Chartered management accountant : Entry requirements

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1. Job description
2. Salary and conditions
3. Entry requirements
4. Training
5. Career development
6. Employers and vacancy …
7. Related jobs

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Case studies

• Trainee management accountant: Andrew
• Management accountant/finance analyst: Gemma Lewis
• Finance analyst: Richard Lockwood

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CIMA is the world's largest professional body of management accountants with 183,000 members and students in 168 countries. Management accountancy isn’t just about numbers and spreadsheets. On movie sets, at fashion labels, inside football clubs, that’s where you’ll find the CIMA Chartered Management Accountant. Find out more about CIMA qualifications.

To become a chartered management accountant you must study with a professional accountancy body, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

Although chartered management accountancy is open to graduates of all disciplines, those new to business or accounting studies must first work towards the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting, which consists of five subjects, with a computer-based assessment.

If you have a relevant degree, postgraduate or professional qualification you may be considered for exemptions from some or all of the certificate level subjects. This includes:

• degrees in accounting or business related subjects;
• those who have completed the Open University (OU)  Certificate in Accounting;
• Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)  members and students who have completed the technician/diploma level.

See the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)  for further details.

Once you have the certificate, or if you possess a qualification that makes you eligible for direct entry, you can start studying for the CIMA Professional Qualification.

Some management accountants choose instead to train with theAssociation of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) , taking the business management modules instead of audit and taxation options in the final part of their training.

Requirements made by employers may vary. Larger employers may ask for a minimum of a 2:1 from your degree, as well as high UCAS points and good levels of English and mathematics.

Firms of all sizes offer graduate schemes, which can be highly competitive as they offer learning while earning opportunities.

Although CIMA accept HND business and finance qualifications and may give some exemptions for this, many employers will not accept them. Small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) may be more flexible.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not necessary, but professional qualifications undertaken in-service are usually necessary for progression. For example, many CIMA members go on to study an MBA.

Pre-entry experience is not essential but can be highly beneficial. Experience can include vacation placements, sandwich courses or part-time employment that offers business experience. Relevant work experience may also count towards the three years necessary for CIMA's practical experience requirements.

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• commercial awareness, with an interest in business and an understanding of how an organisation works and manages resources;
• a high level of numeracy;
• ability to explain complex financial information in a clear way;
• accuracy;
• professionalism and commitment;
• excellent oral and written communication skills;
• IT proficiency;
• project management;
• strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to work with colleagues at all levels including non-finance members of staff;
• ability to work on own initiative;
• confidence to know where your expertise ends and another team member's begins;
• ability to remain impartial;
• discretion;
• a lively and enquiring mind with a logical approach to work together with analytical and problem-solving skills;
• organisational skills with the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines;
• stamina and motivation to juggle the demands of work and study.

Language skills can also be useful.

Entry to training schemes with large companies can be more competitive than with smaller firms. Large employers tend to recruit in the autumn, whereas smaller firms may recruit at any time and advertise locally. Job titles vary so keep an open mind when looking for vacancies.

When choosing a firm, look at the support given for study and the work experience offered - if you are offered a position you may need to negotiate a training and study package. Before accepting an offer, find out if anyone else within the organisation is currently studying for the CIMA qualification or has recently qualified - this will give you some idea of how committed your potential employer is to training.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.