Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

WHY CIMA

CIMA is a leading membership body that offers a globally recognised professional management accounting qualification.
CIMA qualified management accountants have an excellent understanding of finance and business. They use this to shape the future of their organisations. They have a broad business perspective, and excellent employment opportunities around the world.

CIMA works with some of the world’s leading employers and course providers to educate, qualify and support first-class financial managers. With its emphasis on strategic business skills, a CIMA qualification widens your career options, in and outside of finance.
CIMA is the only accountancy body that focuses primarily on business needs.

As a CIMA chartered management accountant, you’ll be at the forefront of business planning, strategy and change across the sectors - industry, commerce, and the public sector and not-for-profit organisations. A CIMA qualification will give you fantastic career prospects and high earning potential. It could be your passport to global employment opportunities.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

The CIMA professional qualification will help accelerate your career. CIMA will give you the skills to succeed at the most senior levels. The skills you develop through your CIMA study will give you a lot of choice in your career. You'll be able to work in a wide range of industries and sector. Members work in diverse areas like business analysis, management consulting, operations management and project management to name a few. Many of the world's top finance directors and chief executives are CIMA members.

EXEMPTION AND ACCELERATED ROUTES

You may be eligible for some exemptions from the CIMA exams if you have studied a relevant qualification.
Please note that exemptions are a concession and are only awarded at CIMA's discretion. You can study for the CIMA qualification even if you don't have a relevant qualification. However, you should have a good standard of English and maths.

You can find out if your qualification exempts you from some of CIMA’s exams by running a search for your qualification at .

EXAM PROCESS

This area contains all the information you need to know in order to enter and sit CIMA’s exams.

CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting Exams

At this level exams are held by computer-based assessment at CBA centres. They may be taken at any time of year.
CBA papers are GBP40 each and each exemption at this level is also GBP40.

Professional qualification: Managerial, Strategic and TOPCIMA exams

CIMA holds two paper-based exam sittings a year, in May and November.
If you wish to sit Managerial level exams, for the May exam diet you must complete all Certificate level computer-based assessment (CBA's) by 1 March.
To enter for Strategic level you need to have completed Managerial level. To sit the TOPCIMA exam you need to have completed and passed all three Strategic level papers.
Exam entry takes place online:
February to mid-March for May exams
August to mid-September for November exams
External Exam Fee: (payable by the students themselves to CIMA)

Managerial papers are:
GBP65 each
Strategic level papers are:
GBP70 each
TOPCIMA is:
GBP89

Certificate in Business Accounting (Level 1)

Fundamentals of Management Accounting
Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
Fundamentals of Business Mathematics
Fundamentals of Business Economics
Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law

Managerial level (Level 2)

This level is made up of six subjects:
Paper P1 Management Accounting Performance Evaluation
Paper P2 Management Accounting Decision Management
Paper P4 Organisational Management and Information Systems
Paper P5 Integrated Management
Paper P7 Financial Accounting and Tax Principles
Paper P8 Financial Analysis

Strategic level (Level 3)

Strategic level focuses on key strategic issues and business practices.
This level is made up of three subjects:
Paper P3 Management Accounting Risk and Control Strategy
Paper P6 Management Accounting Business Strategy
Paper P9 Management Accounting Financial Strategy