
The future
Today we are known by the shorthand IMA and continue the legacy of professional excellence begun nearly a century ago.
100 Years and Counting
Statement of ethical professional practice
Governance
Accountability and transparency are the foundation of our operations. Review the official documents that establish our corporate entity and dictate our organizational procedures.
IMA Bylaws
Review the foundational rules, operational guidelines, and governance structure of our organization.
Read the BylawsArticles of Incorporation
Access the foundational legal document that formally establishes our corporation and outlines our basic structure.
Read the ArticlesGlobal Board Policies
Explore the detailed policies that guide our board's financial oversight, ethics and compliance, and chapter operations.
Read the Policies