The CIMA Professional - Strategic Level is the third and final stage of the CIMA Professional Qualification. Through your CIMA study you will cover three essential subject areas:
Through these three subject areas you will confidently be able to make long term strategic decisions, support organisational leaders in crafting a strategy, and mange and evaluate risks, which may prevent organisations from implementing strategy successfully.
There are two CIMA qualifications available - CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting and the CIMA Professional Qualification (which includes: Operational Level, Management Level and Strategic Level).
The third and final level in the CIMA Professional qualification is designed for those delegates who have completed both the CIMA Professional – Operational and Management Level and who are now working towards becoming fully qualified with CIMA.
Earning your CGMA status enables you to start applying for senior business accounting job roles like Finance Manager (£50k+), Management Consultant (£60k+), Finance Director (£75k+) and Chief Finance Officer (£100k+) and CEO (£130k+).
Earning your last level for the CIMA Professional Qualification will enable you to potentially earn over double the salary you could without the full qualification.
CIMA benefits include:
*Source - CIMA
**Source - 2019 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants Salary Survey
There are three subject areas in the CIMA Professional – Strategic Level:
E3 – Strategic Management
Learn the foundation elements of strategic management and the dynamics of the organisational ecosystem, and how it impacts organisational strategy.
Discover how strategy is implemented and how implementation objectives are achieved and managed.
Understand what the key technologies are which underpin digital transformation and the various elements of digital strategy.
P3 – Risk Management
Learn how to identify, evaluate and manage enterprise risks.
Discover where strategic risks typically evolve from, how to evaluate them, and how oversight of these risks is critical to the governance of the organisation.
Understand how internal controls can be used effectively at risk management stage, and how you can identify, analyse, remedy and report these strategic risks.
F3 – Advanced Financial Reporting
Learn the different policy options and strategic financial objectives which are open to organisations.
Discover the types of funds which are available to organisations to finance the implementation of strategies, and how they access these funds in the right quantity, at the right time and for the right price.
Understand how to evaluate and manage financial risk appropriately and learn what the sources of financial risk are.
E3 – Strategic Management
A. The Strategy process
B. Analysing the organisational ecosystem
C. Generating strategic options
D. Making strategic choices
E. Strategic control
F. Digital strategy
P3 – Risk Management
A. Enterprise risk
B. Strategic risk
C. Internal controls
D. Cyber risk
F3 – Financial Strategy
A. Financial policy decisions
B. Sources of long-term funds
C. Financial risks
D. Business valuation
The CIMA exams cover two testing styles: Objective Test and Case Study exam.
Objective Test
The Strategic Level has a 90-minute, computer-based Objective Test.
Objective Tests include a range of number entry questions, short multiple-choice questions, drag and drop questions and more. They will test all component learning outcomes you have covered within this course.
This test is computer-graded, and you will receive a provisional grade of pass or fail immediately. Official results will be sent out within 48 hours.
Your exam can be taken at any Pearson Vue Test Centre around the world, with a choice of 5,000 centres.
Case Study
The Strategic Level will conclude with a Case Study Examination, which integrates the skills, techniques and knowledge, gained across the three subjects covered. These Case Study Exams are available four times a year: Feb, May, Aug & Nov.
The role simulated in this Case Study is that of a Senior Finance Manager. You will be provided with a simulated context, allowing you to demonstrate you have acquired the necessary knowledge, techniques and mindset for that role.
These Case Study exams are human marked, and you will receive your results five weeks after the close of the Case Study window on your MY CIMA account.
There are CIMA exemptions for those who have accounting experience, completed AAT level 4 or who have already completed some CIMA training, so speak to an advisor today to discuss your specific requirement in more detail.
As you progress through your CIMA qualification journey you will gain the following designatory letters:
Certificate in Business Accounting
Once you have successfully completed the BA1, BA2, BA3 and BA4 exams, you will gain the designatory letters CIMA Cert BA.
Professional Qualification - Operational Level
After completing the tests and Case Study exam, you will receive the CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting and will gain the designatory letters CIMA Dip MA.
Professional Qualification - Management Level
After completing the tests and Case Study exam, you will receive the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting and will gain the designatory letters CIMA Adv Dip MA.
Professional Qualification - Strategic Level
On completion of the Strategic level tests and Case Study exam, you will be eligible to submit your practical experience for assessment.
The practical experience requirement (PER) is an essential part of the CIMA Qualification and CIMA’s application process. It complements assessments and demonstrates your ability to apply knowledge and skills in the context of your professional experience.
Your PER application will be assessed to determine whether you have gained sufficient experience to be awarded Associate membership – giving you the Associate Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designations.
In order to become a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), you require a minimum of three years verified relevant work-based practical experience.
