The CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting and the CIMA Professional Qualification are aimed at preparing students for a career as a Chartered Management Accountant, and the course is structured in such a way that knowledge and skills will be acquired in a logical order. The modules that are studied as part of a CIMA course are designed to prepare students for each of the required exams.

The CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting is usually the first step to becoming a Chartered Management Accountant, unless you qualify for an exemption from this course. It serves as an introduction to business and accounting studies, and students that have completed the Certificate may be granted entry into the CIMA Professional Qualification programme.

The CIMA Professional Qualification consists of 4 levels. The 4 levels must be completed in the order given, but the exams (papers) within the levels can be completed in any order. The list below sets out the topics covered in each exam.

CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting

The CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting consists of the following modules:

• Fundamentals of Management Accounting

• Fundamentals of Financial Accounting

• Fundamentals of Business Mathematics

• Fundamentals of Business Economics

• Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law

CIMA Professional Qualification: The 4 Levels

1. Operational Level

   • Paper E1: Enterprise Operations

     1. The Global Business Environment

     2. Information Systems

     3. Operations Management

     4. Marketing

     5. Managing Human Capital

   • Paper P1: Performance Operations

     1. Cost Accounting Systems

     2. Forecasting and Budgeting Techniques

     3. Project Appraisal

     4. Dealing with Uncertainty in Analysis

     5. Managing Short Term Finance

   • Paper F1: Financial Operations

     1. Principles of Business Taxation

     2. Regulation and Ethics of Financial Reporting

     3. Financial Accounting and Reporting

2. Managerial Level

   • Paper E2: Enterprise Management

     1. Strategic Management and Assessing the Competitive Environment

     2. Project Management

     3. Management of Relationships

   • Paper P2: Performance Management

     1. Pricing and Product Designs

     2. Cost Planning and Analysis for Competitive Advantage

     3. Budgeting and Management Control

     4. Control and Performance Measurement of Responsibility Centers

   • Paper F2: Financial Management

     1. Group Financial Statements

     2. Issues in Recognition and Measurement

     3. Analysis and Interpretation of Financial Accounts

     4. Developments in External Reporting

3. Strategic Level

   • Paper E3: Enterprise Strategy

     1. Interacting with the Competitive Environment

     2. Change Management

     3. Evaluation of Strategic Position and Strategic Options

     4. Implementation of Strategic Plans and Performance Evaluation

   • Paper P3: Performance Strategy

     1. Management Control Systems

     2. Risk and Internal Control

     3. Review and Audit of Control Systems

     4. Management of Financial Risk

     5. Risk and Control in Information Systems

   • Paper F3: Financial Strategy

     1. Formulation of Financial Strategy

     2. Financing Decisions

     3. Investment Decisions and Project Control?

4. Test of Professional Competence in Management Accounting (T4 Part A and Part B)

   • T4 Part A

     • Initial Professional Development – Work Based Practical Experience

   • T4 part B

     • Case Study Examination

CIMA Exemptions | CIMA vs ACCA | CIMA Syllabus 2013 | ACCA