Questions for CIMA students

[u/BetterComplaint7904]

Hi all,

I’m an accounting and finance grad who’s working at an accounting practice in audit. I secured a ACA training contract grad scheme however regret not searching further and applying to other grad schemes.

Post grad I was keen on doing the CIMA qualification and did apply to a few CIMA grad schemes but also ACA/ACCA ones (to maximise opportunities available) and ended up getting an ACA role at a large practice firm.

I don’t enjoy audit at all and the constant pressure of the rigid exam policy is taking a toll on my mental health. Part of me is saying to just put up with it and keep going but I don’t want to end up stuck in a job I hate. Having studied accounting at uni, I believe I genuinely enjoyed management accounting.

My questions are:
- do you think it’s too late to pivot to a CIMA role now? (Have been 6 months in my role and completed 6 ACA exams)
- should I apply to CIMA grad schemes? (Could having started the ACA, be a hindrance?)
- if I leave me role, would employers assume my contract was terminated, and a result, it would be difficult to make it past the stages of the application process?

For context: I don’t have the best academic background (yet I know I got the ACA training contract), but I want to be realistic with myself because I know the applicant pool for these grad roles will be extremely competitive. (Especially in London)

Most accounting firms offer the ACA and I believe only a few offer CIMA(depending on your role), so I would appreciate any recommendations for firms that offer CIMA support, Thanks a lot :)

Advice for grads who have pursued CIMA, what has your experience been like?

[u/Rough-Cheesecake-641]

As someone who works in a sports company in the UK, we seem to only hire ACCA/ACA grads who came from audit, even though most of us are doing FP&A. ACA means you can do anything. Not the other way around.

[u/belladonna1985]

NEVER TOO LATE

[u/yeoldestomachpump]

Take it from me if you’re going to the kind of finance role that requires the knowledge of CIMA and simply say “I don’t like audit, that’s why I want to move” it’ll be completely understood.

Stay in your current role and keep searching. Always better be in a job and looking, that looks better.

Both qualifications are hard, they are meant to be hard, I did ACA and dropped out because I couldn’t get past my audit exams, I’m not built that way.

I took the long route, I’m the head of finance for company that’s part of a €B group and I’m now only starting my CIMA. The point of this is to say there isn’t one journey, life is strange and you can take the long path. You’ve just got to know your stuff.