Fellowship of CIMA (FCMA)

Associate members and passed finalists of CIMA, who can demonstrate at least three years’ senior, strategic experience, may apply for CIMA Fellowship. Passed finalists will, additionally, need to demonstrate the three years’ experience required for associate membership. As a general guide, this strategic experience would normally be at board level or, at least, reporting to that level.

For the purposes of an FCMA application, “strategy/strategic” means contributing input to original strategic decisions which the organisation adopts and which affect its future direction and success. It is not the implementation or updating of processes deriving from such decisions; neither is it long service in a management accounting role.

It is expected that applicants working as management consultants, or from a consulting/practising environment, will themselves be employing or managing a number of staff and will have a number of major clients, to whom they are responsible not only for the strategic initiative but also for the outcome of the implementation of any such strategic initiative/recommendations.

Requirements for an ACMA – FCMA application

1. An extended CV

The CV must include the experience the applicant has acquired in direct participation in the formulation or control of strategic management and financial plans. It can be supported by any experience in the following:

(a) Direct participation in the formulation or review of management and financial policies and procedures. (b) Planning the provision of management information services and/or systems to monitor strategic decisions; (c) Planning, contributing to, and appraising major projects, and monitoring thereafter; (d) Analysing, interpreting, and presenting reports (to board level) on the current and likely future performance of your organisation.

It is also useful if they include any:

(e) Experience of directing and motivating staff; and (f) Continuing professional development, including any activities or courses you have attended to keep yourself up to date with technical developments in the profession.

Consultancy experience: It is expected that applicants working as management consultants, or from a consulting/practising environment, will themselves be employing or managing a number of staff. They will have a number of major clients, to whom they are responsible not only for the strategic initiative but also for the outcome of the implementation of any such strategic initiative/recommendations.

Academic experience: Associate members of CIMA in senior academic positions may be considered for fellowship, provided that their experience fulfils the criteria for fellowship.

The CV should show details of all the jobs they have had since they became an ACMA. They should give a full and detailed account of any/all that contained strategy. They should also include details of any strategy, which featured in jobs prior to ACMA being awarded. The jobs should be organised in chronological order. For each job or post held, they should show as a side heading the name of the post, the dates (from and to) during which it was held, and the company (or division of the company) name. Approx. length of CV 3 to 4 sides.

2. Two written references

Two written references supporting the application for fellowship must be provided. It is important that both referees are senior managers to whom the applicant has personally reported, who has direct knowledge of their senior/strategic experience. Between them, the two referees must cover a minimum of three years’ experience.

The two letters of reference need to refer to the job title of the referee, and the dates during which they reported to them (and in which organisation); a brief summary or endorsement of the work during that period (they may refer to the relevant extract in the CV), and their endorsement of the applicants suitability for Fellowship.

Neither of the referees needs to be members of CIMA, and neither do they need to be qualified accountants, but it is important that, during the time they had knowledge of the applicants work, they were in a post subordinate to their own. They must not be relatives, friends, or social acquaintances.

3. A signed organisation chart

To support the application for fellowship, an organisation chart signed by a senior manager is required. If one chart does not cover all three years of senior/strategic experience a second chart is required to cover the supplementary months/years. Each chart should include the applicants name and job title, and clearly show the reporting structure both above and below them.

4. The application fee, and the annual fellowship subscription

For associate members of CIMA, the 2008 fee for a fellowship application is £64.

The 2008 annual subscription for fellowship is £214.00.

5. Passed Finalist applying for direct fellowship

Applicants may apply for direct entry to fellowship provided they have obtained a minimum of three years' senior/strategic experience in addition to the three years' relevant practical experience required for ACMA. This applies to all passed finalists, irrespective of the business environment in which they are employed.

They will need to meet the requirements for an ACMA application and in addition will need to provide two letters of reference (covering three years of senior, strategic work) and a signed organisation chart for fellowship. The membership application form verified by a Proposer and Seconder must cover the three years’ of experience they are submitting for ACMA. In other words, at least six years’ of experience need to be endorsed.

The application fee for direct fellowship is £182. The membership assessors may award associateship if they believe the applicant does not have sufficient experience for fellowship. 6. Assessing applications - CIMA procedures

Applications are checked by staff to ensure that it contains all the information that the membership assessors need and that they have enclosed the appropriate fee. The application will be assessed by two members of the Panel of Membership Assessors (both Fellows of the Institute). If the assessors are unable to agree to Fellowship, they will give a reason for their decision and will advise the applicant if additional information or experience is needed.

Applications should be sent with a covering letter to the following address:

Learning Support CIMA 26 Chapter Street London SW1P 4NP UK