The Power of Two Accounting Specializations in One Qualification

CIMA® qualified professionals stand out sharp from the crowd because they bring to the table specialist level competence in two of the most specialized and high-demand domains - investment accounting and international management accounting.

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Multiplying Accounting Career Opportunities

CIMA® creates global career opportunities in two of the most exciting, growth-laden and high demand areas of accounting today - the super-specialized and rarefied investment accounting domain, and the ever-important and perennial favorite management accounting. The CIMA® qualification creates job opportunities and paves tracks for senior level positions cutting across finance, consulting and non-finance industries.

The dual-specialized CIMA® qualified professionals have the option of making careers in both investment accounting and management accounting areas, and can work in Wealth management, hedge funds, asset mangement, investment banking, financial consulting, corporate banking, investment management and transnational business and non-business corporations.


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Roles for CIMA® Certified Professionals

Dual specialization in investment & management accounting is ideal for professionals who wish to diversify their career options through one qualification.

CIMA® from United States prepares ambitious professionals for TWO high-growth careers

  • one, as management accountants in global transnational corporations across industries;
  • two, as investment accountants in leading brokerage and asset management firms that mange billions of dollars of investment portfolios of client organizations.
  • the management accounting specialization in the CIMA® qualification focuses on the competencies and technical knowledge required for management accounting practice in all classes and categories of global organizations and transnational corporations
  • the investment accounting specialization in CIMA® prepares professionals for mastering and minding the accounting, analysis and reportage of investment transactions, returns, gains and losses.
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Dual Career Possibilities after CIMA®

CIMA® qualified professionals can work in a wide variety of work places, because they are specialist management accountants as well as investment accountants. They are ideal choices for important positions in small and large asset management firms, brokerage houses, wealth management firms, finance KPOs, investment banks, publicly listed international business companies as well as and multinational business corporations. They also work in not-for-profit global organizations, government and internationally diversified academic institutions.

Preparing data for use within a company doing business in multiple countries and dealing with multiple currencies is one of the features that distinguishes an investment & management accountant from other types of accounting jobs.

Management Accounting Track

  1. CIMA® qualified Management accountants look after a multinational company's finances and find ways to improve revenues and profitability using available cost, market, sales and financial data, as well as their future projections.
  2. CIMA® qualified Management accountants work within companies and organizations to direct internal financial processes; monitor costs, sales, spending and budgets; conduct audits; identify past trends and predict future needs; and assist company leaders with financial decisions.
  3. Duties of Management accountants include recording and crunching numbers, helping to choose and manage company investments, risk management, budgeting, planning, strategizing, and decision making.

Investment Accounting Track

  1. CIMA® qualified Investment Accountants are mostly responsible for overseeing the set-up of new securities in the accounting system and monitoring trade entries. Duties include accumulation and distribution of internal net sales and board reports, daily valuation process on fund accounting and portfolio accounting systems, maintenance of new security data, mutual fund accounting, and ensuring compliance with GAAP as far as investment accounting is concerned. Senior positions in investment accounting include investment accounting manager, senior manager – investment accounting, hedge accounting manager, senior mutual funds accountant, and director of investment accounting.

Management Accounting Careers After CIMA®

  • 01.

    Financial Analyst/ Chief Financial Analyst

    Management accountants working the Financial Analyst role engage in financial modeling, budgeting, and preparing supporting schedules and forecasts in organizations having multi-country and multi-currency operations. Analysts also track results and perform variance analyses. The exact position in this role depends on the nature and duration of a CIMA's work experience.

  • 02.

    Accounting Manager/ Head/ Chief Accountant

    Hinging on a CIMA's work history and accomplishments, these roles eventually lead to the Financial Controller's office in companies having multi-country and multi-currency operations. Accountants perform a range of fundamental accounting tasks, such as account review and reconciliation, journal and general ledger entries, and preparing financial reports on various subsidiaries; associate companies etc., of globally diversified organizations. Additional duties may include testing internal controls and basic cost accounting. (Entry-level position.)

  • 03.

    Manager/ Head, Financial Analytics

    These roles are ideal for CIMAs that have deep knowledge of statistics, data science, data extraction, and data visualization, in addition to their competence in management accounting. They are responsible for analyzing raw data in companies having multi-country and multi-currency operations, including non-financial data, to identify trends and insights that impact business decisions.

  • 04.

    Manager/ VP/ Head, Strategic Planning

    Professionals in this role typically report to the CFO or CEO of companies having multi-country and multi-currency operations. They are responsible for developing comprehensive strategies for growth across the entire portfolio of a company’s products and services across markets. Their duties include scanning the external business environment to determine organic grow potential as well as opportunities through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities.

  • 05.

    Manager/ VP/ Head Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

    CIMAs working the role of FP&A typically report to the CFO in companies having multi-country and multi-currency operations. They are responsible for finalizing and implementing corporate strategies that focus on profitability and cost containment. In addition, they ensure that strategic priorities and decisions are built into the planning processes across the company. Executives in this position will also play a central role in analyzing business cases for developing new markets, products, and services.

  • 06.

    Assistant/ Chief Treasurer

    The Treasurer role has responsibility of managing cash operations, cash forecasts, lender relationships, and corporate stock plans in companies having multi-country and multi-currency operations. Typically, these positions report of the CFO, and CIMAs working this role are knowledgeable in financing and hedging strategies and lead communications with ratings agencies and external investors.

  • 07.

    Assistant/ Chief Controller

    This senior leadership role typically reports to the CFO or CEO in companies having multi-country and multi-currency operations. The Controller manages a staff responsible for all financial reporting and accounting operations, including internal and external financial statements and regulatory reporting requirements. Additional priorities for Controllers include implementing internal control systems, evaluating the effectiveness of accounting systems, and monitoring business performance metrics. (Years of experience may vary.)

  • 08.

    Manager/ VP, Finance/ CFO

    As a member of the senior leadership team, the CFO is a key advisor to the CEO. Priorities for the CFO include capital requirements for the entire business, sourcing and structuring corporate financing, maintaining relationships with lenders and investors, and evaluating merger and acquisition opportunities.

Investment Accounting Careers

  • 1. Fund Manager/Investment Manager/Asset Manager – (Key Leadership role)

    Works like a CEO for the fund. Responsible for implementing a fund's investment strategy and managing its trading activities. They oversee mutual funds or pensions, manage analysts, conduct research, and make important investment decisions. Role Responsible for a complete asset management.

  • 2. Fund Accountant

    Works as accountant for portfolio of investments such as securities, commodities and/or real estate held in an investment fund such as a mutual fund or hedge fund. Delivering accurate and timely production and delivery of reporting to clients by ensuring efficient and accurate trade processing, NAV review, Corporate Actions processing, security valuation, financial statements production, query handling and other ad hoc reporting for funds.

  • 3. Business Analyst – Fund Accounting/Investment Management

    Working with investment management teams supporting the entire investment cycle including client screening, financial analysis, elaboration of investment proposals, monitoring investments, etc. Perform analysis of financial statements. Maintain client relationships by periodically requesting information and monitoring performance. Undertake country and industry research to support in the origination of investments. Interact with other stakeholders such as risk management, legal, auditors

  • 4. Financial and Investment Adviser

    Provides consulting and advice about an individual's or entity's finances. Financial advisors can help individuals and companies reach their financial goals sooner by providing their clients with strategies and ways to create more wealth reduce costs, or eliminate debts.

  • 5. Audit Consultant (or Accountant) – Private Equity

    Can work as independent Audit Consultant or as an accountant specialized in Private Equity Business. You can use the investment accounting expertise to focus on areas like fund organization and structuring, Valuations and FAS 157/ASC 820, Income, loss and carried interest allocations, Distribution computations, Financial statement preparation and disclosures, Specialized private equity services for SBICs and BDCs and custody audit

  • 6. General Accounting – Treasury

    Most of the roles are in the Corporate Finance Division of large conglomerate to manage the liquidity of a business. This means that all current and projected cash inflows and outflows must be monitored to ensure that there is sufficient cash to fund company operations, as well as to ensure that excess cash is properly invested.

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CIMA® is the world’s only twin-major and the most powerful qualification today for accountants! It takes only a few minutes to apply for CIMA® program and just a few months to complete it. With an all-inclusive package covering exam, up to 10-year CIMA® membership and life-long dashboard access. Earn the pride of belonging to the league of the best.