Explore CIMA Qualification
About CIMA
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants – CIMA
CIMA is the world’s leading & largest professional body of Management Accountants with 218,000 members and students in 177 countries. It is an international qualification that enables applicants to make a career that is recognised worldwide.
A Global Profession: (Joint Qualification by CPA )
AICPA, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and CIMA, two of the world’s most prestigious accounting bodies, have established Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) as the most valued, globally recognized management accountant designation. On becoming CIMA Members you are automatically entitled to the CGMA Designation.
What do CIMA Members do?
CIMA members are qualified to work across an organization i.e. their role goes beyond finance. Because in addition to strong accounting fundamentals, CIMA teaches strategic business and management skills to:
• Analyse information for business decisions.
• Formulate business strategy to create wealth and shareholder value.
• Identify and manage risk
• Apply accounting techniques to plan & budget.
• Communicate and explain the trends, numbers and charts to
non-financial managers
Learn the best of Finance, Costing & Management ( CA , CWA & MBA)
CIMA Syllabus has been divided into three pillars: Enterprise Pillar, Performance Pillar, Financial Pillar.
CIMA is the world’s leading & largest professional body of Management Accountants with 218,000 members and students in 177 countries. It is an international qualification that enables applicants to make a career that is recognised worldwide.
A Global Profession: (Joint Qualification by CPA )
AICPA, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and CIMA, two of the world’s most prestigious accounting bodies, have established Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) as the most valued, globally recognized management accountant designation. On becoming CIMA Members you are automatically entitled to the CGMA Designation.
What do CIMA Members do?
CIMA members are qualified to work across an organization i.e. their role goes beyond finance. Because in addition to strong accounting fundamentals, CIMA teaches strategic business and management skills to:
• Analyse information for business decisions.
• Formulate business strategy to create wealth and shareholder value.
• Identify and manage risk
• Apply accounting techniques to plan & budget.
• Communicate and explain the trends, numbers and charts to
non-financial managers
Learn the best of Finance, Costing & Management ( CA , CWA & MBA)
CIMA Syllabus has been divided into three pillars: Enterprise Pillar, Performance Pillar, Financial Pillar.
- Enterprise Pillar provides you with the necessary knowledge and skills related to management with the help of subjects such as marketing, organizational behaviour, project management, technology, strategic planning and so on . Such knowledge and skills are typically taught in an MBA course
- Performance Pillar prepares you with the necessary knowledge needed in areas such as cost planning, budgeting, pricing, decision-making and so on. Such knowledge is typically gained by doing professional course such as the CWA.
- Financial Pillar prepares you with the necessary knowledge needed in areas such as IFRS, group accounting, business valuation, corporate finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, regulatory reporting and so on. Such knowledge is typically gained by doing professional course such as the CA.
Some of the roles performed by CIMA members are:
| Business Analyst | Forensic Accountant | Financial Controller |
| Director of IT | Group Treasurer | Project Manager |
| Management Consultant | Director of business planning | Financial Manager |
| Director of Operations | Director responsible for change | Chief Finance Officer |
Entry Route for CIMA Qualification:
To become CIMA Qualified, one has to clear 17 exams. CIMA Global offers different pathways for completing the CIMA Professional Qualification. Undergraduates have to take 17 exams while MBA/CA/CWA/PGP MA have to take 5 exams to become a CIMA member.
| Qualification | Exams | Duration (Approx) |
| 12th passed | 17 Exams | 3 years |
| Graduate from non-commerce stream | 17 Exams | 3 years |
| Commerce graduate | 12 Exams | 2 years to 2. 5 years |
| CA/MBA/CWA/ Proschool - PGP MA | 5 Exams | 1 year |
Note: To get exemption from Operation and Managerial Level exams, CA/MBA/CWA/PGP-MA candidates have to clear Gateway Assessment Exam
| Entry Route | Exam Name | Duration & Award |
|---|---|---|
Entry Level (Anyone with age 16 or above to write this level first, before she/he moves to the Operational Level) Exempt for Bcom/BBA,CA/CWA/MBA/PGP MA | BA1: Fundamentals of Business Economics BA2: Fundamentals of Management Accounting BA3: Fundamentals of Financial Accounting BA4: Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law | Duration: 6 months Award: Certificate in Business Accounting |
Operational Level (Anyone with Bcom/BBA has to write this level first , before she/he moves to the Managerial Level) Exempt for CA/CWA/MBA/PGP MA | E1: Organizational Management P1: Management Accounting F1:Financial Reporting and Taxation Operational Case Study Exam | Duration: 6 – 9 months Award: CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting |
Managerial Level (After clearing the Operational level exams, everyone has to write this level first , before she/he moves to the Strategic Level) Exempt for CA/CWA/MBA/PGP MA | E2: Project and Relationship Management P2:Advanced Management Accounting F2: Advanced Financial Reporting Managerial Case Study Exam | Duration: 6 – 9 months Award: CIMA Advance Diploma in Management Accounting |
Strategic Level (Everyone has to write Strategic Level Exams to become CIMA members) | E3: Strategic Management P3: Risk Management F3: Financial Strategy Strategic Case Study Exam | Duration: 6 – 9 months Award: CIMA Membership (After meeting 3 years practical experience requirement |
Employers’ choice – Globally
CIMA Professional qualification is a passport to a global career because it is highly valued by employers. It is held in high esteem in 176 countries around the world and is in great demand because of its strategic and managerial focus. Nearly 4500 companies have become training partners of CIMA. A few of them are:
| Sector | Companies |
| FMCG | Procter Gamble, Unilever, Nestle, Pepsi co, Coca Cola, Telco, Kellogg’s |
| Banking & Finance | KPMG, Deloitte, PWC, E& Y, Barclays, HSBC, Morgan Stanley, RBS, Deutsche Bank, American Express |
| Information Technology | Accenture, IBM, Cisco, Siemens ,Capgemini |
| Automobile | Ford, Airbus, Rolls Royce |
| Other | Shell, BP, British Airways, Sony, Vodafone, Xerox |
Salary of CIMA members in India:
Program Syllabus
CIMA Syllabus is divided into three pillars. The three pillars represent specific areas of knowledge. The content of each pillar develops as you move up the qualification.
The Enterprise Pillar
The Enterprise Pillar deals with the formulation of strategy and its effective implementation.
The Performance Pillar
The Performance Pillar uses the tools and techniques of management accounting and risk management to ensure that the formulated strategy is realistic and to monitor its implementation.
The Financial Pillar
The Financial Pillar focuses on the financial accounting and reporting obligations of the organization.
The subjects in each learning pillar are designed to be sequential - from operational to strategic level. It will encourage a progressive development of your knowledge, techniques and skills.
The Levels
The syllabus is also divided into three levels of achievement. You will progress from the operational level to the management level and finally to the strategic level.
At each level you study subjects across the three pillars.
The Operational level
The operational level has a short-term focus. It covers the implementation of strategy, as well as reporting on the implementation of strategy.
The Management level
The management level has a medium-term focus. It translates the strategy decided at higher levels, and communicates it to lower levels for implementation.
It monitors and reports on the implementation of strategy, and ensures corrective action is taken when required.
The Strategic level
The strategic level has a long term focus. It concentrates on making strategic decisions and providing the context in which those decisions will be implemented.
For more details visit: http://www.cimaglobal.com/
The Enterprise Pillar
The Enterprise Pillar deals with the formulation of strategy and its effective implementation.
The Performance Pillar
The Performance Pillar uses the tools and techniques of management accounting and risk management to ensure that the formulated strategy is realistic and to monitor its implementation.
The Financial Pillar
The Financial Pillar focuses on the financial accounting and reporting obligations of the organization.
The subjects in each learning pillar are designed to be sequential - from operational to strategic level. It will encourage a progressive development of your knowledge, techniques and skills.
The Levels
The syllabus is also divided into three levels of achievement. You will progress from the operational level to the management level and finally to the strategic level.
At each level you study subjects across the three pillars.
The Operational level
The operational level has a short-term focus. It covers the implementation of strategy, as well as reporting on the implementation of strategy.
The Management level
The management level has a medium-term focus. It translates the strategy decided at higher levels, and communicates it to lower levels for implementation.
It monitors and reports on the implementation of strategy, and ensures corrective action is taken when required.
The Strategic level
The strategic level has a long term focus. It concentrates on making strategic decisions and providing the context in which those decisions will be implemented.
For more details visit: http://www.cimaglobal.com/
About IMS Proschool
- IMS Proschool along with Parent organization has trained more than 3 lakhs candidates for different competitive exams and professional course such as CFA, CFP, CIMA, CPA etc
- Proschool has trained more than 20,000 employees of different finance organizations on Financial Analysis, Wealth Management, Financial Planning, Equity Research, Management Accounting etc.
- Proschool is the official learning provider of CIMA
- Success Ratio: Pass success ratio of IMS Proschool for CIMA Exams is 75% which is way above global average of 50%.
CIMA FAQ'S
Financial Accounting is concerned with recording business transactions in the books of accounts in such a way that the operating result of a particular period and financial position on a particular date can be known.
Cost Accounting relates to collection, classification and ascertainment of the cost of production or job undertaken by the firm.
Management Accounting relates to the use of accounting data collected with the help of financial accounting and cost accounting for the purpose of policy formulation, planning, control and decision making by the management.
Cost Accounting relates to collection, classification and ascertainment of the cost of production or job undertaken by the firm.
Management Accounting relates to the use of accounting data collected with the help of financial accounting and cost accounting for the purpose of policy formulation, planning, control and decision making by the management.
Comparison of CIMA with other professional qualifications: CFA, CWA, CA, MBA Finance
Most accounting qualifications such as CA, CWA prepare candidates for private practice, financial reporting, audit and tax issues. In contrast, CIMA prepares you for a career in business.
CIMA prepares you to work across an organisation, not just within finance. Since, in addition to strong accounting fundamentals, CIMA teaches strategic business and management skills.
CA takes more than 4 years to complete the qualification and the passing rate is about 5% per level where as CIMA takes approximately 2-3 years to complete and the passing rate is about 40 to 50%
CA is recognised in India whereas CIMA is recognised in more than 176 countries
More than 1 lac CA in India where as number of CIMA members is growing and current number is less than 500.
Moreover many companies across the world are managed by CIMA members, that is why many companies are looking for CIMA members in India as well.
CIMA prepares you to work across an organisation, not just within finance. Since, in addition to strong accounting fundamentals, CIMA teaches strategic business and management skills.
CA takes more than 4 years to complete the qualification and the passing rate is about 5% per level where as CIMA takes approximately 2-3 years to complete and the passing rate is about 40 to 50%
CA is recognised in India whereas CIMA is recognised in more than 176 countries
More than 1 lac CA in India where as number of CIMA members is growing and current number is less than 500.
Moreover many companies across the world are managed by CIMA members, that is why many companies are looking for CIMA members in India as well.
Both CWA and CIMA are Management Accounting qualifications. ICWAI gives more focus on Costing and Finance Accounting whereas CIMA also focus on Management Accounting along with strategic business, costing and Management Skills. CWA is an Indian Qualification whereas CIMA in an international qualification with more than 195000 members in 176 countries. In terms of passing rate, CWA passing rate is 5% whereas the passing rate in CIMA is between 40% and 50%.
CIMA focuses on Business which includes Management, Costing & Financial Accounting whereas focus of ACCA is more on auditing and accounting work. CIMA members are across the globe where as ACCA members are concentrated in the UK.
Both CWA and CIMA are Management Accounting qualifications. ICWAI gives more focus on Costing and Finance Accounting whereas CIMA also focus on Management Accounting along with strategic business, costing and Management Skills. CWA is an Indian Qualification whereas CIMA in an international qualification with more than 195000 members in 176 countries. In terms of passing rate, CWA passing rate is 5% whereas the passing rate in CIMA is between 40% and 50%.
Both the qualifications will offer better job opportunities in the Indian job market. CFA was introduced in India before CIMA, Which is why many opportunities are Open for them in the job market. But at the same time, more than 20,000 candidates are writing CFA exams in India which is intensifying the competition for them in the job market. While in CIMA, jobs are not restricted to Financial Services Sector, many European and US based companies such as Vodafone, KPMG, Ford Motors, Pepsico, Accenture, WNS are hiring CIMA members in India. But due to few numbers of CIMA members in India, many of these companies are not able to fulfill their requirements.
Passing percentage of CIMA is between 45% and 60%, whereas for CA it is 10% and CWA it is 5%. The reason for higher percentage of passing in CIMA is the exam pattern. In CA/CWA exams, if you are unable to clear a subject in a group then you have to write all the exams of that group. Whereas in CIMA, if you are unable to clear a subject in a group, then you have to write the exam for that subject only instead of the entire group.
If you are getting admission in the top 20 Bschools in India, then you should go ahead with it. If not, then you can plan for CIMA or PGP Management Accounting because it will offer you more rewarding career oppurtunities than an MBA in Finance from other colleges . For more details you can check below:
Global Recognition: CIMA Professional Qualification is recognized in 176 countries across the world and nearly 4500+ top recruiters across the world have hired CIMA members in the last year. These give CIMA an edge over most of the MBA programs in India. Moreover, after completing CIMA, members get joint qualification by CPA as well.
Fees: The fees for CIMA qualification (Rs.1 lac to 1.8 lac) is low compared to the MBA course fee. Moreover, many of the candidates find job opportunities while pursuing CIMA.
Salary: The average salary of the CIMA Professional is very high compared to MBA graduates. Most CIMA professionals get an average salary Rs.12 lac.
Professional vs Management qualification: The big difference between CIMA and any MBA is that a CIMA qualified member is entitled to call himself/herself a qualified management accountant. This is not the case with an MBA since it is a management qualification.
Knowledge and skills: CIMA qualified members across the world are at par in terms of knowledge acquired. However, with the MBA many different institutions offer courses and hence the knowledge and skills levels are highly variable.
Job opportunities: With more than 2 lac MBA grads coming in every year, MBA graduates have no edge over other candidates. While CIMA being a new emerging qualification that offers mutli-dimensional skills, gets various job opportunities in India. Moreover, MNCs prefer CIMA or CPA candidates in India over other professional qualifications for jobs in the field of Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Auditing etc.
Passing percentage: In an MBA Program, 85% of the students complete the course, while in CIMA the passing percentage is between 40 to 60%. But the passing percentage of CIMA qualification is way above the passing percentage of CA & CWA which is below 6%.
Syllabus: The syllabus of CIMA is more rigorous & comprehensive than that of an MBA. CIMA syllabus includes the best of CA, MBA and CWA. The CIMA Syllabus has been divided into three pillars: Enterprise Pillar, Performance Pillar, Financial Pillar.
Enterprise Pillar provides you with the necessary knowledge and skills related to management with the help of subjects such as marketing, organizational behaviour, project management, technology, strategic planning and so on . Such knowledge and skills are typically taught in an MBA course
Performance Pillar prepares you with the necessary knowledge needed in areas such as cost planning, budgeting, pricing, decision-making and so on. Such knowledge is typically gained by doing professional course such as the CWA.
Financial Pillar prepares you with the necessary knowledge needed in areas such as IFRS, group accounting, business valuation, corporate finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, regulatory reporting and so on. Such knowledge is typically gained by doing professional course such as the CA.
Global Recognition: CIMA Professional Qualification is recognized in 176 countries across the world and nearly 4500+ top recruiters across the world have hired CIMA members in the last year. These give CIMA an edge over most of the MBA programs in India. Moreover, after completing CIMA, members get joint qualification by CPA as well.
Fees: The fees for CIMA qualification (Rs.1 lac to 1.8 lac) is low compared to the MBA course fee. Moreover, many of the candidates find job opportunities while pursuing CIMA.
Salary: The average salary of the CIMA Professional is very high compared to MBA graduates. Most CIMA professionals get an average salary Rs.12 lac.
Professional vs Management qualification: The big difference between CIMA and any MBA is that a CIMA qualified member is entitled to call himself/herself a qualified management accountant. This is not the case with an MBA since it is a management qualification.
Knowledge and skills: CIMA qualified members across the world are at par in terms of knowledge acquired. However, with the MBA many different institutions offer courses and hence the knowledge and skills levels are highly variable.
Job opportunities: With more than 2 lac MBA grads coming in every year, MBA graduates have no edge over other candidates. While CIMA being a new emerging qualification that offers mutli-dimensional skills, gets various job opportunities in India. Moreover, MNCs prefer CIMA or CPA candidates in India over other professional qualifications for jobs in the field of Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Auditing etc.
Passing percentage: In an MBA Program, 85% of the students complete the course, while in CIMA the passing percentage is between 40 to 60%. But the passing percentage of CIMA qualification is way above the passing percentage of CA & CWA which is below 6%.
Syllabus: The syllabus of CIMA is more rigorous & comprehensive than that of an MBA. CIMA syllabus includes the best of CA, MBA and CWA. The CIMA Syllabus has been divided into three pillars: Enterprise Pillar, Performance Pillar, Financial Pillar.
Enterprise Pillar provides you with the necessary knowledge and skills related to management with the help of subjects such as marketing, organizational behaviour, project management, technology, strategic planning and so on . Such knowledge and skills are typically taught in an MBA course
Performance Pillar prepares you with the necessary knowledge needed in areas such as cost planning, budgeting, pricing, decision-making and so on. Such knowledge is typically gained by doing professional course such as the CWA.
Financial Pillar prepares you with the necessary knowledge needed in areas such as IFRS, group accounting, business valuation, corporate finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, regulatory reporting and so on. Such knowledge is typically gained by doing professional course such as the CA.
Student Reviews
 | Anusha Upadhya, Audit Assistant, Deloitte: At just 21, Strategic Level sophomore Anusha is witnessing the change in how CIMA has helped her to bag a role as an Audit Assistant in top-ranked Big 4, Deloitte. | “CIMA qualified professionals has a global acceptance, promises out of the box solutions and in-depth tactical insights. This is why employer encourages to take up CIMA course.” |
 | Jaspreet Kaur Virdee, Manager, Genpact: Jaspreet is a ACMA, CGMA ad has been a member of CIMA for the last two and a half years. She works in Genpact at Managerial position. | “My family is proud to have a CIMA qualified person. I have helped them in making various financial decisions. Many of my acquaintances seek guidance as they too would like to walk on this successful path.” |
 | Divya Bhaskaran, Operations Manager, Capgemini Business Services: Divya is a CGMA qualified professional (ACMA) working in Capgemini as Operations Manager. Although she has qualified as a CIMA member in 2009, the degree has helped her to scale new heights in every assignment she takes up. | “In the year 2010, when I was promoted to Operations Manager and had to handle a team of 62 members, I put to use all that I had learnt during CIMA studies. It has helped me rise through the managerial ranks and enhanced both technical as well as soft skills making me a more competent manager.” |
 | K. R. Muthu Manickam, Vice President, HDFC Bank: K. R. Muthu Manickam is a qualified ACMA, CGMA and has been a CIMA Member for the past 13 years. He explains how the qualification has helped him in ascending through new positions and situations. | “CIMA commands respect in the accounting fraternity and has provided me with good skill sets to navigate through challenging situations. Apart from the analytical skills and the ability to produce value to the organization by interpreting the analytics, CIMA provides the vital orientation to convert all this” into an appropriate presentation material to make an impact”. |
 | Shivatanu Banerjee, Assistant Vice President, Deutsche Bank: Shivatanu Banerjee, Assistant Vice President, Deutsche Bank has been a CIMA member for 3 years. He showcase how CIMA helps in striking the perfect balance. | "I decided to pursue CIMA course as it ensures a perfect balance between core financial reporting subjects and financial analysis subjects. It also brings in conceptual clarity related to different managerial levels and related functions and operations. Finally, it gave me a sense of pride and achievement, because I had obtained an international qualification of great repute." |