Certified Accounting & Advisory Specialist™

Become a Certified Accounting & Advisory Specialist™ (CAAS™)

Step Into Advisory and Deliver Real Business Impact

The Certified Accounting & Advisory Specialist™ (CAAS™) certification from the Institute of Business Advisors (IBA) equips Client Accounting & Advisory Services (CAS/CAAS) professionals to deliver insight, speed, and strategic value. If you manage monthly close, reporting, or outsourced accounting — and want to level up into pricing, forecasting, dashboards, and advisory — CAAS gives you the playbooks, tools, and confidence to lead with impact.

—— ✧ —— ✧ —— ✧ ——

Why Choose the CAAS Certification?
• Do Work That Matters: Move beyond data entry and close cycles into reporting, insights, and advisory that influence business decisions.
• Designed for CAS Professionals: Ideal for CAS directors, controllers, senior bookkeepers, and outsourced accounting leaders ready to elevate their role.
• Practical and On-Demand: Real workflows and applied learning that translate immediately into better results for clients — no fluff.
• Boost Firm Profitability: Productize services, control scope, and expand higher-margin advisory revenue while streamlining delivery.
• Advisor Skillset Included: Pricing, dashboards, forecasting, KPIs, and VCFO-lite services your clients will gladly pay more for.
• Stackable and Career-Elevating: CAAS counts toward advanced IBA designations like CBAV and CBGA — your bridge into broader advisory acumen and leadership.

—— ✧ —— ✧ —— ✧ ——

What You’ll Learn (Core Modules)

1. The Modern CAS Operating System: Service scope, client tiering, SLAs, close calendars, internal controls, and quality review checkpoints.
2. Tech Stack & Automation: Cloud GL platforms (QBO/Xero), AP/AR automation, payroll, expense management, bank feeds, integrations, AI-assisted and workflows.
3. Financial Reporting & Dashboards: Month-end reporting packages, KPI design (cash runway, gross margin, working capital), dashboard storytelling, and insights delivery.
4. Cash, Budgeting & Forecasting: 13-week cash visibility, rolling forecasts, scenario planning/modeling, and “what-if” advisory conversations.
5. Pricing, Packaging & Profitability: Fixed-fee bundles, scope management, change orders, capacity planning, and CAS P&L profitability.
6. Client Advisory & Communication: Advisory meeting agendas, quarterly business reviews (QBRs), one-page executive insights, action log tracking, and change influence with business owners.

—— ✧ —— ✧ —— ✧ ——

Who Should Enroll?
• CAS/CAAS Directors & Managers: Standardize delivery, increase margins, and scale a stronger advisory book of business.
• Controllers & Senior Bookkeepers: Move beyond the close — deliver insights, dashboards, and proactive client recommendations.
• Outsourced Accounting & vCFO Firms: Productize services, improve operational efficiency, and expand higher-margin advisory offerings.
• Rising Professionals: Build repeatable, promotable skills that accelerate your career into advisory promotions and leadership.

—— ✧ —— ✧ —— ✧ ——

Your Path to Certification

To earn the CAAS designation, learners complete a streamlined path of 12 on-demand courses through IBA’s LMS:

1. Complete the CAAS Core: Finish all 6 CAAS modules (self-paced) and score 70%+ on each quiz.
2. Build Your Advisory Foundation: Complete “Becoming a Business Advisor” — the cornerstone course strengthening advisory identity, communication, and strategic value — with a 70%+ quiz score.
3. Add Electives for Depth: Choose any 5 IBA business-related electives from the IBA Core Courses library to expand your advisory acumen and toolkit, scoring 70%+ on each quiz.
4. Maintain Membership: Keep active IBA membership in good standing to hold your credential.

—— ✧ —— ✧ —— ✧ ——

Built-In Advisory Toolkit Included

Every CAAS learner receives full access to IBA’s MBA-in-a-Box™ — our on-demand advisory toolbox and learning hub. This includes practical tools, business insights, and real-world resources to help you elevate client value faster.

In summary, your CAAS journey is backed by a 24/7 library of business ideas, case studies, and actionable tools — plus complimentary enrollment in all IBA Core Courses.

Move from knowing to doing — with support you can access anytime.