CIMA, Management Accountant, Free Courses in London School of Accountancy & Management

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (Click here to view the topper from LondonSAM)

CIMA - The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants - is a leading membership body that offers an internationally recognised professional qualification in management accountancy, which focuses on accounting for business.

As an organisation CIMA is committed to constant improvement, and our reputation as a professional and regulatory body has never been stronger.

CIMA is increasingly the first choice for students and employers. CIMA upholds high ethical and professional standards to maintain public confidence in management accountancy.

CIMA members and students must adhere to CIMA's ethical guidelines, byelaws and regulations.

Why CIMA

CIMA is the first choice for employers in the qualification and development of professional accountants in business. CIMA’s aim is for its members to drive the world’s most successful organisations. Latest research with current CIMA students has found three key reasons why they chose CIMA:

	its reputation
	its globally recognised status
	the flexibility of career options

Studying for CIMA and training to become an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA) will help you to develop the skills required to succeed in business. The CIMA Professional Qualification provides more strategy, more management accounting, more management and more project management than other professional accountancy qualifications. It will give you the key skills to succeed in your career plus the relevant experience to be a success.

CIMA members are at the forefront of some of the world’s most successful organisations. A career in management accounting will ensure that you are at the cutting edge of business decision making. It will give you the opportunity to take your career in any direction you choose. Three reasons why CIMA is the employers’ first choice:

	based on management skills;
	internationally recognised; and
	commercially relevant;

CIMA journey

CIMA isn't just a membership organisation. CIMA have a unique relationship with their students from the outset, which is long term and rewarding. Once qualified, students progress to become CIMA members. As members, you may often then look to train and recruit CIMA students or fellow members for roles within your own organisations. Becoming an employer of CIMA people also means you can reap further benefits from your association with CIMA. At each step of your journey CIMA offers you unique relationship benefits.

What's in it for you

The CIMA Professional Qualification will give you the power to help accelerate your career. CIMA is not just about getting your career off to a good start. If you're looking to rise rapidly through the ranks, CIMA will give you the skills to succeed at a senior level.

The skills that you develop through your CIMA study will give you a wide choice of career options. They will allow you to work in a range of different industries. CIMA members work in diverse areas such as business analysis, management consulting, operations management and project management to name a few. Many of the world's top Finance Directors and Chief Executives are CIMA members.

How you will be supported

Studying for CIMA will be challenging and rewarding. It requires significant commitment to your studies. You will be supported by CIMA and, if you are working, you should ask for support from your employer. As a CIMA student you will benefit from:

	CIMA’s magazine with relevant articles and study tips to help you reach your goals;
	online study resources;
	networking opportunities through CIMA’s branch network;
	discounted CIMA Mastercourses and Biz.net events to aid your professional development;
	access to CIMA’s Technical Information Service; and
	access to ethics information and guidelines.

Qualification process

The following gives information on CIMA’s qualifications and how to start your CIMA studies.

The CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting

This is CIMA’s own entry route to the Professional Qualification. If you are new to accounting then you must complete the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting before moving on. It will introduce you to the concept of management accounting and give you the basics of accounting and business. We have recently launched a new 2006 CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting syllabus - this consists of five subjects and is examined by computer based assessment.

If you have already studied a relevant qualification - such as a degree or a professional qualification in accounting or business - we may grant you exemptions from some (or all) of the five papers at the Certificate level.

The CIMA Professional Qualification provides more strategy, more management accounting, more management and more project management than other professional accountancy qualifications. It will give you the key skills to succeed in your career plus the relevant experience to be a success.

CIMA members are at the forefront of some of the world’s most successful organisations. A career in management accounting will ensure that you are at the cutting edge of business decision making. It will give you the opportunity to take your career in any direction you choose.

Life-long learning

CIMA is the first UK professional accounting body to give its commitment to promoting the life-long employability of its members as part of a life-long learning agenda. CIMA's Life-long Employability Framework is relevant to all individuals within and beyond the finance community who wish to develop competence and knowledge in financial management. CIMA offers development to everyone with differing ambitions: those aspiring to a professional qualification, members wishing to update knowledge or develop further expertise, and non-finance managers wishing to develop a secure grounding in financial management.

CIMA offers career development routes to all these individuals by providing access to life-long learning opportunities and resources. The CIMA Life-long Employability Framework supports individual requirements for continuing professional development at all levels:

	Knowledge development in key specialist areas
	CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting
	CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting
	CMA professional qualification
	Director-level training appropriate for Fellowship of CIMA

Today’s marketplace demands a qualification that is desirable by employers. CIMA qualified people bring more than basic accounting skills to the table. They have an innate sense about the future; what it will look like, the demands it will present and what it will take to achieve success. The CIMA qualification is becoming the chartered qualification of choice. CIMA has a total business focus – 99% of CIMA members and students work in business and not in accountancy practices. This has enabled CIMA to deliver a new professional qualification with double the focus of any competitor on business management and strategic management accounting. Overall CIMA provide more management, more management accounting, more project management and more strategy than any other UK accounting body.

Our syllabus is both practical and innovative. The unique blend of academic training and practical experience continues to provide employers with what they want - Chartered Management Accountants who have the leading edge skills to drive business growth. This combination perfectly matches the needs of modern organisations. Unlike other accountancy qualifications, TOPCIMA (the case study and final test of professional competence) tests for business awareness and higher level cognitive skills such as analysis, synthesis and evaluation. This requires students to take account of business, financial, ethical and human resource strategy issues – all taught through the syllabus.

There are other unique elements of the CIMA syllabus that make the CIMA Professional Qualification stand out from its competitors as the chartered qualification of choice for business. CIMA has a major focus on ethics throughout the new syllabus and CIMA is the only body to focus on interpersonal skills as a requirement of the new Professional Qualification.

For December Session your application should reach ACCA by 31 July

For June Session your application should reach ACCA by 31 January

Training

The CIMA Professional Qualification is a practical qualification and we recommend that you combine studying for CIMA with relevant employment. This will ensure that you apply your new skills in the workplace. It should also help you to progress quickly through the qualification. 68% of current CIMA students receive financial support from their employers allowing them to get the most out of their work and studies. You can work in any company and in any industry. CIMA Training is an employer recognition scheme that encourages and recognises the quality of training employers give. When looking for an employer think about the support they offer. Training towards a professional qualification is a big commitment. The support given by employers differs but often includes: financial sponsorship, study leave, mentoring and structured training programmes.

The qualification structure

To qualify as a Chartered Management Accountant you must:

	Complete the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting or another exempting qualification
	Complete the nine exams from the CIMA Professional Qualification
	Gain three years relevant practical experience and send your ‘Career Profile’ to CIMA for approval
	Pass the Test of Professional Competence in Management Accounting (TOPCIMA)

Qualification process

The following gives information on CIMA’s qualifications and how to start your CIMA studies.

Foundation Level

	C1 Management Accounting Fundamentals
	C2 Financial Accounting Fundamentals
	C3 Business Mathematics
	C4 Economics for Business
	C5 Business Law

Managerial Level

	P1 Management Accounting Performance Evaluation
	P2 Management Accounting Decision Management
	P4 Organisational Management & Information Systems
	P5 Integrated Management
	P7 Financial Accounting and Tax Principles
	P8 Financial Analysis

You will develop decision making and management skills – as well as an expertise in technical accounting matters.When you complete these subjects you will receive the ‘CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting’. Check CIMA database to see if we have accredited your degree or previous qualification. If so, you may be able to claim exemptions from some of the Professional qualification exams.

Strategic Level

The Strategic level focuses on key strategic issues and business practices. This level is made up of three subjects:

	P3 Management Accounting Risk and Control Strategy
	P6 Management Accounting Business Strategy
	P9 Management Accounting Financial Strategy

The Managerial level syllabus content may also be relevant for the Strategic level exams. For example, content in the Paper P1 Management Accounting Performance Evaluation syllabus may also be relevant in the Paper P6 Management Accounting Business Strategy exam.

You must pass all three Strategic level subjects before you can sit the TOPCIMA.

Professional Qualification in Management Accounting

This specialises in accounting for business and is recognised by employers around the world. There are three learning streams:

	management accounting
	business management
	financial management

To gain direct entry to the Professional Qualification you will need to have completed the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting. Or, if you have already studied a relevant qualification - such as a degree or a professional qualification in accounting or business subjects - you may be given exemptions from the five papers at Certificate level. This will allow you direct entry to the Professional Qualification.

Exemptions

Some qualifications may offer you exemptions and enable you to enter at an advanced stage of the syllabus. Contact CIMA for further information.

Examination Schedule

There are 2 exam sittings each year:

May

November

For May exam your application should reach the CIMA by 31st January

For November exam you application should reach the CIMA by 31st July

Entry routes

The CIMA qualifications are open to everyone. Your entry level will depend upon your previous experience. The syllabus builds step by step and you will develop your knowledge and skills as you progress through the qualifications. Our qualifications are similar in standard to undergraduate and postgraduate studies. You will need a good standard of maths and be competent in the English language before you start.

Relevant educational backgrounds

If you’ve already studied a relevant qualification - such as a degree or a professional qualification in accounting or business subjects – you may not need to sit all of our exams. In these cases you may be awarded exemptions from selected CIMA papers. To become a CIMA student you need to complete our online registration process and send certified copies of your highest level educational certificates and transcripts - details of the subjects you have studied and the marks you achieved. To certify the copies of your certificates and transcripts you will need to get a responsible person – such as your manager or a lecturer - to sign them as true copies of the originals. All certified certificates and transcripts must be in English. Please do not send original documents as CIMA cannot guarantee that these will be returned to you.

Non-relevant educational backgrounds

If you do not have any relevant qualifications you can still study for the CIMA qualifications. A significant percentage of CIMA students have not studied relevant qualifications. Many employers welcome students from a wide range of academic backgrounds and following a structured professional programme will ensure that you develop the skills required to succeed. The entry requirement for the CIMA Professional Qualification is the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting. Completing the CIMA Certificate will allow you to progress to the Professional Qualification and further develop your career.

The Certificate is assessed by Computer Based Assessment (CBA) and allows you to progress at your own rate. To become a CIMA student you will need to complete our online registration process and send certified copies of your highest level educational certificates and transcripts - details of the subjects you studied and the marks you achieved. To certify the copies of your certificates and transcripts you will need to get a responsible person – such as your manager or a lecturer - to sign them as true copies of the originals. All certified certificates and transcripts must be in English. Please do not send original documents as CIMA cannot guarantee that these will be returned to you.

Exemption

The appropriate exemptions are awarded based on comprehensive information provided by the awarding institution. Accreditation applications are only accepted from the awarding institution and not from individual students.

	Students are not able to apply for additional exemptions for an accredited decision.
	Accredited decisions are based on the most recently validated programme on offer by the institution and will not be backdated.

Policy

	Exemptions are a concession and are only awarded at the discretion of CIMA; there is no automatic entitlement to exemptions.
	We do not award exemptions for exemptions unless supported with evidence of the previous exempting qualification.

What LondonSAM can offer

The School of Accounting offers professional, bachelor's and master's degrees that provide you with exposure to the diverse and stimulating world of accounting in the 21st Century. The career tracks for graduates with an accounting degree are numerous. In today's fast-paced business environment, accounting is a critical factor for virtually every decision made in any organization. To achieve our goals, the School of Accountancy plans for, monitors, and assesses its programmes.

The mentor support will include

	personal mentor, contactable via email and telephone
	Help in choosing a business topic
	Assistance with research as the project proceeds
	Advice on preparing the Key Skills Statement

Course structure
All courses are structured to ensure that students are in the best position to pass their examinations. Classes consist of formal lectures together with practice in attempting past examination questions.
Course Material
Study Text, Lecture Notes, Handouts

Day release tuition

This course is ideal for students who plan to take a day off a week to study. The courses require one day a week only (for 11 weeks), and is likely to be the same day each week, to enable students to plan for their business and personal commitments.
Morning 10.00 am - 1.15 pm
Afternoon 2.00 - 5.15 pm

Evening tuition

If you are unable to attend the weekly classes, then the evening classes may be just right for you. Each paper is taught over 10 evenings (usually the same evening each week over a 10-week evening period).
Evening 6.15 - 8.45 pm

Revision courses
These classes are 2/3 days in duration. The course provides students with the focus and exam approach to topics that are likely to be tested in the forthcoming examination. Exam technique, presentation and time allocation are emphasised. Revision classes can be either during the week or weekends all day (no evenings).
Weekend tuition
We also offer tuition at weekends. Morning 9.30 am - 1.30 pm Afternoon 2.00 - 4.45 pm

Exemptions

You can expect to receive exemptions if: you have a relevant degree or hold a relevant professional qualification.

Benefits

The skills that you develop through your CIMA study and training will give you a wide range of career options and will allow you to work in a range of different industries. You will develop the cutting edge skills needed to drive business forward.

CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting

The first step towards becoming a Chartered Management Accountant is the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting. The qualification is open access – meaning that no previous knowledge or experience is required. It provides the ideal foundation for further study, but is also recognized in its own right. If you are studying for the Certificate in Business Accounting, you will be assessed by computer based assessment (CBA). CBA uses the computer to deliver questions and receive answers. Each of the five assessments can be taken flexibly when you are ready.

The CBA system can ensure that a wide range of the syllabus is assessed, as a pre-determined number of questions from each syllabus area (dependent upon the syllabus weighting for that particular area) are selected in each assessment. You can therefore be confident that you have a solid grounding in business and accounting in preparation for the Managerial Level subjects.

Assessment times

All assessments for the Certificate syllabus subjects are 2 hours. The pass mark for each subject is 50% and you will receive your results and Certificate of Achievement immediately after the assessment. If you are unsuccessful, you will receive feedback on your performance in the assessment.

Types of questions

Computer based assessments use objective test questions. The most common type of question is multiple choice, where you have to choose the correct answer from a list of possible answers, but there are a variety of other objective question types that can be used within the system.

These include true/false questions, matching pairs of text and graphic, sequencing and ranking, labeling diagrams and single and multiple numeric entry. Candidates answer the questions by either pointing and clicking the mouse, moving objects around the screen, typing numbers, or a combination of these responses.

To book your CBA exams online Click here