For Hannah, studying towards her CIMA qualification was never just about career progression. It became a personal goal driven by determination, resilience, and a desire to achieve something meaningful during one of the most difficult periods of her life.

After years of balancing full-time work alongside her studies, Hannah officially became CIMA qualified in 2026. Her journey wasn’t straightforward, but with support from Kaplan, family, friends, and fellow learners, she pushed through every challenge to reach the finish line.

Discovering a passion for accountancy

Hannah’s finance journey began back in school when she studied accounting and achieved her AAT Level 2 qualification in 2016.

“I always enjoyed maths, but accountancy wasn’t always the plan,” she explains. “I really enjoyed the AAT course at school, so I decided to continue studying it at A-Level.”

That decision led Hannah to study Accounting and Finance at university, where she graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in 2022. Alongside full-time work, she continued progressing through her CIMA studies until finally qualifying earlier this year.

Switching to FLP during a difficult time

Partway through her studies, Hannah’s circumstances changed dramatically when her mum became seriously ill with cancer.

“I encountered a lot of issues during my studies as my mum fell quite poorly with cancer a couple of years ago,” Hannah says. “That’s the reason I switched to FLP – I wanted to ensure I was able to get qualified before anything happened to her.”

Balancing work, studying, and caring responsibilities was incredibly challenging.

“It was a tough few months of working full time whilst studying and also caring for my mum, but I got there in the end.”

For Hannah, the flexibility and structure of the Finance Leadership Programme (FLP) helped her regain confidence and continue progressing.

“I started to feel more confident with FLP because there was more support across the course, which allowed me to understand things thoroughly and ask questions where needed.”

“The support from Kaplan was amazing”

Throughout her studies, Hannah says the support she received from Kaplan made a huge difference.

“All the tutors are helpful and ensure you understand everything,” she says. “Alongside that, the support team checked in on me every week to see how I was getting on. I can’t fault Kaplan at all.”

Although Hannah expected CIMA to be difficult, she admits nothing could have prepared her for the emotional challenges she would face during her studies.

“With the support of my friends, family, and the Kaplan team, I was able to pull through. It just took a little longer than expected.”

Finding support from classmates

One of Hannah’s biggest pieces of advice for other learners is not to study alone.

“I had a WhatsApp group chat with my class - we all got through it together, right up to exam day,” she says. “If you ask a question, chances are someone else will know the answer and be able to help.”

She also recommends completing as many past papers as possible and using revision cards to reinforce key topics.

“My family would test me regularly to make sure everything stuck!”

“All the hard work and late nights were worth it”

Passing her final Strategic Case Study (SCS) exam was an unforgettable moment.

“Passing my final SCS exam was the best feeling I’ve ever experienced,” Hannah says. “Alongside my PER being approved, it was a huge relief to know that all the hard work and late nights were worth it in the end.”

Achieving the qualification represents far more than passing exams.

“It shows me that I persisted throughout the last few years, despite genuinely worrying I’d never complete CIMA when my mum got cancer. I’m proud of myself for achieving this milestone despite the issues I faced along the way.”

Looking ahead

Now fully qualified, Hannah is focused on gaining hands-on experience to build the next stage of her finance career.

She recently started a new role at Farrat, where she plans to develop her management accounting experience before progressing into a management accountant position in the future.

“I focused on my CIMA studies to qualify for my mum,” she says. “Now I’m ready to gain experience alongside the qualification and progress myself further.”

Inspired by Hannah’s journey?

Whether you’re just starting out in accountancy or looking for a more flexible way to continue your studies, Kaplan’s CIMA courses are designed to support you at every stage of your career. Explore our range of study options, including FLP, and take the next step towards becoming CIMA qualified.