If you are studying the CIMA qualification, you’re able to get a really good job even if you haven’t completed all 16 of the exams.
You can also study while you work, which is a definite benefit. Here are a few roles you can do while studying the different levels of the qualification.
Certificate in Business Accounting level jobs
This is the first level of the CIMA qualification and upon completion you will receive the Certificate. These papers are BA1, BA2, BA3 and BA4. Below are a few jobs that you could expect to be eligible for whilst studying.
Sales Ledger Clerk - responsible for processing invoices and making sure that every penny owed to a company is accounted for and invoiced. You could expect to earn around £22,000† per year.
Accounts Assistant - providing administrative support to accountants, undertaking clerical tasks such as typing, filing, making phone calls, handling mail and basic bookkeeping. You could expect to earn around £21,000* per year.
If you choose to study the Professional qualification at each level there are three objective test subjects - Performance, Financial and Enterprise. These subjects are then consolidated at each level with a case study exam.
Professional Operational level jobs
Financial analyst - work in banks, pension funds, insurance companies, and other businesses. Financial analysts provide guidance to businesses and individuals making investment decisions. You would have to be able to assess the performance
of stocks, bonds, and other types of investments. You could expect to earn around £36,000* a year in this role.
Junior Financial Analyst - responsible for assisting senior analysts in various accounting and financial management duties. Depending on the structure of the organisation, a junior financial analyst may be part of the accounting or finance
department. You could expect to earn around £23,000* per year.
Professional Management level jobs
Fund Accountant - responsible for keeping all aspects of fund accounts in order for the business. Work includes creating financial reports, controlling transactions and tracking yields and interest. You could expect to earn around £45,000*
a year in this role.
Financial Accountant - responsible for budgeting, performing internal audits and managing tax payments, amongst lots of other duties. You would be a point of contact and authority for managers. You could expect to earn around £38,000*
per year in this role.
Management Accountant - interpreting financial data, and making informed strategic decisions that benefit the business. You might be working on monthly management accounts, year-end accounts, profit and loss reports, analysing balance
sheets, budgets and forecasting. You could expect to earn around £40,000* a year in this role.
Strategic Professional level jobs
Financial Controller - responsible for overseeing the preparation of financial statements and ensuring insightful data from the reports. Must also verify the authenticity of financial reports, regulatory compliance and analysis of financial
data. You could expect to earn around £55,000* per year in this role.
Financial Manager - a varied role, depending on the organisation you work for. If the business is larger, then the role could be more about strategic analysis, but in a smaller organisation a finance manager might be more involved in
the collection and preparation of accounts.
Other responsibilities could be management and development of junior staff, being the point of contact for audits, both internal and external, and reporting actuals to management. You could expect to earn around £49,000** a year in this role.
Do any jobs offer CIMA study support?
Many companies offer their employees funding support and mentorship whilst they are studying towards a CIMA qualification. Support is available for a range of roles from graduate trainee accountant to part-qualified and assistant management accountant.
If you’re taking the employer-funded route, you can typically invoice your employer for your course or apply for an apprenticeships programme.
Want to start your CIMA journey, or thinking about your next steps? Find out more.
†Totaljobs.com salary checker 2019
*Indeed.com average salary checker 2019
**Reed.co.uk average salary checker Nov 2019