CIMA TRAINING

supporting employer training of CIMA students

The Chartered
Institute of Institute
Management Accountants
(CIMA)
CIMA (The
Chartered
of
is the voice of over 77,000 students and 59,000 members in
Management
Accountants)
the voice
of
156 countries,
and in addition to its is
headquarters
in the UK
has eleven offices internationally.
over 85,000 students and 65,000 members
in 156 countries around the world.

CIMA is the fastest growing UK based

accountancy membership body in terms of
members in both the UK and worldwide.1

Key Facts and Trends in the Accountancy Profession, published by the Professional Oversight Board for Accountancy (POBA) in February 2005.

CIMA Training

about CIMA
CIMAs core strength lies in providing a gold standard in the qualification and support
of management accountants. In an age of globalisation and intensified competition,
the Chartered Management Accountant is fully prepared to meet the needs of the
business and ultimately add value to the bottom line.
We are the only professional body delivering an employer driven qualification
for management accountants, working in business and the public sector. We consult
extensively and regularly with employers to meet the changing demands of
business, and reflect these demands in our syllabus.

The key aspects of the CIMA Professional

qualification include:
Increased management content designed
specifically for accountants in business.
Major focus on practical skills development
in the workplace.
Providing a consistently global syllabus,
examined in the same way everywhere and
combining the core qualification with life
long learning and development for members
through CIMA Professional Development.
Todays fast moving environment demands
you have the right people to differentiate
your business and deliver value to your bottom
line. Chartered Management Accountants have
the skills and competencies to deliver on
this requirement.
We pride ourselves on the commercial relevance
of the CIMA qualification in reflecting the latest
developments in business, providing the financial
qualification for business.

Supporting employer training

of CIMA students
We were granted a Royal Charter status in
1976, in recognition of CIMA as being amongst
the top professional bodies, which allows us to
award professional membership.
CIMA has more members in the public sector
than any other UK based body.

CIMA realises the commitment your staff have

made in studying the CIMA qualification. To
build on the quality and success of your
employees, CIMA offers you the opportunity to
become accredited to CIMA Training offering
support to your students and recognition to
your organisation of providing a high standard
of training. CIMA Training will help you
develop leading business managers within
your organisation.

CIMA has also been voted the Best Student

Body by readers of Pass student magazine,
recognising the commitment we place on the
training of students.
To earn the right to achieve Chartered
Management Accountant status students must
qualify through a combination of exams and
practical experience. CIMA Training is a quality
assurance scheme that supports you in helping
your students reach this goal.

| 3

CIMA Training

CIMA Training an assurance of quality

In todays fast moving business environment, well qualified staff are an important
asset, whatever the size of your business.

CIMA provides an internationally recognised

accountancy qualification, which is unique in
its focus on accounting for business. Chartered
Management Accountants provide commercially
relevant expertise across many management
functions, and develops the skills and
competencies required to be the financial
qualification for business.
CIMA Training is a quality assurance scheme,
designed to ensure that the training of
chartered management accountants is delivered
everywhere to the same consistently
high standard.
It sets out quality standards that enable you to:
Help your trainees get the maximum benefit
from the CIMA courses.
Integrate the needs of your business with
CIMAs training requirements.
Tailor the work experience offered to your
trainees so that they understand the practical
implications of what they learn.
Plan, monitor and improve your training
programme against established benchmarks
so that it matches or surpasses the best on
offer elsewhere.
Benefit from the independent assessment
and help that CIMA provides to participating
organisations.

4 |

CIMA Training accreditation demonstrates

how serious you are about training, and assists
in recruiting and retaining the most talented
and ambitious finance trainees.
If you would like to be recognised as
an employer that can demonstrate their
training is adequately financed, well planned,
well managed and actively supported by
management, then CIMA Training provides
the recognition you need.
Setting the standard
There are two levels of recognition in
the scheme that reflect the two stages of
progression:
CIMA Training Partner level
This represents the minimum level of
support that should be provided by
employers of CIMA students.
CIMA Training Quality Partner level
This is the recommended level of support
advocated by CIMA to enable students to
successfully progress through the exams and
achieve full professional membership.

CIMA Training

the benefits are clear

The business benefits of becoming a part of CIMA Training are substantial at
every level.

As a CIMA Training employer your students

are guaranteed to receive a high standard of
training support. The benefits of this include:

Quality Control for CIMA

Training Partners

More chance of helping your students

to achieve success in exams and help them
gain their professional membership.

An enhanced ability to attract and retain

the best students will lead to improved
staff competence levels.

Accreditation as a CIMA Training Partner lasts

for two years. After this you will be required
to confirm continued adherence to CIMA
Training standards and to advise CIMA of any
changes to key staff, organisational policies,
training developments, and numbers of students
employed. You can update your accreditation
during this time to Quality Partner status, as
and when you meet the requirements.

Considerable added value to organisations

seeking IIP accreditation.

Rapid progress of students through the

CIMA qualification which means you have
trained competent managers delivering
relevant business decisions.
Improved pass rates of your students will
also mean a better return on investment on
your training and development costs.

CIMA Training
Partner
The CIMA Training scheme offers employers
who achieve Partner status the following:
Recognition for being associated with CIMA.
The opportunity to run in-house computer
based assessment for the CIMA Certificate
in Business Accounting.
Up to date and relevant information
via a bi-monthly e-newsletter,
including editorials on business/training
topics, advance notice on exam rules, fees,
exemption policy and information on CIMA
Professional Development.

CIMA Training
Quality Partner
As an employer who has achieved CIMA
Training Quality Partner status you will gain
additional benefits which include:
Use of the CIMA Training logo to attract
higher quality students.
Certificate of Quality Partner status.

Quality Control for CIMA

Training Quality Partners
Your Quality Partner status will run for a period
of two years. After this you will be required to
confirm continued adherence to CIMA Training
standards and to advise CIMA of any changes
to key staff, organisational policies, training
developments, and numbers of students
employed. This information may give rise to
further CIMA contact.
A sample of organisations will be selected each
year for a formal monitoring visit in order to
ensure CIMA Training standards are being
maintained. A review of your training policy
will form an important part of this process.

Publicity from CIMA through the promotion

of the concept of quality assured training
via CIMA recruitment literature, Regional
Development Managers and CIMA advocates
in universities.
Promotion of your brand on the CIMA
website and inclusion in web based listing of
Quality Partners which can also include
hyperlinks direct to your company website.

Access to a password protected area of the

CIMA website which contains downloadable
presentations on key topics, and guidance
materials.

Ongoing support to help you maintain the

CIMA Training quality standards.

Access to additional fee chargeable training

and support services.

An assurance to your students that you are

serious about their training, making them feel
valued and more motivated to achieve.

| 5

CIMA Training

matrix
Training standards for employers.
There are five benchmark standards that relate to different activities within the training process:
Plan | Finance | Support | Communicate | Review
The standards are sub-divided into two levels of accreditation: CIMA Training Partner and Quality Partner, representing the level of support and
assistance given to students. CIMA quality standards provide a tried and tested framework for the ongoing professional development of CIMA students.
The tick boxes should be completed to indicate that your organisation is able to offer specific requirements. To become a CIMA Training Partner you
need to be able to tick each box in the CIMA Training Partner section.
If you are interested in achieving Quality Partner status contact the CIMA Training Co-ordinator on +44 (0)20 8849 2434
or email: cima.training@cimaglobal.com, to arrange a consultation with an experienced training advisor.

Training Standards
Statements

CIMA Training
Partner

Plan

Your organisation has general

training policies and plans
covering students training to
be management accountants.

Establish policies and plans

which support students
in acquiring the CIMA
qualification and developing
their career within the
organisation.

You have a CIMA Training

Co-ordinator, a named contact,
for CIMA students who takes
responsibility for overseeing
their progress.
Your organisation can provide a
range of financial experience.
You discuss the scope of this
experience, and the job roles which
provide it, with the students.

CIMA Training
Quality Partner

You have a written training policy specifically for CIMA students,

(your CIMA Training Plan), from which individual development
plans are derived.
Your CIMA Training Plan offers a broad spread of business experience,
which will develop the skills and competencies required of a CMA.
Your Training Plan addresses the need for soft skills and personal
and professional development.
Roles and responsibilities within the Training Plan have been
identified and agreed by staff allocated to them.
You offer a comprehensive induction programme. Topics might
include an introduction to the organisations training policies and
the details of the CIMA Training Plan; key staff; performance
reviews and rewards; structure of the business; its markets and
competitors.
You encourage your CIMA members and students to continue their
own personal and professional development post qualification.

Finance
Identify and commit the
financial resources required
to underpin training plans for
management accountants.

Support
Provide a structured and
supportive environment in
which CIMA students can
take responsibility for their
own training.

You have secured the

financial support available to
CIMA students.

Your organisation makes a significant contribution to meet all essential

costs on a first time basis:
Study manuals, electronic study systems.
Tuition fees.
Exam/exemption fees.
Cost of a revision course for home study students.

You offer CIMA students and line

managers access to relevant CIMA
information e.g. Syllabus and
Practical Experience Requirements,
and time off to attend the
CIMA exams.

Your organisation facilitates an effective framework of support for

CIMA students, for example through study network schemes,
mentoring, internal and external courses.

Your CIMA Training Co-ordinator

offers practical support.

A mentoring/coaching system (formal or informal) is in place.

You encourage students to take responsibility for their own
training within this supportive environment.
Your students follow a formal study programme, ideally with a
CIMA approved tuition provider.
Your students receive a minimum of 1.5 days paid leave per
subject per year, plus time off for the exam sittings.
Where practical, you provide regular contact between your
organisation and the tuition provider to ensure satisfactory progress.

6 |

CIMA Training

Training Standards
Statements

CIMA Training
Partner

Communicate

Your students, managers and

CIMA Training Co-ordinators are aware
of expected outputs and
achievements.

Establish effective
communications between
students, manager/Training
Co-ordinator/mentors,
including objectives and
expectations regarding
progress on the
training plan.

CIMA Training
Quality Partner

Your training policy has been communicated to students and

line managers.
Objectives have been set and agreed for the different roles and
placements within the training programme.
Students, managers and your Training Co-ordinator know what
the students must achieve in terms of knowledge and skills.
Students know what they can expect in return, for example,
financial reward for passing exam papers and appropriate career
opportunities.
Your organisation offers a variety of communication channels
for keeping staff informed of relevant developments across a range
of business areas, for example training policies, competitor and
market developments, progress against business plans and budgets.

Review
Review and record progress
against agreed objectives;
revise future plans as
necessary.

You formally review and record

each students progress at least
once per year.

You provide each student with structured planning and review,

and record their progress at least twice a year.
Progress reviews cover:
Exam performance.
Acquisition of practical experience, (as cross referenced against
Practical Experience Guidelines).
Recording of practical experience gained.
Personal and professional development.
Career progression.
Tuition progress is monitored and reviewed with students
using feedback reports from the tuition provider.
Students undertake to give feedback on and to their
tuition provider.
Records of CIMA exam results are maintained in order to monitor
each individuals progress and evaluate the success of both study
methods and the training scheme.
The CIMA Training Plan itself is reviewed annually with feedback
sought from students, managers and mentors.

The CIMA Training Standards are underpinned by a series of Practice Points which offer additional
tips on implementation of the standards. The Practice Points are for information only; but you
should find them a useful resource, particularly when setting up your CIMA Training Plan.
You can download these Practice Points from www.cimaglobal.com/cimatraining, click on
My CIMA and log in with the password we will provide.

| 7

CIMA Training

how to apply
Online
Register your details at www.cimaglobal.com/cimatraining and we will be in contact with
you about your application.
If you are able to meet the standards required for CIMA Training Partner recognition, you will receive confirmation from CIMA dependent on the
completion of the attached form and completed matrix.
If you are able to meet all or most of the additional recommended standards for recognition as a CIMA Training Quality Partner, we will contact
you to discuss how we can work with you to help you achieve CIMA Training Quality Partner status. Please note as this is our quality assured level,
we will look for verification that your organisation can meet our standards, which may include a visit from a CIMA Training expert.

By post
You can also send your completed application by post. Please complete and return
the following:
The enclosed application form.
The Training Standards Matrix. Please tick against each element of the standards you are able to meet.
To assist your application please complete the Practical Experience Guidelines enclosed by placing a tick against each area of experience you are able
to offer your CIMA students in your organisation.
Once these have been received and reviewed, you will receive feedback on your application by email. We will send you a unique reference number
to enable you to access the closed area of the website, click on My CIMA to log in, and benefit from a valuable range of web based training resources,
including PowerPoint presentations on key topics.

If you would like to know more about any aspect of the support offered by CIMA Training please contact us:
T. +44 (0)20 8849 2434
F. +44 (0)20 8849 2456
E. cima.training@cimaglobal.com
For more information on CIMA Training Standards and how
to maximise your training support, visit the CIMA website at:

www.cimaglobal.com/cimatraining

8 |

As a CIMA accredited Quality Partner we can attract the right calibre of people into our business. We need people who
can demonstrate a flexible approach, have the ability to critically analyse business issues and act as business consultants to
a wide range of customers ranging from engineers, designers, manufacturing staffs through to marketing and sales staffs.
I know of no other qualification which meets these needs so well.
Derek Barnes FCMA
Finance Director, Heritage Motor Centre
Jaguar Land Rover 'CIMA Employer of the Year 2004
CIMA training contributes to the vibrant atmosphere in our company, created by young people who are empowered to
take charge of their career development.
Johan van Rensburg
Group Leadership and Development Manager
Siemens, Southern Africa
We consider providing access to a professional qualification as essential for the development of our finance staff.
CIMA is a broadly based qualification which we find prepares our staff well for the challenges that they face in an
organisation like ours.
Michael Taylor
Finance Director
Shell Malaysia Ltd.
We recognise that a key component of a successful training scheme is our relationship
with CIMA. We highly value our CIMA Quality Partner status, and believe a forward thinking
professional body, such as CIMA, enhances our training capability and quality of people in
our business. The CIMA qualification has the commercial breadth to provide a strong
foundation for the type of financial leader we look for.
Neil Taylor ACMA
Products, Mobile & Strategy Finance Director
BT

The Chartered Institute of

Management Accountants
26 Chapter Street
London SW1P 4NP
United Kingdom
T. +44 (0)20 8849 2434
F. +44 (0)20 8849 2456
E. cima.training@cimaglobal.com
www.cimaglobal.com

CIMA Training

best practice guidelines

Training standards for employers.

These Best Practice Guidelines are advisory standards that provide an additional
benchmarking and development tool for CIMA Training Partners and Quality Partners.
They are based on Best Practice in many of the worlds leading firms and are designed
for employers who want to offer training support beyond that required for Quality
Partner accreditation.
The CIMA website will provide regular updates on developments in training, benchmarking and any relevant additions or changes in Best Practice.
The Training Standards are divided into five different sections: Plan, Finance, Support, Communicate and Review. Each is subdivided to reflect the
minimum requirements to achieve Best Practice within each section.

Training Standard

Best Practice
(Advisory standards for those seeking to maximise their training support)

Plan
Establish policies and plans which support
students in acquiring the CIMA qualification
and developing their career within the
host organisation.

Each student has an individual training plan designed to help them achieve full professional
qualification and desired career progression (e.g. first line management role) within the
shortest possible time.
Plans include specific targets for exam progression, obtaining experience/knowledge in both
technical and soft skills, personal/professional development and career goals.
Targets for achievement are realistic and have been agreed by students, manager/s, Training
Co-ordinator and mentor.
All passed finalists are expected to apply for membership within three months of attaining
three years relevant experience (not passing the exams).
The organisation has a formal policy on continuing professional development and offers
resources (time, courses, finance) to support ongoing staff development.

Finance
Identify and commit the financial resources
required to underpin training plans for
management accountants.

Additional financial support is offered, for example:

> Revision courses (for non home study students).
> On site mock exams.
> Provision of in house library/learning resource centre.
> Reference books (in addition to main study manuals).
> Cost of exam resit (subject to counselling).
> Travel costs to tuition centres and/or exam hall.

CIMA Training

best practice guidelines

Training Standard

Best Practice
(Advisory standards for those seeking to maximise their training support)

Support

The organisation can demonstrate commitment to training from the top of the
organisation down.

Provide a structured and supportive

environment in which CIMA students can
take responsibility for their own training.

Where required, mentors/mentorees have received appropriate mentor training and/or

briefing in specific CIMA requirements.
CIMA recommend a maximum student to member ratio of 2:1.
The mentoring system itself is reviewed annually.
Success, for example in the CIMA exams/admission to membership, is recognised
and rewarded.

Communicate
Establish effective communications
between students/managers/Training
Co-ordinator/mentors, including objectives
and expectations regarding progress on
the training plan.

Students are encouraged to contribute ideas and suggestions both regarding their own
training and development and broader departmental/business issues.
Communications between partners in a training plan are effective and appropriate to
the organisation/information to be communicated. For example, communication may be
formal/regular (reviews/appraisals); informal/ad hoc (meetings with mentors). They might
also include senior staff briefings; peer group networking; meetings between graduate
trainees/HR staff and might be regular or ad hoc as driven by business needs.
The organisation itself values communication and seeks to keep staff informed of broader
business developments via a range of media e.g. intranet, staff newsletters, briefing papers/
meetings, cross departmental working parties, senior staff clinics, suggestion boxes.

Review
Review and record progress against agreed
objectives; revise future plans as necessary.

In addition to formal reviews/company appraisals, students meet with managers, mentors,

on an ongoing basis to discuss progress and plan any necessary adjustments to
individual plans.
Mentors meet with students at least three times per year to discuss long term personal plans
and career options and try to help identify strategies for achieving these.
Study strategies and options are discussed between students, manager/s, tuition providers
and Training Co-ordinator to identify the most effective study routes for both individual
students and the overall training plan. For example, the number of papers to attempt at
each sitting, preferred format for revision courses, best study provider.

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, 26 Chapter Street, London SW1P 4NP, UK
T: +44 (0)20 8849 2434 F: +44 (0)20 8849 2456 E: cima.training@cimaglobal.com www.cimaglobal.com/cimatraining

CIMA Training

practical experience guidelines

These Practical Experience Guidelines have been put together to make it easier for
students and their employers to plan training. Under each heading are examples of
the activities in which students will be expected to gain experience. Although it is
not expected that students will work in all areas, they should be given the opportunity
to gain a broad balance of experience across the different areas.
For your information tick which of the areas of experience are available to CIMA students in your organisation.

Area 1: BASIC Experience

Experience gained in this area should be at a hands-on level. Examples of suitable experience in this area are listed below:
1A. Preparing and
maintaining accounting
records

Updating the organisations ledgers accounting records.

Maintaining payroll procedures.
Preparation of trial balance.
Reconciliations of debtors, creditors and bank balances.
Computation of depreciation charges, VAT returns, accruals and pre-payments.

1B. Statutory and

regulatory reporting

Preparation of annual or interim financial accounts, regulatory or compliance information

for the organisation.
Consolidation of the results of subsidiary organisations.
Preparation and review of other Government financial returns.

1C. IT desktop skills

Developing computer literacy using proprietary software packages, including spreadsheets and databases.
Use of the internet and corporate intranets.

1D. Systems and procedure

development

Involvement in the design, development and implementation of new or replacement

systems and procedures.
Review of existing systems and processes as part of an internal or operational audit.

Area 2: CORE Experience (minimum of 18 months)

Experience gained in this area should be hands-on as much as possible. Students may be contributing to the activities without necessarily
having ultimate responsibility for the output. Examples of suitable experience in this area are listed below:
2A. Preparation of
management accounts

Preparation, presentation and interpretation of regular management accounts and related reports.
Comparison of actual performance with budget and/or forecast; analysis and interpretation of variances.
Preparation of regular reports on capital expenditure, outstanding debtors/creditors, inventory.

2B. Planning, budgeting

and forecasting

Preparation, in conjunction with line management, of annual budgets and forecasts.

Preparation of departmental budgets and forecasts.
Working with other departments to develop corporate budgets and forecasts.
Preparation of business plans, balanced scorecards, capital expenditure budgets and forecasts, and
zero based budgets.

2C. Management reporting

for decision making

Preparation of non-routine reports that analyse and interpret financial/numerical data.

Evaluating alternative courses of action and making specific recommendations; following up results of reports.
Preparation of briefing papers for management.
Oral presentation of reports using visual aids.
Assisting with the drafting of expert witness reports.

2D. Product and service

costing

Application of appropriate principles and techniques e.g. overhead allocation, marginal costing,
break-even analysis and ABC, in order to establish the current and future costs of the organisations
products, services and activities.
Identification of costs and revenues relating to specific business decisions e.g. the introduction,
amendment or deletion of a product or service; pricing; make or buy comparisons.

CIMA Training

practical experience guidelines

2E. Information management Defining the information requirements of the organisation.

Identifying and evaluating appropriate information systems. Managing the process of information
gathering, processing, storage and retrieval.
2F. Project appraisal

Using investment appraisal techniques for the evaluation of capital expenditure and other projects.
Evaluating other investments or acquisitions using appropriate techniques.
Post completion audit of projects and investments.

2G. Project management

Management of a project or working as part of a project team e.g. the introduction of a new system
or procedures to the organisation, business process re-engineering or quality improvement, capital
expenditure projects.
Any other non-routine activity with a defined output, such as the launch of a new product or an office move.
Internal or external consultancy assignments.

2H. Working capital control

Debt collection, inventory control, recording and forecasting foreign currency transactions, payment of
creditors and expenses, cash flow forecasting and monitoring.
Periodic stock takes, the identification of slow moving and redundant stock, negotiation of credit terms
with customers, suppliers and bankers.
Supply chain management.

Area 3: SUPPLEMENTARY Experience

Experience gained in this area might include responsibility for research, analysis and evaluation of activities, assisting with activities or
contributing as part of a team. Examples of suitable experience in this area are listed below:
3A. Financial strategy

Identifying the organisations funding position, future funding requirements, costs and sources of
funds, options for investment, cost of capital and leasing decisions.
Contributing to longer term balance sheet and capital structure management.
Involvement with distribution of earnings policy.

3B. Corporate finance

Involvement with company acquisitions, disposals, management buy-outs or buy-ins and

corporate restructuring.
Involvement with take-overs of public companies and defence against unwelcome bids.

3C. Treasury management

3D. Taxation authorities

Establishing the organisations liability for corporation tax and other obligations to revenue authorities
e.g. VAT in UK.
Establishing, planning and applying the impact of other taxes and charges such as sales taxes,
regional taxes and employee taxes and state insurances collected by the employer.

3E. Business evaluation

and appraisal

Review of other organisations performance based on published accounts and other available
information e.g. competitor review, potential investment or customer creditworthiness.
Review of subsidiary or associated company performance.

3F. Business strategy

Contributing to the establishment of the organisations long term business objectives

e.g. identifying and evaluating external factors which may impact on the organisation.
Identifying and appraising the organisations skills and resources.
Identifying and defining business options; evaluating these options, performing risk
assessments and recommending strategies for adoption.
Analysing the economic impact of environmental change upon the organisation.
Analysing market and competitive developments in relation to marketing strategy.
Advising managers on critical economic and financial developments.
Contributing to the development of the organisations information systems strategy
as a complement to its business strategy.

3G. External relationships

Dealing with the organisations customers, suppliers, external advisors, auditors, bankers and investors.
Dealing with representative bodies and trade associations e.g. CBI, ABPI, Chambers of Commerce,
Government departments and other regulatory authorities, stock exchange and receivers or administrators.

Negotiation and management of bank accounts and loan facilities.

Management of foreign exchange and currency exposure.
Dealing with export finance e.g. documentary credits, bills of exchange.
Valuation of financial instruments.

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, 26 Chapter Street, London SW1P 4NP, UK
T: +44 (0)20 8849 2434 F: +44 (0)20 8849 2456 E: cima.training@cimaglobal.com www.cimaglobal.com/cimatraining

CIMA Training

matrix
Training standards for employers.
There are five benchmark standards that relate to different activities within the training process:
Plan | Finance | Support | Communicate | Review
The standards are sub-divided into two levels of accreditation: CIMA Training Partner and Quality Partner, demonstrating the level of support and
assistance given to students. CIMA Quality Standards provide a tried and tested framework for the ongoing professional development of CIMA students.
The tick boxes should be completed to indicate that your organisation is able to offer specific requirements. To become a CIMA Training Partner you
need to be able to tick each box in the CIMA Training Partner section.
If you are interested in achieving Quality Partner status contact the CIMA Training Co-ordinator on +44 (0)20 8849 2434
or email: cima.training@cimaglobal.com, to arrange a consultation with an experienced training advisor.

Training Standards
Statements

CIMA Training
Partner

Plan

Your organisation has general

training policies and plans
covering students training to
be management accountants.

Establish policies and plans

which support students
in acquiring the CIMA
qualification and developing
their career within the
organisation.

You have a CIMA Training

Co-ordinator, a named contact,
for CIMA students who takes
responsibility for overseeing
their progress.
Your organisation can provide a
range of financial experience.
You discuss the scope of this
experience, and the job roles which
provide it, with the students.

CIMA Training
Quality Partner

You have a written training policy specifically for CIMA students,

(your CIMA Training Plan), from which individual development
plans are derived.
Your CIMA Training Plan offers a broad spread of business experience,
which will develop the skills and competencies required of a CMA.
Your Training Plan addresses the need for soft skills and personal
and professional development.
Roles and responsibilities within the training plan have been
identified and agreed by staff allocated to them.
You offer a comprehensive induction programme. Topics might
include an introduction to the organisations training policies and
the details of the CIMA Training Plan; key staff; performance
reviews and rewards; structure of the business; its markets and
competitors.
You encourage your CIMA members and students to continue their
own personal and professional development post qualification.

Finance
Identify and commit the
financial resources required
to underpin training plans for
management accountants.

Support
Provide a structured and
supportive environment in
which CIMA students can
take responsibility for their
own training.

You have secured the

financial support available to
CIMA students.

Your organisation makes a significant contribution to meet all essential

costs on a first time basis:
Study manuals, electronic study systems.
Tuition fees.
Exam/exemption fees.
Cost of a revision course for home study students.

You offer CIMA students and line

managers access to relevant CIMA
information e.g. Syllabus and
Practical Experience Requirements,
and time off to attend the
CIMA exams.

Your organisation facilitates an effective framework of support for

CIMA students, for example through study network schemes,
mentoring, internal and external courses.

Your CIMA Training Co-ordinator

offers practical support.

A mentoring/coaching system (formal or informal) is in place.

You encourage students to take responsibility for their own
training within this supportive environment.
Your students follow a formal study programme, ideally with a
CIMA approved tuition provider.
Your students receive a minimum of 1.5 days paid leave per
subject per year, plus time off for the exam sittings.
Where practical, you provide regular contact between your
organisation and the tuition provider to ensure satisfactory progress.

CIMA Training

CIMA Training application form

Training Standards
Statements

CIMA Training
Partner

Communicate

Your students, managers and

CIMA Training Co-ordinator are aware
of expected outputs and
achievements.

Establish effective
communications between
students, manager/Training
Co-ordinator/mentors,
including objectives and
expectations regarding
progress on the
training plan.

CIMA Training
Quality Partner

Your training policy has been communicated to students and

line managers.
Objectives have been set and agreed for the different roles and
placements within the training programme.
Students, managers and your Training Co-ordinator know what
the students must achieve in terms of knowledge and skills.
Students know what they can expect in return, for example,
financial reward for passing exam papers and appropriate career
opportunities.
Your organisation offers a variety of communication channels
for keeping staff informed of relevant developments across a range
of business areas, for example training policies, competitor and
market developments, progress against business plans and budgets.

Review
Review and record progress
against agreed objectives;
revise future plans as
necessary.

You formally review and record

each students progress at least
once per year.

You provide each student with structured planning and review,

and record their progress at least twice a year.
Progress reviews cover:
Exam performance.
Acquisition of practical experience, (as cross referenced against
Practical Experience Guidelines).
Recording of practical experience gained.
Personal and professional development.
Career progression.
Tuition progress is monitored and reviewed with students
using feedback reports from the tuition provider.
Students undertake to give feedback on and to their
tuition provider.
Records of CIMA exam results are maintained in order to monitor
each individuals progress and evaluate the success of both study
methods and the training scheme.
The CIMA Training Plan itself is reviewed annually with feedback
sought from students, managers and mentors.

The CIMA Training Standards are underpinned by a series of Practice Points which offer additional
tips on implementation of the standards. The Practice Points are for information only; but you
should find them a useful resource, particularly when setting up your CIMA Training Plan.
You can download these Practice Points from www.cimaglobal.com/cimatraining, click on
My CIMA and log in with the password we will provide.

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, 26 Chapter Street, London SW1P 4NP, UK
T: +44 (0)20 8849 2434 F: +44 (0)20 8849 2456 E: cima.training@cimaglobal.com www.cimaglobal.com/cimatraining

CIMA Training

CIMA Training application form

Organisation details
Organisation name (should be the same as name for certificate, list for publicity etc):
Parent company name (if applicable):
Postal address:
Town/City:

Postcode/Zip:

Country:

Main switchboard number:

Please state the nature of your business:
Number of employees:
Website address:
CIMA will include your organisations website address on www.cimaglobal.com. We may also use your organisations name in future marketing of
CIMA Training. If you have any queries about this please email the CIMA Training Co-ordinator at: cima.training@cimaglobal.com
Name of senior financial person within organisation:
Position:

Scheme Co-ordinator personal details (regular contact regarding training arrangements)

Title:

First name:

Surname/Family name:

Honours (e.g. ACMA):

Position:

Direct telephone number:

Fax:

Mobile number:
Email address (address to send e-newsletter, updates etc):
Postal address (if different from address above):
Town/City:

Postcode/Zip:

Are there other Scheme Co-ordinators/Managers CIMA should note?

If so, please give all the details as above on a separate sheet.

Yes

Student information
How many students are on this scheme?
Are there other CIMA students within the organisation?

Yes

No

If so, how many are not on this scheme?

Does this scheme cover students at more than one site?
If so, please give details of these sites separately.

Yes

No

Country:
No

CIMA Training

Other finance training

Do you train students who study for any other accountancy/finance qualifications?
Qualification

Approximate number of students

Accreditation scheme

ACCA
CIPFA
Chartered Accountants
AAT
Other
Do you have any other staff who may be eligible for the new CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting? If so, how many?
Name of person completing the form:

Signature:

Date:
Please tick if you do not want to receive information about other CIMA activities

For CIMA use only

Date of confirmation of registration:
Level of Registration: Partner/Quality Partner:
CIMA Training number:
Authorised by:
Area/country code:
Key Account Manager:
BDM responsible: