What Is CIMA? Course Details (2025) | CIMA Course Eligibility | CIMA Course Fees | CIMA Syllabus | Salary Of A CIMA In 2025

1. CIMA Isn’t Just an Accounting Course; It’s a Blueprint for Business Leadership

Are you looking to build a career that goes beyond spreadsheets and compliance? Do you see yourself making strategic decisions, driving growth, and leading a business? If so, the CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) qualification is designed for you.

Many believe that finance qualifications are only for becoming an accountant. But as Saraf Academy’s Prakash Saraf, who has been teaching CIMA for over 17 years, puts it, CIMA is a “totally different ballgame.” He emphasizes that the goal isn’t just to land a job but to acquire future-proof skills.

“We are studying something to get skills [and] knowledge which is in demand… globally… That’s the purpose of study.”

So, what makes the CIMA course so different?

Holistic Business Acumen: CIMA trains you to be a well-rounded business leader. It delves into every function of an organization – from finance and HR to marketing, operations, and risk management. Prakash Sir personally credits his ability to manage his own business to the CIMA qualification, stating, “How to manage business, how to launch a product, how to do marketing… everything whatever I’m doing in my business that is because of the CIMA qualification.”

Global Recognition and Prestige: CIMA isn’t just a UK-based body. It’s a global powerhouse established in 1919 with a legacy of over 100 years. In a game-changing partnership, CIMA joined hands with the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants). This means when you qualify, you don’t just get one designation; you earn two:
- ACMA (Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants): Awarded by CIMA.
- CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant): A globally recognized designation awarded jointly by AICPA & CIMA, positioning you as a trusted business strategist.

Future-Proof Your Career: The curriculum is designed to be forward-thinking, covering topics and challenges businesses will face in the coming years. You’re not just learning for today; you’re preparing for tomorrow.

In short, CIMA builds you into the person the board connects with for any issue, be it regulatory or strategic. You become the businessman, the problem-solver, the leader.

2. The CIMA Difference: Real Stories, Real Results

The true value of a qualification is measured by the success of its graduates. At Saraf Academy, we’ve seen countless professionals transform their careers through CIMA. But don’t just take our word for it-listen to what our students have to say.

For the Ambitious Student: Reaching the Top of the World

Excellence is achievable with the right guidance. Take it from Shreya, who secured a remarkable achievement through Saraf Academy.

“Hi, my name is Shreya. I’ve taken the Saraf classes for the management case study in which I topped the world… It is only because of two people, Prakash Sir and Vidisha Ma’am. It’s because of their constant motivation and their never-give-up attitude that I could actually achieve this feat… If they can make me a world ranker, they can make you too.“

Shreya’s story is a powerful testament to how CIMA, combined with dedicated mentorship, can help you achieve not just a qualification, but global recognition.

For the Experienced Professional: Upskilling for Leadership

CIMA isn’t just for those starting their careers. It’s a powerful tool for seasoned professionals looking to gain a strategic edge. This is the journey of Aditi Mukherjee, Senior Vice President at Citibank.

With 17 years of experience, Aditi was looking for a global qualification to upskill her knowledge. She found many finance courses, but CIMA stood out.

“I was looking for something which is kind of a global certification… what I found CIMA to be [was a] strategic driven course and a practical oriented course.”

Aditi’s journey highlights the practical power of CIMA. Even as a busy VP, she surrendered to Prakash Sir’s guidance, did the mocks, and cleared her strategic case study exam in a single attempt. She concludes that CIMA was instrumental in developing her leadership skills.“From my career perspective, I believe that leadership skill set, looking at the big picture, [and a] very practical oriented approach in problem-solving, CIMA helped me… this global certification comes as a feather in the cap.”

3. Why CIMA Stands Out: A Practical Approach in a Technical World

In a world full of finance qualifications, what truly sets CIMA apart? The answer lies in its unique philosophy: practical application over theoretical memorization.

Prakash Sir often says that CIMA is not “bookish study.” You are not asked to mug up theories that have no relevance in the real world. Instead, the entire curriculum is built around real-world business case studies. You learn to tackle business issues, solve complex problems, and drive an organization forward-the very skills employers are desperately seeking.

Let’s break down how CIMA compares to other popular qualifications.

CIMA vs. The Rest: A Head-to-Head Comparison

4. Your Personalized Path to CIMA: Which Entry Route is for You?

One of the greatest strengths of the CIMA qualification is its flexibility. It recognizes that every professional journey is unique and offers multiple entry points based on your current education and work experience. You don’t need to start from scratch if you’ve already put in the hard work.

As Prakash Sir explains, there’s a tailored pathway for everyone, from a 12th-pass student to a C-suite executive. At Saraf Academy, we provide free, seamless assistance in identifying your perfect route and handling the CIMA registration process.

Here’s a clear breakdown of the CIMA eligibility and entry routes

Who It’s For	Entry Route Name	Key Eligibility Criteria	Exams Required
Ambitious Undergraduates	Standard Undergrad Route	12th Pass + Currently pursuing a B.Com, BBA, or related commerce degree.	3 Case Studies (OCS, MCS, SCS)
High-Achieving Undergrads	“A-Star” Program	In final year of commerce degree with 75%+ average marks in the first 2 years from a top-tier university.	1 Case Study (SCS)
Driven Graduates	Graduate Entry Route	Completed graduation in any stream (Commerce, Arts, Science) with little to no work experience.	3 Case Studies (OCS, MCS, SCS)
Working Professionals	Professional Accelerated Route	6+ years of relevant experience in any field. Your degree doesn’t matter; your experience does.	2 Case Studies (MCS, SCS)
Qualified Accountants	Professional Gateway Route	Qualified member of CA (ICAI) or CMA (India). Your technical skills are already recognized.	1 Case Study (SCS)
Senior Leaders & Executives	C-Suite / Senior Executive Route	12+ years of extensive experience in a senior role. Designed for VPs, Directors, and business heads.	1 Case Study (SCS)

5. Decoding Your Investment: CIMA Fees, Duration, and Support

Pursuing a global qualification is a significant investment in your future. It’s crucial to have a transparent understanding of the costs and time involved. Prakash Sir lays out all the figures clearly, ensuring there are no surprises.

The CIMA course fees vary depending on your entry route, primarily due to the scholarships CIMA offers to students versus the standard fees for working professionals.

Here is a summary of the investment required:

CIMA Institute fees are paid in Great British Pounds (£). The INR (₹) amount is an approximation based on a conversion rate of £1 = ₹120 and is subject to change. Fees listed for Saraf Academy are as of August 2025 and subject to revision.

Making Your Investment Easier
We understand that managing finances is important. To support your goals, Saraf Academy offers flexible payment solutions.

EMI Options: As Prakash Sir mentioned, “our fees you can go for EMI option also.” We have partnerships with financial institutions to convert your coaching fees into easy monthly instalments, requiring only basic documents for a quick approval process.

This entire investment is not just an expense; it’s a direct path to a higher earning potential and a globally respected career.

6. Launch Your Global Career: CIMA Job Roles, Salaries, and Top Employers

Ultimately, the most important question is: “What career opportunities will CIMA unlock for me?” This is where the qualification truly shines, moving you beyond traditional accounting roles into the heart of business strategy.

The scope of CIMA is vast because CIMA-qualified professionals are hired across every industry, from tech and banking to manufacturing and consulting. They are seen as strategic assets who can drive performance.

In-Demand Job Roles After CIMA
Based on research from the CIMA institute and years of seeing his students succeed, Prakash Sir lists some of the most common and high-impact roles you can step into:

Management Accountant
FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) Specialist
Finance Business Partner
Financial Analyst
Finance Manager
Risk Manager
Business Strategist

Top Companies Hiring CIMA Professionals

The CIMA and CGMA designations are a badge of quality that top global companies actively seek out. In India alone, the list of employers is a who’s who of the corporate world:

The Big Four (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG)
Global Banks (HSBC, Citibank, Barclays)
Tech Giants (Amazon, HP, IBM, Accenture, Wipro)
FMCG Leaders (Unilever)
Energy Majors (Shell, British Petroleum)
And many more, including Reliance, financial institutions, and fast-growing startups.

CIMA Salary Expectations
While salaries depend on experience, location, and role, CIMA members command highly competitive packages.

In India: CIMA affiliates and members earn handsome salaries that reflect their advanced skillset.
Globally: As Prakash Sir notes, the remuneration in regions like the Middle East, UK, US, and Canada is significantly higher, reflecting the global demand and higher cost of living.

With over 10,000 students taught, Prakash Sir has a simple message: CIMA professionals are “placed very well and they are doing very well in different types of positions in different organizations.”. Your CIMA qualification is your passport to a rewarding and influential global career.

7. Navigating the CIMA Exams: Structure, Schedule, and How to Succeed

The CIMA exams are designed to simulate real-world business challenges, which is why they are respected by employers globally. Understanding the format and knowing how to prepare is the key to passing with confidence.

Unlike traditional theory-based exams, the CIMA exam pattern is centered on a single, comprehensive case study for each level.

How Are the Exams Structured?

Pre-Seen Material: Before each exam, you’ll receive a detailed case study document, typically 25-30 pages long. As Prakash Sir describes, this document contains everything about a fictional company: “their product, their market, their competitors, their business model, their financials, newspaper articles, everything is given.”
Case Study Exam: The exam itself presents you with business problems and scenarios related to this company. Your job is not to recite textbook answers but to apply your knowledge to solve these practical issues, stepping into the role of a finance professional within that organization.
Quarterly Exam Windows: The exams are held four times a year, giving you the flexibility to plan your studies and progress quickly. A brilliant student can clear all three exams in just one year.

Exam Level	Exam Window
Operational Case Study (OCS)	February, May, August, November
Management Case Study (MCS)	February, May, August, November
Strategic Case Study (SCS)	February, May, August, November

Common Mistakes to Avoid (Directly from the Examiner’s Feedback)

Prakash Sir has spent nearly two decades analysing why students pass or fail. He highlights three critical mistakes that examiners consistently point out:

Writing General Answers: The biggest error is writing generic theory that isn’t connected to the case study. The examiner wants to know how you’ll solve the company’s problem, not just what a textbook says.
Writing Too Little: Quality is important, but if the quantity is too low, you can’t possibly demonstrate the depth of your thinking. For a 10-mark question, writing only 10-12 lines is not enough. You need to elaborate on your points properly.
Being Too Technical: Students often fall into the trap of dumping technical jargon they’ve memorized. The case study is a business problem, and it requires a practical, business-oriented solution, not just a technical data dump.

In addition to the case study exams, students following the FLP route are also required to complete certain online assignments on the CIMA Institute platform. These are linked to the three pillars at each level: before attempting the Operational Case Study, students must complete assignments for E1, P1, and F1; before the Management Case Study, assignments for E2, P2, and F2; and before the Strategic Case Study, assignments for E3, P3, and F3. These are not formal exams and do not carry a pass-or-fail outcome. Instead, they are simple multiple-choice tasks where, if you select a wrong answer, the platform prompts you to try again until you get it right. In that sense, they are more of a checkpoint to ensure you have gone through the learning material, rather than a hurdle to clear. The only exception is for C-suite professionals, who are exempt from this requirement. For all other students, however, completing these assignments is a prerequisite to sitting the respective case study exam.

Avoiding these pitfalls is a core focus at Saraf Academy, where you learn not just what to study, but how to apply it to pass the exam.

8. Your Partner in Success: Why Choose Saraf Academy for CIMA?

Choosing a mentor for your CIMA journey is as important as choosing the qualification itself. You need a guide with experience, a proven track record, and a genuine commitment to your success. This is the foundation of Saraf Academy.

When Aditi Mukherjee (SVP, Citibank) decided to pursue CIMA, her bootcamp got cancelled. She was advised to connect with Prakash Sir and said, “I literally surrendered myself that whatever sir was saying… and I cleared it in one attempt.”

Here’s why professionals like Aditi trust Saraf Academy:

Unmatched Experience & Authority: Prakash Saraf has been teaching CIMA since 2009, with over 17 years of dedicated experience. When you search for CIMA, Google recognizes this authority, placing Saraf Academy at the top globally.
A Legacy of World Rankers: The results speak for themselves. The academy consistently produces World and India Rank 1 holders, with 10-15 students winning awards every year.
Live Classes for Working Professionals: We understand you’re busy. That’s why classes are scheduled beyond office hours (e.g., 9:00 PM IST) and on weekends. And if you miss a class? No problem. “Recordings will be there with you… you don’t need to request.”
Unparalleled Personal Support: This is the Saraf Academy promise. You get direct access to Prakash Sir on WhatsApp. He personally ensures every single student’s query is answered before he sleeps, because “if I am your teacher… I think in the same line.”
The Saraf Academy Pass Guarantee: This is not just a promise; it’s a commitment.

“I am giving guarantee sir… If you don’t pass, I will teach you again without any charges. But I will not let you fail… If you study, I will not let you down to fail the exam.”

End-to-End Support: From helping you register with CIMA for free to guiding you through filling your Practical Experience Requirement (PER) form after you pass, we are with you until you earn your ACMA, CGMA designations.

https://youtu.be/9DP8wPsXAuY?si=o5QWNoN7jGE1hvlV

9. Your Future Starts Now: Take the Decisive Step

You’ve seen the power of the CIMA qualification, heard the success stories, and understood the path forward. CIMA is not a lottery ticket that guarantees instant success. As Prakash Sir says, “The lottery will be there when you will work… You need to help the organization… Then you will be earning like a lottery.”

CIMA gives you the tools, the brand, and the global recognition. Saraf Academy gives you the mentorship, the strategy, and the unwavering support to use those tools effectively.

Now, the decision rests with you.

“Decide and proceed. That’s the most important in life… This is decision making for our life. We need to decide.”

Don’t let another year go by wondering “what if?” Take the first, no-risk step towards your future as a global business leader.

10. The 360° Business Toolkit: What You Will Actually Learn in CIMA

Why does Prakash Sir say his energy level is “totally different” when teaching CIMA?

“The reason is simple. Because it’s not bookish study. It’s not technical study. It’s a pure business case study which involves… every area of a business.” (Prakash Sir)

Unlike qualifications that focus narrowly on one function, the CIMA syllabus is designed to give you a complete, 360-degree view of an organization. You’re not just learning finance; you’re learning the language of the entire business. This holistic approach ensures you can collaborate with any department, understand their challenges, and contribute to integrated, strategic solutions.

Here’s a look at the comprehensive business toolkit you will build with CIMA:

Business Pillar	What You’ll Master in CIMA
Strategic Finance	Go beyond basic accounting to master decision making, budgeting, and costing. Learn to analyze financial statements not just for compliance, but to uncover strategic insights for growth.
Human Resources (HR)	Understand the people side of the business. Learn how to manage staff, structure teams, and align human capital with strategic objectives.
Marketing & Sales	Grasp the principles of how a company positions itself, launches products, and manages customer relationships. You’ll learn to analyze marketing ROI from a financial perspective.
Risk Management	Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, financial, and market risks. This skill is crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability and resilience of any business.
Operations & Supply Chain	Learn how products are made, services are delivered, and suppliers are managed. You’ll be equipped to optimize processes for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Each of these subjects is taught through a practical lens, ensuring you understand how they connect and influence one another in a real-world corporate environment.

11. From Theory to Impact: Building the Mindset of a Business Leader

What is the single biggest problem with traditional, “bookish” knowledge?

“In practical life, bookish knowledge is not relevant. It is only relevant till the time we are giving the exam. Once we go in the practical world… we need to manage business issues, problems and… take the business to the next level.“ (Prakash Sir)

This is the core philosophy that drives the CIMA qualification. It’s not about memorizing formulas to pass an exam; it’s about building a durable, practical mindset that allows you to make a real impact from day one. CIMA trains you to think, act, and solve problems like a senior leader.

This is the job of everyone from an ambitious employee to a CEO, CFO, or business owner. The CIMA mindset helps you:

See the Big Picture: Instead of getting stuck in a single department’s silo, you learn to see how finance, marketing, HR, and operations all fit together. You can anticipate how a decision in one area will impact the others.
Connect the Dots: You develop the ability to analyze complex situations, identify the root cause of problems, and propose well-reasoned, integrated solutions that create long-term value.
Focus on Growth: The CIMA curriculum is inherently forward-looking. It trains you to think strategically about the future, identify new opportunities, and help guide the business toward its next stage of growth.
Communicate with Influence: By understanding the language and priorities of every business function, you can communicate your financial insights in a way that resonates with non-finance leaders, building consensus and driving action.

Ultimately, CIMA builds the kind of knowledge that doesn’t expire after exam day. It equips you with a practical, problem-solving mindset that is indispensable in today’s dynamic business world.

12. Your Future Starts Now: Take the Decisive Step

You’ve seen the power of the CIMA qualification, heard the success stories, and understood the practical, real-world approach that sets it apart. CIMA is not a lottery ticket that guarantees instant success. As Prakash Sir says, “The lottery will be there when you will work… You need to help the organization… Then you will be earning like a lottery.”

CIMA gives you the tools, the brand, and the global recognition. Saraf Academy gives you the mentorship, the strategy, and the unwavering support to use those tools effectively.

Now, the decision rests with you.

“Decide and proceed. That’s the most important in life… This is decision making for our life. We need to decide.” (Prakash Sir)

Don’t let another year go by wondering “what if?” Take the first, no-risk step towards your future as a global business leader.

Ready to start your CIMA journey?
We (Saraf Academy) will assess your eligibility, guide you on the perfect entry route, and help you with the CIMA registration process-all completely free of charge. Let’s build your future, together.