CIMA’s CGMA® Operational Level

You’ll need to have completed CIMA’s Certificate in Business Accounting, AAT Level 4, or have an accountancy or finance degree.

By the end of the CGMA® Operational level you should have come to grips with managing finance , costs and analysis used in production, and financial reporting.

The level is made up of three Objective Tests and a Case Study.

Objective Test subjects:

E1 Managing Finance in a Digital World

You’ll learn about the role of finance in organisations, as well as the technology landscape and its impact on organisations and the finance function.

Course content:

• Role of the finance function
• Technology in a digital world
• Data and information in a digital world
• Shape and structure of the finance function
• Finance interacting with the organisation.

P1 Management Accounting

You’ll learn about the importance of costs in the production, analysis and use of information for decision-making in companies.

Course content:

• Cost accounting systems
• Budget and budgetary control
• Short term decision making
• Dealing with uncertainty in the short term.

F1 Financial Reporting

You’ll learn about the regulation and preparation of financial statements, giving you the skills to produce basic financial statements. You’ll also learn about working capital and business tax.

Course content:

• Regulatory Environment
• Financial Statements
• Principles of taxation
• Managing Working Capital.

As well as the Objective Tests, you’ll do a Case Study. This is where you’ll put your learning to the test with a real-life scenario. Using the skills gained during the level, you’ll resolve issues that a management accountant may come across at work.

Each subject is assessed by an objective test, and the level as a whole is assessed by a final Case Study.

The Objective Tests are computer-based and are 90 minutes each. The exams can be sat at any time of the year, and can be taken in any order. All assessments are marked by computer and you will be given a provisional result at the end of the exam. This will then be confirmed on your MY CIMA account within 48 hours.

The Case Study exam is three hours long and is computer-based. These exams are held in four exam sittings throughout the year. You must have passed all three Objective Tests before you can register to sit your Case Study exam. The exam is based on pre-seen material that will be released approximately seven weeks before the exam window. These exams are human-marked and your result will be released approximately five weeks after the exam window closes. Find out more information about
the exam dates and deadlines launch.

Grading

For the Objective Tests you need to get a scaled score of 100, with 150 being the maximum available.

For the Case Study exam you need to get a scaled score of 80, with 150 being the maximum available. You also need to be competent in all of the core activities at this level.

Resits

If you are unsuccessful in your first attempt, don’t worry you can resit your exam. For Objective Test subjects as these exams are on demand you can sit this as soon as you feel ready, for Case Study you will need to wait for the next quarterly exam sitting.

Booking your exams

Log in your MY CIMA account and select ‘schedule your exam’. This will transfer you to the Pearson VUE website where you can select your exam, date, and time, and complete your booking.

• Tutor-led knowledge and application modules, delivered by Kaplan, CIMA’s only official publisher. Every module and topic has been through a detailed design process to make sure each area is explained clearly, and gives you the knowledge you need to pass your exams.
• Unlimited access to CIMA’s CGMA® Professional Operational content with access to other levels. Empowering you to progress when you’re ready, or recap previous levels at no extra cost
• Integrated Kaplan Workbook: interactive learning guide that you will use alongside your online tutor-led videos. The integrated workbook helps you keep all your notes in one place, making revision easier and more efficient
• For Case Study, you’ll receive specific resources written especially for the live pre-seen scenario
• Study Text: the only CIMA approved text, written by Kaplan Publishing, with full syllabus coverage
• Exam Kit: the only CIMA approved exam kit, with hundreds of practice questions to get you exam ready
• Study programme: a guide to give you structure to your studies, bringing together all elements of your learning. Made by expert tutors, it will guide you through the whole syllabus
• Online practice questions: interactive practice questions for every subject plus an auto marked mock exam. Realistic case studies provide context of how concepts will be seen in real life
• You’re fully supported with access to expert tutors, seven days a week. Responding via email within four working hours.
• You’ll be assigned a mentor to help and guide you through the order of subjects to study. You can contact them wherever you need to throughout your course and get a response within 24 hours, Monday to Friday
• Your subscription includes all the online content you need to succeed, but if you want to supplement your learning with books, Eagle students get 50% off hard copy study materials.

CIMA registration, student membership, and exam fees not included.

For full details on Academic and Mentor support opening hours, please visit the contact us page.

After completing this level, you could go into roles such as a financial analyst or management accountant, and earn up to £33,000 a year. Alternatively If you want to continue studying, your Eagle subscription gives you unlimited access to all levels, meaning you can move onto CIMA’s CGMA® Management level at no additional cost.

You will need to register with CIMA as a student and pay a registration and annual student membership fee, as well as exam fees. These fees are in addition to your course fees. Find out more about these fees on the AICPA & CIMA website launch.