The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) referred to as CIMA is the equivalent of a Master's Degree in the UK. CIMA differs very much from the traditional accountant (Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA or FCCA)). To get a glimpse of the strategic and planning emphasis please read about management accounting here and elsewhere on the web.
I think UNICEF Operations Officers and Budget Officers have a great opportunity to study for the CIMA from any part of the world. If exams are not held in the country, arrangements can be made with the local UK embassy and the CIMA for exam scheduling. I must warn you the exams are "very hard". If you pass these exams in the first try, then you can claim to be "very smart."
A CIMA qualification will be good for UNICEF operations and Budget staff and also good for UNICEF and the rest of the UN. It is the only accounting qualification that has "accountant" in it but focuses much more on "effectiveness" and "strategy" in all facets of manangement. It is an accounting "for management" function and therefore involves analysis and decision-making type reporting. When you want to be effective or promote effectiveness, there is no end to the improvisations that you can dream up. One training the CIMA may give you is make you a "thruster" and a "pusher". Your training will be such that you can't wait until you improvise; so you will always be on a roll. However, that can be slowed down with the bureaucracy and internal politics much prevalent in the UN system. Nevertheless, either partly qualified or fully qualified, it will be a good qualification for you to get, for yourself and that of the organization. The CIMA is a great gateway to an MBA or MPA as well, saving you a bucket of dollars.
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