CIMA CI

Name

CIMA CI

Legal name

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

Website

https://aicpa-cima.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Accounting Certification

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accounting, Audit & Tax (CPA/CA/ACCA CPE) (EDAAALAA), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Professional accounting certification
• Management accounting qualification
• Continuing professional education
• Chartered management accountant
• Finance professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for CPAs and CGMA designation holders providing access to resources, credentials, and professional network
2. CPE Learning Products and Services: Revenue from courses, self-study materials, webcasts, conferences, and publications for continuing professional education
3. CPExpress Subscription: Annual subscription providing unlimited access to hundreds of online CPE courses; $385 for members, $569 for non-members
4. Conference and Event Fees: Registration fees for in-person and virtual conferences ranging from $525 to $2,950 depending on event type and format
5. Credential and Designation Fees: Examination fees and credentialing charges for CGMA, CPA and other professional designations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CIMA, operating as part of the AICPA & CIMA alliance, is a chartered professional body that issues the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) qualification and provides continuing professional education, training, conferences, publications, and apprenticeship pathways to finance and accounting professionals globally. It functions as a membership organization serving 580,000 members, candidates, and registrants across 150 countries through credentialing programs, CPE subscriptions, and corporate training solutions.

Product overview

AICPA & CIMA operates as a professional membership organization offering a unified platform of professional qualifications, continuing professional education (CPE), and credentials for accounting and finance professionals globally. The core product is the CGMA Professional Qualification, which can be pursued through multiple pathways including the CGMA Finance Leadership Program (digital self-guided learning), the Self-Tailored Learning Pathway, and the Certificate in Business Accounting for foundational learners. The product portfolio extends to CPE subscriptions (CPExpress, Annual Webcast Pass), certificate programs in specialized areas (cybersecurity, blockchain, data analytics), annual conferences covering various industry sectors, professional publications, and apprenticeship programs. The organization also administers the CPA Exam Grant program for exam fee support. CIMA and AICPA combined serve approximately 580,000 members, candidates, and registrants across 150 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 137,000+ professionals hold the CGMA designation globally
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• AICPA (American Institute of CPAs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017AICPA and CIMA formed a powerful international alliance in 2017, creating the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. The combined entity serves 580,000 members, candidates and registrants across 150 countries, promoting accounting and finance globally through shared resources, credentials (CGMA), and professional development.
• IFAC (International Federation of Accountants)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research partnership with IFAC and AICPA producing sustainability reporting ecosystem reports. Found that one-third of companies reference ISSB Standards in 2024, up from 16% the previous year, with 97% disclosing sustainability information.
• AICPAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIMA and AICPA jointly conducted research showing global sustainability reporting standardization trends. Joint report found ESRS standards influencing non-EU jurisdictions including 20% of companies in South Korea and over 10% in UK.
• Rise2040 InitiativeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIMA and AICPA jointly launched Rise2040 initiative focused on shaping the future of finance and accounting. Part of broader effort to advance the profession through technology integration and talent development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CFA Institute: Global professional body for investment professionals offering the CFA charter. Comparable as a globally recognized chartered finance credential with similar membership model, ethics requirements, and continuing education programs, though focused on investment management rather than management accounting.

Direct peers

• AICPA (American Institute of CPAs): CIMA's strategic alliance partner since 2017, jointly forming the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. AICPA serves US CPAs with the CPA designation and extensive CPE programs—directly comparable in mission, products (CPA vs CGMA), and member services, making it both partner and closest peer.
• CPA Australia: Major Asia-Pacific professional accounting body with the CPA Australia designation. Directly comparable as a CPA-style credential provider serving management and public accounting professionals, with strong competition in Australia, Southeast Asia, and emerging markets where CIMA is also expanding.
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants): Global chartered accounting body offering the ACCA qualification with strong international presence across 180+ countries. Directly competes with CIMA's CGMA in the management accounting and finance professional qualification space, particularly in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
• IMA (Institute of Management Accountants): US-based professional body focused specifically on management accounting with the CMA (Certified Management Accountant) credential. Directly competes with CIMA/CGMA in the management accounting certification space, particularly serving US-based corporate finance professionals.
• ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales): UK-based chartered accountancy body offering the ACA qualification. Comparable as a chartered professional body providing accounting credentials, CPE, and member services, though with stronger focus on audit and assurance rather than management accounting.

Emerging players

• Becker Professional Education: Leading provider of CPA Exam preparation and professional education. Compares as a test prep and CPE competitor, particularly for US-based CPAs where it serves the same continuing education needs that CIMA addresses through CPExpress and the Annual Webcast Pass.
• Coursera: Online learning platform offering professional certificates and degrees from top universities and companies. Represents the emerging credentialing threat—competitively comparable in online CPE and certificate program delivery, though lacking the chartered professional body status that drives CIMA's premium credentials.
• ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association): Global professional body focused on IT governance, risk, and cybersecurity credentials (CISA, CISM). Comparable as a specialty professional body with growing curriculum overlap in technology, data analytics, and AI—areas CIMA is expanding into via certificate programs.

Regional players

• IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors): Global professional body for internal auditors offering the CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) credential. Adjacent comparable as a global accounting/audit professional body with similar membership model, CPE requirements, and corporate training offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cima_news
• Facebookfacebook.com/cimaglobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cima

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CIMA CI