CMA USA Part 1 Syllabus – Financial Planning, Performance & Analytics

CMA USA Part 1 Syllabus – Financial Planning, Performance & Analytics

CMA USA Part 1 is your entry point to global management accounting.MCQs are your main emphasis because they account for the majority of scoring.  Even with mediocre essay performance, passing is virtually guaranteed if you properly answer 70+ multiple-choice questions CMA USA Part 1 Syllabus – Financial Planning, Performance & Analytics.

CMA USA Part 1 Overview

Official Title: Financial Planning, Performance and Analytics 

Duration: 4 hours (3 hours MCQs + 1 hour Essays) 

Total Marks: 500 points (scaled) 

Pass Mark: 360/500 (72%) 

Question Format: 100 MCQs + 2 Essays

Complete Topic Breakdown with Weightage

Section A: External Financial Reporting Decisions (15%)

Understanding how businesses disclose financial information to external stakeholders is important.

Topics Covered:

• Financial statements preparation and presentation

• IFRS vs US GAAP differences (basic)

• Revenue recognition principles

• Inventory valuation methods

• Long-lived asset accounting

• Financial statement analysis basics

Focus Areas:

• Revenue recognition (ASC 606)

• Inventory methods (FIFO, LIFO, Weighted Average)

• Depreciation methods

• Basic IFRS differences

Study Time: 20-25 hours

Section B: Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting (20%)

The significance of basic management accounting lies in the fact that it helps organizations predict and plan for future performance.

Topics Covered:

• Strategic planning process

• Budgeting techniques and approaches

• Annual operating budget preparation

• Top-down vs bottom-up budgeting

• Zero-based budgeting

• Forecasting techniques

• Variance analysis

Focus Areas:

• Master budget preparation

• Flexible budgeting

• Variance analysis (favorable/unfavorable)

• Rolling forecasts

Study Time: 30-35 hours

Section C: Performance Management (20%)

Why It Matters: Measuring and improving organizational performance—crucial for FP&A roles.

Topics Covered:

• Cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis

• Marginal analysis

• Pricing decisions

• Transfer pricing methods

• Balanced scorecard approach

• Responsibility accounting

• Key performance indicators (KPIs)

Focus Areas:

• CVP calculations (break-even, target profit)

• Transfer pricing (cost-based, market-based, negotiated)

• Balanced scorecard framework

• Segment reporting

Study Time: 30-35 hours

Section D: Cost Management (15%)

Why It Matters: Understanding how costs behave and how to manage them effectively.

Topics Covered:

• Cost terminology and concepts

• Cost behavior patterns

• Cost allocation methods

• Activity-based costing (ABC)

• Target costing

• Life-cycle costing

• Job order vs process costing

Focus Areas:

• ABC system design and implementation

• Overhead allocation

• Joint cost allocation

• Process costing with FIFO/weighted average

Study Time: 25-30 hours

Section E: Internal Controls (15%)

Why It Matters: Understanding how organizations prevent fraud and ensure accuracy.

Topics Covered:

• Internal control frameworks (COSO)

• Risk assessment and management

• Control activities and procedures

• IT general and application controls

• Fraud detection and prevention

• Ethics in accounting

Focus Areas:

• COSO framework components

• Segregation of duties

• Authorization and approval controls

• IT control principles

Study Time: 20-25 hours

Section F: Technology and Analytics (15%)

Why It Matters: Data analytics, systems, and developing technologies are all necessary for modern banking.

Topics Covered:

• Information systems basics

• Data analytics fundamentals

• Data governance and security

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems

• Business intelligence and reporting

• Emerging technologies (AI, RPA, blockchain basics)

Focus Areas:

• Data analytics tools and techniques

• ERP system benefits

• Data visualization principles

• Cybersecurity basics

Study Time: 20-25 hours

Strategic Study Plan for Part 1

Month 1: Foundation Building

• External Financial Reporting (Week 1)

• Cost Management (Week 2-3)

• Internal Controls (Week 4)

Month 2: Core Topics

• Planning & Budgeting (Week 1-2)

• Performance Management (Week 3-4)

Month 3: Modern Topics + Practice

• Technology & Analytics (Week 1)

• MCQ Practice - 1,000 questions (Week 2-3)

• Essay Practice + Mocks (Week 4)

High-Weightage Focus Areas

Must-Master Topics (Appear in Every Exam):

• CVP analysis and break-even calculations

• Variance analysis (all types)

• Transfer pricing methods

• Activity-based costing

• Master budget preparation

• Balanced scorecard

• COSO framework

Common Preparation Mistakes

• Spending equal time on all sections 

• Focus 60% time on Planning, Performance, Cost (carry 55% marks)

• Ignoring Technology & Analytics as "easy" 

• This section is scoring but needs conceptual clarity

• Memorizing formulas without understanding 

• Understand application—exams test scenarios, not definitions

How Coaching Helps with Part 1

Part 1 has significant calculation-heavy topics. CMA USA classes provide structured learning with:

• Step-by-step formula explanations

• 500+ worked examples

• Topic-wise doubt clearing

• Pattern recognition for MCQs

At iProledge, our CMA USA online classes and offline coaching cover Part 1 in 50+ hours of live sessions, plus 30+ hours of self-practice guidance.

Ready to master CMA USA Part 1? 

• Call: +91-9019810080 

• Visit: www.iproledge.com 

• Kengeri | Malleshwaram | Basavanagudi, Bengaluru

Join iProledge, the best in Bengaluru for CMA USA, and conquer Part 1 with confidence!