OTHER COURSES

System
System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 18 in AAT student discussion
Does anyone know the difference between the ACCA course and the CIMA course

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  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:OTHER COURSES

    Hi,

    ACCA and CIMA differneces come up on this site all the time. I know that Neil H is well-versed on this subject and maybe if he reads this post he will be able to offer better advice.

    However, I have completed ACCA and it is basically practice/industry based. It is one of those courses that interact between the two whereas CIMA is is more industry based. CIMA is more industry based (but not exclusively). I did ACCA because I work in practice and deal with both practice issues but my clients are in manufacturing, service sectors, commerce and other professional practices (e.g. Solicitors).

    The best advice I could give is to look at both body's web-sites and see which one suits you better. Look at the syllabus', exam structure and see which one suits you better. That way, you won't make any wrong decisions.

    Good luck, whichever you decide.

    Best regards
    Steve
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:OTHER COURSES

    Hi

    Did I hear my name... :lol:

    The difference between the two is probably smaller than either body or those qualified would admit. CIMA does contain more management accounting, but there is a good deal of financial accounting in there as well. Also, CIMA has more 'general business' papers, but under ACCA's new syllabus (exams start Dec 2007) this has changed slightly.

    ACCA covers a little more on technical financial accounting (i.e. financial reporting, financial statements etc) and also has audit and more tax. There is still a good proportion of management accounting topics, and under the new ACCA syllabus this has been expanded.

    Having looked at jobs I would be interested in there is equal demand for either qual (in my area at least). CIMA may be preferred in larger and bigger companies, but on the whole it's about 50/50. I started CIMA (have one paper) but am giving it up for ACCA. I find the CIMA syllabus a bit narrow for my liking and concentrating on management accounting exclusivly isn't the career for me!

    At the end of the day you have to do what you want to do as if your not happy taking what you study, you’ll probably not get through it! Also, have a good look at the work experience requirements, both require 3 years but have differences in what you need have worked on during that three years, I find ACCA's requirements more flexible. A lot of people seem to choose a qualification without giving thought to gaining the right content in their experience.

    Some say that ACCA is morw suiatbel for those that want to go self employed, However, both bodies require self employed members to hold their practising certificate before they can 'hold themselves out' as ACCA/CIMA members. CIMA have a much more flexible approach to gaining practice certificate than ACCA do, who require you to have post-qualification experience in an approved firm or business.

    Neil

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