Keep your options open with CIMA

Still don’t know what you want to be when you grow up? You’re not alone. About one in three graduates end up being “mismatched” to the jobs they find after leaving university, 2018 research by Universities UK suggests.

Meanwhile, the Great Resignation in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic is seeing many workers rethink their career choices. A survey by PwC revealed that almost a fifth of UK employees expect to leave their current job in the next 12 months, seeking better pay and job satisfaction.

Whether you’re just starting out or want to switch jobs, but aren’t exactly sure what to do next, CIMA is the professional qualification you need. Here’s how CIMA can help you stand out and progress your career on your terms.

Keep your options open with CIMA

1. Not just for aspiring management accountants

We’ll let you in on a secret: the CIMA qualification isn’t just for people who want to be management accountants. Surprised? CIMA student Jake Bird explains:

“Management accounting is an important tool in the box to have because, at its core, it’s about learning how companies and organisations work. You get a broad understanding of business strategy and the importance of analytics.”

You see, with CIMA, you’ll get to grips with core skills that are relevant to pretty much any career in business. Employers see those CGMA letters after your name as a kind of hallmark of an experienced business professional. It proves you’ve met a certain standard and can meet whatever challenge comes your way.

2. Any sector, any industry

CGMAs don’t just work in finance teams. You’ll find them all over business – popular roles include strategy, project management, management consultant, and business analyst, to name just a few.

You won’t be pigeon holed into working for big corporate companies, either. CGMAs work in companies you might not expect, from the Red Cross to ASOS to Liverpool Football Club, Brewdog and more.

“I have many different roles within different projects. For example, I was part of a team that designed the operating model for a charity and then, a few months later, I was part of a cost reduction team at a global energy company.”

Hiren Shah, ACMA, CGMA, Senior Consultant

3. Open to anyone, at any stage in your career

Unlike many professional qualifications, there’s no barrier to entry with CIMA. You can start straight from school or college, no degree necessary. Or, if you’ve been working for a few years and want to level up your skills, CIMA is the ideal qualification to complement your day-to-day work. We’ve got lots of flexible study options to fit it in around your other commitments.

4. Real-life business skills

Everything you learn with CIMA will be relevant to an actual real-life work setting. No theorising here, thanks very much. It’s why CIMA is such a brilliant study option if you’re already working: you’ll have the opportunity to apply what you learn on the job, benefitting both your employer and your own progression through the qualification.

5. Future focussed qualification

OK, so we can’t tell you what the future will hold. But we can make sure you’re ready for it – and equip you with the skills to shape it yourself.

We carried out our own research into what the future of finance holds, surveying over 5,500 CIMA members, 2000 organisations. The result? A composite picture of what the finance function in a digital world looks like.

The research made us realise that it’s imperative that CIMA members not only possess sound technical and financial skills, but also understand how digitalisation is fundamentally changing business models. Our updated CIMA Professional Qualification syllabus takes all of this into account.

Now, when you finish your CIMA studies, you’ll be able to influence, lead and craft strategies creating value and long-term sustainability.

Keep your options open with CIMA

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