The IBA Advisory Model™
To close the business acumen gap and deliver real-world results, IBA is built around a disciplined advisory framework.
The IBA Advisory Model™ is built on three core pillars that together produce measurable business impact.
About the Institute of Business Advisors™
A professional association advancing business acumen, advisory excellence, and measurable growth through education, certifications, and a community of practitioners.
Who We Are
We help professionals become better, broader, best-in-class business advisors. We are business advisory thought leaders—innovators, educators, strategists, operators, and builders—advancing the discipline of broad-based, high-impact business advisory that blends business acumen with real-world execution know-how.
Our Members
IBA serves professionals who deliver value-added business advice across accounting, banking, consulting, law, private equity, wealth management, and corporate operations. Members use IBA to strengthen on-the-job skills, widen their advisory scope beyond a technical niche, accelerate their careers, and help companies thrive. As clients and employers increasingly demand strategic, cross-functional advisory talent, we help our members become better, broader, and best-in-class.
Membership options: Individual and Corporate.
Our Mission
To advance the discipline of business advisory by delivering rigorous business-acumen education, enabling knowledge sharing, developing practice capabilities, and championing the highest ethical and professional standards.
Our Vision
To be the leading global platform for developing, certifying, and supporting best-in-class business advisors and the organizations they serve.
Our Tagline
Accelerating Business Acumen, Advisory, and Growth™
Our Designations
The IBA is the exclusive provider of the Certified Business Advisor Professional™ (CBAV™), Certified Accounting & Advisory Specialist™ (CAAS™), Certified Business Growth Advisor™ (CBGA™), Certified Private Equity Advisor™ (CPEA™), and Certified Corporate Growth Advisor™ (CCGA™) designations — credentials that equip professionals to operate as top-tier business advisors.
MBA-in-a-Box™ Platform
A proprietary digital toolbox and learning management system powering IBA education, certifications, and professional growth.
MBA-in-a-Box™ is your One-Stop-Shop and Grab-and-Go Business Toolbox.
IBA Certifications
IBA offers a portfolio of advanced certifications designed to develop broad-based, high-impact business advisors across disciplines, industries, and stages of advisory maturity.
Certified Business Advisor Professional™ (CBAV™)
Designed for professionals in corporate roles and professional services firms, the Certified Business Advisor Professional™ (CBAV™) equips you with the skills, frameworks, and confidence to operate as a broad-based business advisor—moving beyond technical expertise to strategic impact.
Certified Accounting & Advisory Specialist™ (CAAS™)
The Certified Accounting & Advisory Specialist™ (CAAS™) equips Client Accounting & Advisory Services (CAS/CAAS) professionals to elevate their impact from compliance to insight. Designed for those managing monthly accounting, reporting, and advisory deliverables, the CAAS certification provides the credentials, confidence, and tools needed to deliver data-driven decisions and measurable client value.
![Institute of Business Advisors](https://theiba.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CBGA-certified-business-growth-advisor-promotion-image-revised.jpg")
Certified Business Growth Advisor™ (CBGA™)
Designed for professionals who advise clients or operate within an organization, the Certified Business Growth Advisor™ (CBGA™) equips you to turn strategy into results. The CBGA certification provides the playbooks, tools, and confidence needed to drive measurable revenue growth and long-term value creation.
Certified Corporate Growth Advisor™ (CCGA™)
Designed for senior business advisors, consultants, and professionals operating at the enterprise level, the Certified Corporate Growth Advisor™ (CCGA™) equips you with advanced strategies, tools, and frameworks to accelerate business growth, enhance enterprise value, and deliver results that matter.
Certified Private Equity Advisor™ (CPEA™)
Designed for private equity professionals and advisors, the Certified Private Equity Advisor™ (CPEA™) equips you to master the private equity lifecycle end-to-end—from sourcing and deal structuring to value creation and exit strategies that drive lasting enterprise value and superior returns.
MBA Certificate
Designed for professionals seeking advanced business education without the time or cost commitment of a traditional MBA, the MBA Certificate provides a practical, high-value pathway to expand business acumen and credentials through flexible, on-demand learning.
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Advisory Credential Framework for CPA Firms
To support CPA firms navigating the shift toward advisory services, the Institute of Business Advisors has developed the Advisory Credential Playbook—a practical framework that explains how advisory credentials align with advisory roles, responsibility, and firm strategy.
Credential Framework for Private Equity Firms
To support private equity firms navigating an increasingly competitive and crowded market, the Institute of Business Advisors has developed the PE Credential Playbook—a practical framework that explains how professional credentials align with deal origination, value creation, and firm-wide differentiation beyond capital.
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IBA Inside™
A firm enablement model for embedding the IBA Advisory Model™ into onboarding, upskilling, and advisory delivery—designed for organizations that want to move beyond individual training and establish a shared advisory standard across roles, teams, and career stages.
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Grow Your Business Advisory Capability
Explore high-impact capability areas inside MBA-in-a-Box™ designed to help you build practical skills across strategy, finance, operations, leadership, and growth.
Grow SKILLS
Grow your business advisory skills.
Grow NETWORK
Grow your business advisory network.
Grow TOOLS
Grow your business advisory toolbox.
Grow SELF
Grow your career and confidence.
Grow SALES
Learn top strategies to grow sales.
Grow PROFITS
Learn top techniques to grow profits.
Grow PEOPLE
Learn top strategies to grow people.
Grow PROCESS
Learn business process improvement.
Grow DIGITAL
Learn top strategies to grow digitally.
Grow STRATEGY
Learn proven and powerful strategies.
Grow M&A
Learn top tips for mergers & acquisitions.
Grow INNOVATION
Learn top ideas to grow innovation.
Grow QUICK WINS
Learn low-hanging fruit ideas and strategies.
Grow ANALYSIS
Grow financial analysis tools and methods.
Grow SOFT SKILLS
Grow your communication and soft skills.
Grow TRAINING
Access to value-added training and tools.
Top 10 Strategies for Leveraging Your IBA + MBA-in-a-Box™ Membership
Display Your Credentials: Showcase your IBA membership and certifications proudly on LinkedIn, resumes, proposals, and your company website.- Accelerate Learning On-Demand: Schedule weekly time with MBA-in-a-Box™ to explore book summaries, case studies, industry snapshots, and Insights Gallery™ intelligence.
- Build an Advisory Skillset: Work through Core Courses to advance beyond compliance — into advisory that drives revenue and impact.
- Pursue High-Impact Certifications: Earn distinctive credentials such as CAAS™, CBAV™, CBGA™, and CPEA™ to elevate your role and expand opportunities.
- Launch Internal Learning Programs: Host “Lunch & Learns,” micro-workshops, or book discussions using MBA-in-a-Box content to spread development across your team.
- Improve & Expand Services: Use insights and templates to enhance existing offerings or build new advisory programs clients will gladly pay more for.
- Share Insights with Clients & Prospects: Turn learning into influence — post ideas, lead conversations, and use content for newsletters and relationship-building.
- Enhance Leadership & Business Development: Practice communication, networking, and presentation skills using IBA frameworks and playbooks.
- Align to Personal Growth Goals: Define progress targets (e.g., 10 summaries, 5 case studies, 2 electives per quarter) and celebrate milestones along the way.
- Retain and Grow Talent: Use memberships and credentials as employee development pathways — supporting recruiting, retention, and advancement.
Top 10 Reasons Professional Service Firms Join the IBA + MBA-in-a-Box™
- Future-Proof Your Firm: Equip your team with the business acumen required for the next decade of accounting — not the last.
- Supercharge Your CAS Practice: Use the CAAS™ certification to standardize delivery, grow advisory revenue, and increase CAS margins through pricing and automation.
- Certifications That Drive Growth: Provide your professionals with stackable credentials (CAAS™, CBAV™, CBGA™, etc.) that elevate advisory skills and accelerate billable value.
- Prestige and Recognition: Align your firm with an elite business advisory association, signaling excellence to both clients and prospective hires.
- Competitive Differentiation: Stand out in a crowded market by delivering strategic insights — not just reports — powered by practical IBA frameworks.
- Enhance Client Satisfaction & Retention: Advisory-trained team members deliver proactive recommendations that strengthen client relationships and wallet-share.
- Talent Attraction + Retention: Give your rising talent a clear path to advisory leadership and advancement — reducing turnover risk.
- Continuous Professional Development: On-demand learning ensures constant upskilling across business strategy, finance, leadership, and growth.
- Flexible Learning Platform: MBA-in-a-Box™ fits real-world capacity — letting your team learn at their pace without interrupting peak workloads.
- Peer Access + Best Practices: Connect with other firm leaders transforming their business models, workflows, and advisory offerings.
Joining IBA isn’t a training expense — it’s an investment in scalable advisory revenue, stronger margins, and a future-ready business model.
Acumen. Advisory. Growth.™