The CIMA difference
A comparison between CIMA and
other accountancy bodies
CIMA – our relevance to business ACCA AICPA CFA CIPFA CPA (Australia) ICAA ICAEW ICAS Key points of difference
CIMA unique • Operational • Business strategy • Operational • Change management • Case study (required • Strategic risk and • Financial strategy
CIMA, the Chartered Institute of Management management • Management management • Operations for T4) control formulation CIMA’s Business Success Wheel™ illustrates the
Accountants, is acknowledged by employers as the • Change management accounting • Marketing management • Decision • Relationship characteristics CIMA believes are required for
• Marketing • Test of professional • Strategic • Test of professional management management
global quality standard in management accounting competence (T4) management competence • Organisational • Information systems
business success. The integrity of this model was
• Relationship/
with 172,000 members and students operating at project management • Organisational • Business economics • Analysis and management and strategy reinforced through testing with CIMA employers
management and law interpretation of information systems • Marketing
the heart of business in 168 countries. • Decision financial accounts • Integrated internationally, to ensure they accepted and
management • Marketing management agreed with the value of the success criteria.
CIMA’s qualification is driven by the needs of business to produce financially
• Integrated
qualified business leaders. The syllabus and examinations are distinguished management In every area of the CIMA Business Success Wheel™, CIMA’s syllabus
by their relevance to business and their dedicated focus on developing delivers more relevant competencies.
the financial, non-financial and management skills needed to sustain
CIMA provides more • HR management • Management • Accounting • Business strategy • Financial strategy • Ethics • Business strategy • Financial strategy The results of the comparison study were summarised in relation to
organisational success. emphasis • Applied management accounting techniques • Financial strategy • Management • Financial strategy • Financial strategy formulation
the competencies depicted in the CIMA Business Success Wheel™.
accounting • Business valuations • Business strategy • Risk and control accounting • Business • Applied management Management
•
CIMA appointed an independent business school to analyse the content This enables conclusions on qualification requirements to be linked
techniques and investment and management strategy • Strategic risk and management accounting accounting
of the syllabi and examinations of specified major international accounting decisions directly to their likely contribution to sustainable business success,
control • Risk techniques • Business strategy
bodies, to identify CIMA’s unique coverage and significant advantage. and provides a basis to explain how CIMA’s qualification equips its
• Applied strategic
The facts are summarised in the table across. management members for business.
The comparative research has concluded that CIMA members are better
qualified to contribute to sustainable organisational success. CIMA combines Comparator unique • Taxation of corporate • Auditing and • Accounting issues • Assurance services • A unique multiple • Taxation of corporate • Taxation of corporate CIMA’s Business Success Wheel™ content coverage by paper
and non-corporate attestation specific to the public and auditing examinations mode and non-corporate and non-corporate
the rigour of an accounting qualification with the business skills needed to The following tables provide paper by paper comparison of syllabi and examinations of major international accountancy bodies.
entities • Taxation of corporate sector • Taxation • Emphasis placed on entities entities
offer strategic advice.
• Audit and assurance and non-corporate • External audit non-examination • Audit and assurance • Audit and assurance CIMA papers Comparative coverage of elements of ACCA papers CIMA papers Comparative coverage of elements of AICPA papers
• Law (beyond Cert) entities • Taxation modes of • Law (beyond Cert)
• Research skills (using actual examinations E3, E2, E1 Strategy P3 E3, E2, E1 Strategy BEC
tax rules) • Technical matters for F3, P2, P1 Planning P4, P5, F9 F3, P2, P1 Planning BEC
public practice E3, E2, E1 Leadership P3 E3, E2, E1 Leadership REG
P3 Risk and control P4, P5 P3 Risk and control AUD, BEC
Comparator • Financial • Financial accounting • Analysis of a wide • Audit and • Corporate • Taxation and • Financial • Financial issues of P1, P2 Efficiency and effectiveness P5, F5, F9 P1, P2 Efficiency and effectiveness BEC
provides accounting/reporting and reporting for range of investments assurance governance financial reporting accounting/reporting particular relevance
F3, E2 Project management P3 F3, E2 Project management -
different emphasis • Information systems non-commercial • Asset valuation • Public finance • Professional matters • Auditing and • Assessing to professional
organisations and policy assurance professional practice E2, E1 Motivation F1 E2, E1 Motivation REG
• Portfolio • Ethical matters
• Business law management • Technical subjects competence in • Financial accounting E3, E1 Innovation - E3, E1 Innovation -
areas of professional and reporting
• Quantitative E1 Customer value - E1 Customer value -
practice
methods
• Economics CIMA coverage provides more relevant competence in at least one paper
No distinction
CIMA coverage provides less relevant competence in at least one paper
Key points of difference
CIMA’s Business Success Wheel™ illustrates the
characteristics CIMA believes are required for
business success. The integrity of this model was
reinforced through testing with CIMA employers
internationally, to ensure they accepted and
agreed with the value of the success criteria.
In every area of the CIMA Business Success Wheel™, CIMA’s syllabus
delivers more relevant competencies.
The results of the comparison study were summarised in relation to
the competencies depicted in the CIMA Business Success Wheel™.
This enables conclusions on qualification requirements to be linked
directly to their likely contribution to sustainable business success,
and provides a basis to explain how CIMA’s qualification equips its
members for business.
CIMA’s Business Success Wheel™ content coverage by paper
The following tables provide paper by paper comparison of syllabi and examinations of major international accountancy bodies.
CIMA papers Comparative coverage of elements of ACCA papers CIMA papers Comparative coverage of elements of AICPA papers
E3, E2, E1 Strategy P3 E3, E2, E1 Strategy BEC
F3, P2, P1 Planning P4, P5, F9 F3, P2, P1 Planning BEC
E3, E2, E1 Leadership P3 E3, E2, E1 Leadership REG
P3 Risk and control P4, P5 P3 Risk and control AUD, BEC
P1, P2 Efficiency and effectiveness P5, F5, F9 P1, P2 Efficiency and effectiveness BEC
F3, E2 Project management P3 F3, E2 Project management -
E2, E1 Motivation F1 E2, E1 Motivation REG
E3, E1 Innovation - E3, E1 Innovation -
E1 Customer value - E1 Customer value -
CIMA coverage provides more relevant competence in at least one paper
No distinction
CIMA coverage provides less relevant competence in at least one paper
CIMA papers Comparative coverage of elements of ICAA papers CIMA papers Comparative coverage of elements of ICAEW papers
E3, E2, E1 Strategy MA&A E3, E2, E1 Strategy Business strategy
F3, P2, P1 Planning MA&A F3, P2, P1 Planning Financial management
E3, E2, E1 Leadership - E3, E2, E1 Leadership Business strategy
P3 Risk and control MA&A, A&A P3 Risk and control Financial management
P1, P2 Efficiency and effectiveness MA&A P1, P2 Efficiency and effectiveness Financial management
F3, E2 Project management - F3, E2 Project management Business strategy
E2, E1 Motivation - E2, E1 Motivation -
E3, E1 Innovation - E3, E1 Innovation -
E1 Customer value - E1 Customer value -
CIMA papers Comparative coverage of elements of CIPFA papers CIMA papers Comparative coverage of elements of CPA papers
E3, E2, E1 Strategy SBM, L&M E3, E2, E1 Strategy BS&L, CG&A, KM, SMA
F3, P2, P1 Planning FMST (Cert), ADM F3, P2, P1 Planning FRM, SMA
E3, E2, E1 Leadership L&M E3, E2, E1 Leadership R&PP, CG&A, BS&L
P3 Risk and control A&A, FMST (Cert) P3 Risk and control CG&A, SMA, FRM, AS&A
P1, P2 Efficiency and effectiveness MA, FMST (Cert) P1, P2 Efficiency and effectiveness SMA
F3, E2 Project management L&M, FMST (Cert) F3, E2 Project management SMA
E2, E1 Motivation L&M E2, E1 Motivation R&PP, CG&A
E3, E1 Innovation L&M E3, E1 Innovation -
E1 Customer value - E1 Customer value SMA, KM
CIMA papers Comparative coverage of elements of ICAS papers
E3, E2, E1 Strategy TOPE-CS&M, BI, IBE
F3, P2, P1 Planning TOPE-MFS, TOPS-AF,
Initial Stage-BM
E3, E2, E1 Leadership TOPE-BI,
TOPE-CS&M, IBE
P3 Risk and control TOPE-CS&M,
TOPS-A&BS, AF
P1, P2 Efficiency and effectiveness Initial Stage-BM
F3, E2 Project management TOP-BI
E2, E1 Motivation TOPE-CS&M
E3, E1 Innovation TOPE-BI
E1 Customer value TOPE-CS&M, BI
CIMA is the only accountancy qualification focused solely on business. CIMA members
are financially qualified business leaders that provide meaningful analysis that helps
them – and their colleagues – make smarter decisions about the whole business.
For students and employers seeking forward thinking and value adding business
professionals, the choice is clear. Choose CIMA.
Discover more about the CIMA difference:
www.cimaglobal.com/cimadifference
Chartered Institute of
Management Accountants
26 Chapter Street
London SW1P 4NP
United Kingdom
T. +44 (0)20 8849 2251
F. +44 (0)20 8849 2250
E. [email protected]
www.cimaglobal.com/cimadifference
For a full list of CIMA global offices,
Cert no. TT-COC-002370
visit www.cimaglobal.com/country
