The CIMA Qualification
About CIMA
Established in 1919, CIMA is now the world’s largest leading professional body of management accountants. CIMA members and students work in a variety of roles including in industry, commerce and not for profit organisations.
In 2017, members of CIMA and AICPA formed the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants to unite and strengthen the accounting profession globally. This represents an influential network of more than 650,000 members and students in management and public accounting around the world.
Together with AICPA, CIMA established the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation which provides members with an extensive level of resources and recognition.
On completion of the CIMA qualification and becoming a CIMA member, you will be automatically entitled to use the CGMA designation as well as the CIMA designation.
To qualify as a Chartered Management Accountant you must:
- complete the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting or another exempting qualification
- complete the nine exams and 3 case studies in the CIMA Professional Qualification
- gain three years relevant practical experience.
CIMA E1 Managing Finance in a Digital World
- Role of the finance function
- Technology in a digital world
- Data and information in a digital world
- Shape and structure of the finance function
- Finance interacting with the organisation
CIMA P1 Management Accounting
- Cost accounting for decision and control
- Budgeting and budgetary control
- Short-term commercial decision-making
- Risk and uncertainty in the short term
CIMA F1 Financial Reporting
- Regulatory environment for financial reporting
- Financial statements
- Principles of taxation
- Managing cash and working capital
CIMA Operational Case Study
A case study drawing on the knowledge obtained from E1, P1 and F1.
The competency weighting is:
- Technical skills – 64%
- Business skills – 16%
- People skills – 14%
- Leadership skills – 6%
CIMA E2 Managing Performance
- Business models and value creation
- Managing people performance
- Managing projects
CIMA P2 Advanced Management Accounting
- Managing the costs of creating value
- Capital investment decision-making
- Managing and controlling the performance of organisational units
- Risk and control
CIMA F2 Advanced Financial Reporting
- Financing capital projects
- Financial reporting standards
- Group accounts
- Integrated reporting
- Analysing financial statements
CIMA Management Case Study
A case study drawing on the knowledge obtained from E2, P2 and F2.
The competency weighting is:
- Technical skills – 39%
- Business skills – 16%
- People skills – 21%
CIMA E3 Strategic Management
- The Strategy process
- Analysing the organisational ecosystem
- Generating strategic options
- Making strategic choices
- Strategic control
- Digital strategy
CIMA P3 Risk Management
- Enterprise risk
- Strategic risk
- Internal controls
- Cyber risks
CIMA F3 Financial Strategy
- Financial policy decisions
- Sources of long-term funds
- Financial risks
- Business valuation
CIMA Strategic Case Study
A case study drawing on the knowledge obtained from E3, P3 and F3.
The competency weighting is:
- Technical skills – 25%
- Business skills – 25%
- People skills – 25%
- Leadership skills – 25%
