Institute of Management Accountants to Speak at 'Accounting & Finance Talent Conference 2026'

The Japan Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA®), an international association of professionals in business accounting and finance (Headquarters: New Jersey, USA; Japan Chapter Co-Representatives: Yoshihiko Ishibashi, Shinya Konishi; hereinafter "IMA"), participated in the "Accounting & Finance Talent Conference 2026" held in Tokyo on July 5, 2026, with a booth exhibition and by presenting a special session.

The session, moderated by Shinya Konishi, Co-Representative of the IMA Japan Chapter, was titled "US-CMA Certification and FP&A." Panelists discussed, from their respective perspectives, the demand for Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) talent in Japan and the role of finance professionals in the age of AI.

Session Highlights

1. Demand for FP&A in Japanese Corporations and the Latest Trends in US-CMA (Speaker: Yoshihiko Ishibashi / Co-Representative, IMA Japan Chapter)

Ishibashi pointed out that among approximately 1,600 listed companies in Japan, only about 500 have executives with the title of CFO (Chief Financial Officer), and many of these executives are still limited to traditional accounting and financial management roles. He warned that the absence of FP&A, which links business strategy with finance, is a major challenge for Japanese companies.

"Japanese companies lack substantive CFOs and FP&A functions. The dominance of financial accounting over management (financial-control alignment) is a significant barrier to enhancing corporate value. At the core of management and executive roles lies the design and operation of business management processes that directly address business strategy, execute it, and increase business value."

He also emphasized the importance of rolling forecasts starting from revenue and integrated business planning, and strongly advocated for the US-CMA certification—which now allows Japanese-language exams—as a framework for developing FP&A talent.

2. IMA's Support for Management Accountants' Success in the Age of AI

(Speaker: Peter J. Dolan / Honorary Chairman, IMA Global Board of Directors)

Peter explained the impact of AI on financial functions, a topic of global interest among finance leaders. He described a future in which AI automates time-consuming tasks such as data collection and aggregation, enabling finance professionals to focus on higher-level forecasting and risk management.

"Reduce the time spent on data collection and aggregation through AI, and instead focus on understanding what the data means and making decisions. In the age of AI, what truly makes a difference is whether an organization has 'clean data and strong governance (control)' and can use AI correctly."

He emphasized that in the AI era, human judgment, ethics to filter out poor-quality data, and continuous skill development are more critical than ever, and shared that IMA provides the educational foundation for this.

3. A Career Journey with the US-CMA Certification

(Speaker: Nina Michels-Kim / Member, IMA Global Board of Directors)

Nina shared her experience building a career in FP&A and controlling within Switzerland's pharmaceutical industry. She reflected that earning the US-CMA certification while working full-time served as proof of her expertise and reliability in a global environment, leading to broader responsibilities and leadership opportunities.

"What I learned through the US-CMA was not just analyzing numbers, but the ability to interpret their meaning and connect it to management decisions. We FP&A professionals are the 'CFO whisperers'—partners who deeply understand the CFO's challenges and help drive decision-making. We play a vital role in transforming numbers and analysis into insights and bridging business and finance."

She encouraged participants by stating that FP&A is not merely a stepping stone toward becoming a CFO, but an extremely important leadership position in its own right, essential to supporting the entire organization.

Announcement of the Co-Founding of the 'FP&A Talent Forum'

At this conference, the IMA Japan Chapter announced a strategic partnership with CPA Excellent Partners Inc. and reported the co-founding of the community 'FP&A Talent Forum.' The forum will be chaired by Dr. Kunio Ito, Director of the CFO Education and Research Center at Hitotsubashi University, and will include CFOs and leaders from major domestic companies. It aims to institutionalize FP&A practices in Japanese companies and advance business management through the promotion of the US-CMA certification. For more details, please visit: https://cpass-net.jp/lp/fpna-forum/

About the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA®)

IMA® is a global organization positioned at the intersection of accounting, finance, and business strategy, establishing new standards for financial competency across the workforce and promoting better career and business outcomes. Through high-quality content from experts, industry-recognized certifications, and a global professional community, IMA provides organizations and individuals at every career stage with the knowledge, tools, and connections necessary for career development and sustained success. IMA supports forward-looking skill development through the IMA Competency Framework, continuing education, and various certifications, including CMA® (Certified Management Accountant), CSCA® (Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis), and FMAA™ (Financial and Managerial Accounting Associate). Recognized twice as 'Professional Body of the Year' by The Accountant/International Accounting Bulletin, IMA boasts a global network of approximately 125,000 members across 150 countries and over 200 professional and student chapters. Headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, USA, IMA delivers locally rooted services through six global regions: the Americas, China, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, India, and Asia-Pacific. For more information about IMA, visit https://www.imaglobal.org/. For details on the US-CMA, visit https://www.imanet.org/cma-campaign-japan.