CIMA |

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants® — or CIMA® —is a multinational membership body of more than 580,000 professionals. 
CIMA is committed to advancing the accounting and finance profession and increasing related career opportunities for people of all backgrounds and in every corner of the world.
In 2017, we joined with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants® (AICPA®) and further expanded our global reach. In addition to HQ hubs in England, Malaysia, and the United States, offices are located across Europe, Africa, and Asia. CIMA members and CGMA® candidates (plus AICPA members and CPA candidates) live and work in 150 countries and territories.

Your networking and career opportunities are on a global scale because AICPA and CIMA have come together. Conferences and other community-building events are held online so you don’t have to travel to learn from thought leaders or to network with finance experts.

Plus, CIMA creates an engaging environment for students. There are peer groups, a Study Support Team, and on-demand resources — an onboarding guide, pre-seen materials, exam success best practices, and wellbeing tips — all in one location: the CGMA Study Hub.

After completing your studies, you become a CIMA member with continued access to exclusive guidance and specialized resources — continuing professional development, research, articles, conferences, social events, job postings, career advice, and, of course, a massive global network.

You’re invited to join this powerful network of management accountants.

The first step towards CIMA membership: Register with CIMA to study for the Chartered Global Management Accountant® (CGMA®) designation.

Management accountancy goes far beyond budgeting. When you study with CIMA, you develop the analytical skills and critical thinking abilities needed to meet the demands of global economies.
Knowledge of financial data — plus business acumen — makes you invaluable to organisations of all sizes and in all industries, including fashion, sport, tech, and entertainment.
Companies everywhere need data-driven insights for strategic decision-making, and leaders look to management accountants to be their trusted advisers and finance business partners.

Once you’ve earned the CGMA designation, you’ll be prepped for a promising role in the finance function. And with the CGMA designation on your CV, you’ll stand out with prospective employers.

If you’re starting your career in finance or if you’re keen to advance during your mid-career to a more fulfilling role, CIMA has the tools you need.
To reflect the growing demand for finance professionals to apply critical-thinking skills, CIMA’s CGMA syllabus has evolved to emphasise finance business partnering and applied problem-solving. 
CIMA prepares students for finance roles focused on global economies, innovation, and sustainability. 
When you study with CIMA, you cultivate in-demand skills — advanced finance, leadership, digital transformation, and data analytics — areas that require human cognitive ability and won’t be replaced by machine automation.
The CGMA curriculum is different from other accounting qualifications because it focuses on business and finance. Learning materials and exams are structured across three progressive levels: Operational, Management, and Strategic. 

Problem-based scenarios and case study exams are embedded in the three levels, culminating in a forward-thinking and strategic mindset in students (a.k.a. CGMA candidates). And each level’s coursework is built upon three pillars: 

• Enterprise: Leading and managing the organisation.
• Performance: Driving business performance with data-driven insights.
• Financial: Reporting and protecting financial resources.

FYI, you are not required to have prior accounting experience or education to begin studying with us. 
If you’re new to the field of finance, no worries. You would begin your studies with CIMA with the Certificate in Business Accounting course — exclusively designed for people with little to no accounting background. 

On the other hand, if you already have accounting experience or education, CIMA acknowledges hard work and dedication and provides exemptions to give credit where credit is due. Your previous experience and qualifications would be factored in determining your entry point into the CGMA syllabus and your eligibility for exam exemptions. Explore the exemption calculator below.

All pathways follow the same robust CGMA curriculum; the pathways are simply structured a bit differently so you can choose which is best for your lifestyle.

• The CGMA Finance Leadership Program is fully online, allowing you to learn in an interactive manner and complete embedded knowledge assessments (objective tests) whenever and wherever you like. You complete the case study exam at the end of each level during the specified timeframe.
• Self-Tailored Learning Pathway allows you to set your own pace and choose from various tuition options. You study nine subjects and sit an objective test for each, followed by a case study exam at the end of each of the three levels.
• CIMA’s Apprenticeships (available in England only) provide on-the-job learning: You study for a Level 4 or Level 7 apprenticeship, depending on your employer. Per the CGMA curriculum, you complete the case study exam at the end of each level during the specified timeframe.

With all pathways and throughout the entirety of your studies, you’ll be supported by a cohort of students and dedicated staff.

Earning the CGMA designation unlocks career opportunities.

Picture yourself in five years’ time. Are you working on a small team for a local business? Or perhaps in the finance department of your favourite football club? 

In every scenario, you can apply your CIMA-honed skills to transform data into strategic insights that guide leadership’s decision-making. The finance function underpins a business’s success and, with the CGMA designation, you’ll be able to analyse data to improve business performance.  

Starting salaries for CIMA members tend to be around £54,000 with a rise to upwards of £93,000 as they progress in their career.

Helpful hints and tips from CIMA members on how to build your career in management accounting.