CIMA Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

The syllabus is split into three pillars and three levels, and comprises 12 exams: nine objective tests, and three case studies.

The content of each pillar develops as you move up the qualification. The pillars are interlinked to provide a consistent body of knowledge. They are designed to cover a range of useful business areas in addition to finance. These are:

• Enterprise: how to formulate and effectively implement strategy.
• Performance: how finance helps in formulating and effectively implementing strategy .
• Financial: how to prepare and interpret financial statements to make decisions.

Assessment

Objective tests: You take nine key assessments (the objective tests) on demand and via computer with results available immediately. This will give you more flexibility with how you plan your way through the qualification. You can choose to sit your assessments the moment you feel you are ready. There’s no need to follow a rigid test schedule. As soon as you pass, you can move on to the next objective test.

Case studies

CIMA case studies, available four times a year, focus on the key skills employers have asked for.

Case study assessments consolidate the learning at each CIMA level (operational, management, strategic) to reflect real-life work situations. They are also taken via computer but marked in person by our examiners.