After completing your AAT qualification, the next question is often: what comes next?
Two of the most popular progression routes are ACCA and CIMA’s CGMA qualification. Both build on the knowledge you’ve gained through AAT, but they develop different skill sets and typically lead to different career paths.
Understanding how they compare — from exemptions and study structure to career outcomes — can help you choose the right direction for your goals.
Why progress from AAT to a chartered qualification?
AAT provides a strong grounding in accounting principles, financial processes, and core technical skills. Many professionals choose to continue studying to deepen their expertise and progress into more senior roles.
Moving on to a chartered qualification can help you develop:
- advanced financial and strategic skills
- broader career opportunities
- greater responsibility within finance teams
- higher earning potential over time.
While AAT can lead to roles such as accounts assistant or assistant accountant, qualifications like ACCA and CGMA open the door to positions including:
- finance manager
- financial controller
- finance business partner
- head of finance or chief financial officer (CFO).
Ultimately, the decision isn’t about which qualification is better, but which aligns best with the type of career you want.
CGMA vs ACCA: key differences explained
Both ACCA and CGMA are globally recognised qualifications, but they lead to slightly different career paths.
ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) covers financial accounting, reporting, audit, and taxation at the core. It also offers the option to study more specialised areas such as performance management, financial strategy and data science(from September 2027). It can lead to roles in both accountancy practice and industry, offering flexibility across a wide range of finance careers.
CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant) focuses on management accounting, business strategy, and decision-making within organisations, making it particularly suited to roles in industry and commercial environments.
Key differences at a glance
| Area | ACCA | CGMA |
|---|
| Focus | Financial accounting, audit, tax core, optional specialisms | Management accounting, business strategy |
| Career path | Practice and industry roles (broad roles across many areas) | Industry roles (corporate finance, business-facing) |
| Professional designation | ACCA | CGMA |
| Skills emphasis | Compliance, reporting, regulation, management and strategy | Strategic thinking, performance, decision-making |
Both are highly respected by employers and offer strong long-term career prospects.
AAT exemptions for CGMA and ACCA
One of the benefits of progressing from AAT is that you may be eligible for exemptions.
If you’ve completed the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting, you can usually skip some introductory exams:
- ACCA – exemption from Applied Knowledge
- CIMA – exemption from Certificate in Business Accounting
Exemptions can vary depending on when you completed AAT and your results, so it’s worth confirming directly with the awarding body.
Which qualification suits your career path?
Your choice becomes much clearer when you think about the type of role you want in the future.
ACCA
ACCA is a good fit if you’re interested in:
- financial reporting
- audit and assurance
- taxation
- working in an accountancy practice.
Many ACCA-qualified professionals work in accountancy firms, professional services, or financial reporting roles within large organisations.
CGMA
CGMA is better suited if you’re drawn to the strategic side of finance, including roles such as:
- management accountant
- finance business partner
- financial planning and analysis (FP&A)
- strategic finance leadership.
These roles typically involve working closely with senior stakeholders to support business decisions.
Study time, costs, and workload: what to expect
How long it takes to qualify depends on your exemptions, study method, and whether you’re studying alongside work.
Many learners study part-time and complete several exams each year. With AAT exemptions:
- ACCA typically takes around 2–4 years
- CGMA typically takes around 2–3 years
Both qualifications run exam sittings throughout the year, so planning your study schedule is important.
Kaplan course fees (accurate as of April 2026)
The cost of studying ACCA or CGMA depends on your chosen study method. Kaplan offers flexible options to suit different learning styles and schedules.
CGMA course fees
Operational
- Classroom – from £1,349
- Live Online – from £1,239
- OnDemand – from £879
- Distance learning – from £409
Management
- Classroom – from £1,499
- Live Online – from £1,369
- OnDemand – from £899
- Distance learning – from £449
ACCA course fees
Applied Skills
- Classroom – from £1,039
- Live Online – from £809
- OnDemand – from £929
- Distance learning – from £379
Strategic Professional
- Classroom – from £1,188
- Live Online – from £1,907
- OnDemand – from £979
- Distance learning – from £399
In addition to tuition, you’ll also need to budget for registration, annual membership, and exam fees set by the awarding bodies.
Start your ACCA or CGMA journey with Kaplan
Progressing from AAT to a chartered qualification can open up new opportunities and help you build advanced finance and leadership skills.
Kaplan supports learners at every stage of their ACCA or CGMA journey, with:
- classroom, live online, and OnDemand study options
- expert tutors and structured support
- comprehensive exam preparation resources from Kaplan - official CIMA publisher and ACCA Content Partner.
Whichever route you choose, the right support can make a real difference to your experience and success.
FAQs
Should I do CGMA or ACCA after AAT?
Both are strong progression routes. ACCA offers a broad route into roles across practice and industry, while CGMA focuses on management accounting and strategic roles within organisations.
Is ACCA better than AAT for career progression?
ACCA builds on the foundation of AAT and can lead to more senior roles. Many professionals progress to ACCA to expand their technical expertise.
Which is harder, CGMA or ACCA?
Both are challenging. The difficulty often depends on your strengths — ACCA is more technical, while CGMA is more strategic.
Do employers prefer CGMA or ACCA?
Both are highly valued. The preference usually depends on the role — ACCA is suited to a wide range of roles across practice and industry, while CGMA is typically preferred for business-focused and strategic roles within organisations.