The Mentor Plus® CSPM* Program
*Certification in Strategic Performance Management
Program Overview
There are a number of forces that have stimulated the success of the Mentor Plus® CSPM Program.
- Traditional compliance services are a commodity and therefore difficult to compete on. As a result, many firms are looking for ways to differentiate themselves in the marketplace.
- The business community is demanding a greater level of service from accounting professionals; including integration of information from multiple sources and formatting it into a cohesive reporting mechanism that provides real-time decision support for business leaders.
- Pressure for change is also coming from regulatory agencies such as FASB and the SEC who are setting higher standards of disclosure and transparency for business reporting. The traditional approach to accounting services is simply not adequate for future reporting requirements.
- Attracting and retaining talent in a traditional CPA firm has become increasingly difficult; students and emerging accounting professionals are looking for more interesting and challenging work if they are to build a career in the profession.
These impacting forces are requiring firms to re-think and re-tool their professional development programs. The CSPM program provides a short-cut to firms who are in the process of addressing the forces outlined above.
A CSPM designee is a uniquely qualified professional who uses his/her knowledge of business performance fundamentals to improve the quality of information for decision makers and reporting bodies. In addition to mastering a number of tools and methodologies, the designee is also trained in communicating concepts so that they are relevant to business managers. Accountants who seek this designation are driven to provide superior customer service and want to help their clients avoid and plan for potential difficulties, rather than just accurately report on them once they occur.
You will find that the practitioners who have reached out to achieve this designation are among the most visible in the profession as they are firm believers in the value of the skills they possess. They might even look and sound different from others in the profession due to their excitement in offering these unique services. The CSPM designation provides a structured approach to developing the people, service delivery, partnering, mentoring, and rainmaking skills of professionals.
Certification Objective
Although there are a great many practitioners who have some experience in the area of Performance Measurement, very few have invested the time and resources to become a specialist in this field. In addition to creating a distinct differentiation between a typical accountant and a Performance Management specialist, the key benefits to a certification program are to:
- Provide a structured curriculum that encompasses the multi-dimensional aspects of business performance management and reporting.
- Set a standard of excellence in both the development and delivery of Performance Management services.
- Provide recognition to those who have made the commitment to become true trusted advisors to their clients. Establish a credential that is recognized and valued by clients and peers.
- Maintain the integrity of the credential by only awarding it to those who:
- Possess the educational and experiential pre-requisites
- Have demonstrated proficiency by way of case study submission and examination.
Ultimately, the objective of the certification program is to provide a turn-key process by which firms can provide their staff with skills they need, and the tools and resources required, to rise to the level of trusted advisor, all the while maintaining the highest level of ethical and technical standards.
Download the complete brochure