The CIMA Professional Qualification is suited for anybody who wants to pursue a career in finance focusing on accounting, reporting and business strategy. It is quite different than the conventional courses which concentrate more on accounting, taxation and audit.

A CIMA is apt for you if:

1) You are looking at a management accounting career

This is a straight no-brainer just like the name suggests. If you would like to be involved in the decision making of a firm driven by your financial analysis, this course would very much appeal to you.

2) You already have an accounting / CA background

It is a great next step for a candidate already having an accounting background. The concepts learnt in CA or M.Com courses will naturally make it easier for you to assimilate and appear for the CIMA levels. The pathway for CIMA is slightly made easier for these professionals, since exemptions are granted for specific subjects. Also, it is an additional feather on their cap, that adds to their profile. CAs especially benefit greatly since CIMA also imparts management skills, along with their technical expertise. These skill sets help in leading a company as a CFO, or even if they want to start their own business.

However, if you wish to choose between the two, the candidate has to consider his requirements before making a decision, since an inclination towards an auditing profile will necessitate one to be more focused on traditional courses in India.

3) You want to improve your resume and role

This qualification proves that you have gone through several levels of study in advanced management accounting and signals to employers that you are good hiring material.

4) You want a career profile overseas

If you’re keen on pursuing a career or a job profile overseas, CIMA is apt for you, since it is globally accredited in 179 countries including India. The brownie point is that you can study for the CIMA course from any part of the world, thereby saving traveling and related course for pursuing your education abroad.

5) You want to earn while learning

You can pursue CIMA course and take up an internship in an organization. The CGMA certification requires mandatory work experience. Thus, once you’re a passout, you already have an additional edge over your peers, thanks to work experience. Also, it gives you a chance to earn while learning, and bear educational costs. This is unlike other courses, which requires dedication of 2-3 years for pursuing the course, and you cannot add work experience under your profile.