CIMA

No need for a degree

You don’t need a degree to start a successful career after school or college. Our entry-level qualification, the CIMA Cert BA will help you build your business and financial knowledge. It’s a recognised qualification in its own right and a stepping stone to the Professional Qualification.

Skill Set

In addition to accounting and analytical skills, management accountants must also have an understanding of the organisation, its business model, its strategic context and its competitive position. They also need the people and leadership skills necessary to ensure that they apply their expertise effectively, whether it be in the form of supplying management with accounts, information, analysis or insights.

Some of the many roles which a CIMA graduate can pursue:

Accounts Assistant

As an Accounts Assistant, your duties will be broad and responsibilities may include processing invoices, credit control, bank reconciliations and dealing with and processing expense claims.

This position will give you the exposure you need to progress your career in finance to more senior positions such as Finance Accountant or Management Accountant.

You can gain the skills to succeed in an Accounts Assistant role by studying for the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting (Cert BA).

Financial Accountant

Every organisation needs an Accountant to report on their financial position. They ensure that financial planning and budget holders are provided with the most accurate information. This could include:

• Analysing general ledger transactions
• Accruals and prepayments
• Posting journals
• Variance analysis
• Balance sheet reconciliations

This position will allow you to progress to more senior positions such as Finance Manager.

Entry points for this type of role can include a graduate degree or study towards the CIMA Professional Qualification.

Management Accountant

Management Accountants need to have a good understanding of the business as well as finance, using this knowledge to interpret financial data and make informed strategic decisions. They will often work closely with and support senior stakeholders to help organisations grow.

• Monthly management accounts
• Year-end accounts
• Profit and loss reporting
• Balance sheet analysis
• Budgeting and forecasting

Gaining experience in a Management Accountant role could see you move into a position such as Financial Controller, CFO or even CEO.

The CIMA Professional Qualification has been designed to give you the right mix of skills, knowledge and experience needed to add value to organisations and drive business success.

 

Business Analyst

Business Analysts provide support to senior leadership teams for commercial decisions. They need to have excellent analytical skills to build financial models for internal customers and will often provide support for the CFO or COO. Key skills include:

• Financial modelling
• Business partnering
• Risk management

Business Analysts need to have strong management accounting skills as well as communication skills to be able to explain complex financial information in laymen's terms. Typically they will be fully qualified chartered accountants having studied a qualification such as the CIMA Professional Qualification.

 

Finance Business Partner

Finance Business Partners work alongside other business areas, supporting and advising their strategic and operational decision-making through insights that drive better business. Key skills include:

• Commercial awareness
• Communication and leadership skills
• Financial modelling
• Business analysis

As a Finance Business Partner, you can progress to more senior positions such as Finance Manager, Finance Director or Financial Controller.

Finance Business Partners need core finance skills as well as strong soft skills because the need to clearly articulate financial information in a concise and meaningful manner.

 

Management Consultant

Management Consultants advise organisations on how they might implement strategic decisions or how to improve performance. Management Consultants need to be aware of every aspect of how an organisation works. Key skills you would need in this role are:

• Commercial acumen
• Business analysis
• Project management

Management Consultants can progress to roles such as Senior Consultant, Manager or Director.

You can enter into consultancy with a relevant degree however a qualification such as the CIMA Cert BA is highly valued by employers because it teaches fundamental business and finance skills.

 

Finance Manager

The role of Finance Managers can vary depending on the organisation they are working for. In larger companies, the role may be more concerned with strategic analysis, while in smaller organisations, a finance manager may be responsible for the collection and preparation of accounts. Other responsibilities may include:

• Reporting of actuals to management
• Point of contact for internal and external audit
• Management and development of junior team members

Finance managers can move into roles such as Financial Controller or Finance Director.

A Finance Manager would typically be a fully qualified chartered accountant, having completed the CIMA Professional Qualification.

 

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

The Chief Financial Officer is part of the executive management team and requires a wide range of knowledge and experience as they develop the financial well-being of an organisation.

They would tend to be accountable for:

• Financial Planning
• Operations
• Financial information
• Risk management

You’re likely to progress into this role after gaining experience as a Financial Controller.

Aspiring CFOs will need to be qualified chartered accountants, the strategic level of the CIMA Professional Qualification teaches students how to formulate financial strategy, manage strategic relationships and identify and manage risk.