Starting your career in accountancy can be a daunting task when you are choosing where you want to begin. Thankfully, with Kaplan Publishing, we offer materials for a wide range of professional accountancy qualifications, from AAT to CIMA’s CGMA. No matter which route you choose, we'll be with you on your journey.
CIMA’s (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) CGMA qualification prepares you for a successful career in management accounting. As you study, you'll develop the knowledge to lead business needs effectively. You will learn how the various aspects of business management operate and will gain leadership skills that play a pivotal role in preparing you for a key position.
You will also gain an understanding of how to adapt to new demands easily and put forward new ideas to help a business succeed, along with gaining the tools required to make forecasts that guide important decisions for business growth where you'll focus on the future, analysing data to create forecasts and guide business decisions. CIMA’S CGMA is recognised as the most relevant accountancy qualification in global finance.
CIMA’s CGMA qualification overview
The time to become fully CGMA qualified typically ranges from two to four years, depending on your prior knowledge, study pace, and personal commitments. Your previous qualifications and practical workplace experience may influence this as you may be eligible for an exemption. Those with relevant degrees or professional qualifications may receive exam exemptions.
To check your eligibility, use CIMA's exemption calculator. If you do not qualify for an exemption, don't worry alternative entry routes are available. No specific degree is required to start, making CGMA accessible to graduates from various disciplines and those without a degree.
The CGMA CGMA qualification is made up of two qualifications and practical work that you will need to complete in order to gain your CGMA designation. Typically, you will spend three to six months on each subject before sitting either an Objective Test or a Case Study exam. If starting from the Certificate level, there are 16 assessments in total. Below is a breakdown of the entirety of the CIMA course including assessments available along with estimations on times of completion for the course.
1. Certificate in Business Accounting (Cert BA)
This is a stand alone qualification, and can also serve as the entry-level qualification to CIMA’s CGMA Professional Qualification and consists of four modules:
- BA1 – Fundamentals of Business Economics: covers economic and operating context of business.
- BA2 – Fundamentals of Management Accounting: focuses on cost determination, budgeting, and performance measurement.
- BA3 – Fundamentals of Financial Accounting: deals with financial reporting and the regulatory framework.
- BA4 – Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance, and Business Law: covers ethical considerations, corporate governance, and legal aspects.
Once this stage has been completed you can then progress to the Professional Qualification state providing you had not been granted a prior exemption.
2. Professional Qualification
CIMA’s CGMA Professional Qualification is divided into three levels: Operational, Management, and Strategic (OCS, MCS and SCS). Each level includes three Objective Tests and one Integrated Case Study exam. In order to complete the full CIMA qualification you will need to pass each of the three listed levels below.
Operational Level
- E1 – Managing Finance in a Digital World: focuses on the role of the finance function and technology.
- P1 – Management Accounting: covers costing, budgeting, and short-term decision-making.
- F1 – Financial Reporting: deals with financial statements, tax, and regulatory requirements.
- Operational Case Study (OCS): integrates knowledge from E1, P1, and F1 in a practical business context.
Management Level
- E2 – Managing Performance: focuses on managing people and projects.
- P2 – Advanced Management Accounting: covers advanced costing, budgeting, and performance management.
- F2 – Advanced Financial Reporting: deals with group accounts, integrated reporting, and ethical issues.
- Management Case Study (MCS): integrates knowledge from E2, P2, and F2 in a practical business context.
Strategic Level
- E3 – Strategic Management: focuses on the development and implementation of strategy.
- P3 – Risk Management: covers risk identification, assessment, and mitigation.
- F3 – Financial Strategy: deals with financial policy, sources of finance, and dividend policy.
- Strategic Case Study (SCS): integrates knowledge from E3, P3, and F3 in a practical business context.
Discover our Kaplan Publishing materials for all four levels of your CIMA journey.
3. Practical experience requirements (PER)
In addition to passing the exams, you need to complete a minimum of three years of relevant practical experience. This experience should be in roles related to finance, accounting, or management. Upon completing these stages, you will be awarded CIMA’S CGMA Professional Qualification and can use the designation ACMA, CGMA (Associate Chartered Management Accountant, Chartered Global Management Accountant).
Study preparation, materials and resources
At Kaplan Publishing, we're your study companion throughout your CGMA journey. As CIMA’S only official publisher, all of our books and materials are reviewed and approved by CIMA. You’ll be learning and revising with the highest standard of materials crafted to align perfectly with the syllabus.
To be able to help you with your studies, Kaplan Publishing offers straightforward materials for all of CIMA’S subjects and they’re always kept up to date, ensuring you have the most relevant and effective materials at your disposal. For most subjects, you have the option to purchase these titles individually or for the best value for money you can purchase the Essentials Pack which contains the Study Text, Exam Kit, and Revision Cards, saving you money when purchasing together.
Our four core materials are:
- Study Text - understand the syllabus with clear and concise explanations.
- Exam Kit - the Exam Kit complements the Study Text, with exam-style questions that cover the fundamentals of business economics.
- Revision Cards - revision Cards outline the essential principles of business economics, and complement the Study Text and Exam Kit.
- Exam Practice Plus - ideal if you’re looking for extra question practice and exam preparation before sitting or re-sitting an Objective Test Assessment.
Are you ready to tackle CIMA’s exams with confidence?
At Kaplan Publishing, our titles are written by leading tutors with a proven track record of exam success. When embarking on your CGMA learning journey, you will be able to purchase all materials required for your study.
Interactive learning - enhance your study experience with the ability to annotate online PDFs and access a wealth of free online content, including eBooks and additional questions, all through MyKaplan.
Study flexibility - with resources optimised for on-the-go learning, including downloadable content and concise Revision Cards, you can keep progressing wherever life takes you.
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If you're ready to use Kaplan Publishing materials on CIMA’s CGMA journey, explore our materials.