How To Include an ACCA or CGMA Qualification on Your CV

CVs can be tricky to master and it can be hard to know what to include and if it will have an impact on your chances of being hired. You want to stand out from the crowd and demonstrate your commitment. 

Including your ACCA or CGMA qualification on your CV is essential when pursuing a career in accountancy and finance. It can mean the difference between being hired and missing out - so it’s important to get it right!

In our latest blog, we uncover how to effectively showcase and highlight these qualifications to increase your chances of success in the accountancy and finance field. We also highlight the best practices and tips to make your qualifications stand out to potential employers.

In this blog, you will learn

• What an ACCA and a CGMA qualification is.
• Tips on how to include an ACCA or CGMA qualification on your CV.
• The benefits to including these qualifications on your CV.
• How to find and apply for the best accountancy jobs.

What is ACCA?

An ACCA or a CGMA qualification is the key difference between an Accountant and a Chartered Accountant. A Chartered Accountant studies accounting to a higher level and is typically more qualified having gained valuable professional experience and a qualification such as an ACCA or CGMA.

The ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the world leading accountancy qualification for aspiring financial professionals - providing students with the skills, knowledge and values to have successful careers. In order to achieve the ACCA qualification, students have to:

• complete a maximum of 13 exams.
• complete an Ethics and Professional Skills module.
• evidence three years of practical work experience within a relevant role.

According to ACCA’s most recent global survey of business leaders, 86% of employers agree that ‘the qualification delivers complete finance professionals with capability in finance management and strategic leadership.’

Three in five employers recognise ACCA as the leading global accountancy organisation with a growing number of members and students. They aim to develop significant talent who understand how to act strategically and communicate, and who will be the best trained, best prepared and most versatile in the accountancy industry. 

In 2021, ACCA won Professional Body of the Year at the Digital Accountancy Forum and Awards in recognition of their 2025 strategy to continue and amplify focus on wellbeing and employability.

What are the benefits of an ACCA qualification?

The benefits of an ACCA qualification include: 

• Increases your employability. 
• A flexible qualification. 
• Ready-made networks to help you.
• A globally respected name that future employers take seriously.
• Provides real world work experience to make you stand out amongst your peers.
• Helps you gain global recognition.
• The ACCA survey also revealed that 91% agree ACCA shapes the agenda of the profession.

What is a CGMA qualification?

The CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant) formally known as CIMA consists of a series of exams to pass as well as 3 case studies. The CGMA qualification is one of the most recognisable qualifications for finance professionals within the UK, and worldwide. CGMA is the leading professional body of Management Accountants. 

Becoming CGMA qualified shows you have the skills, knowledge, extra credibility and status as a professional. Being a CGMA Accountant means you are joining the world’s largest professional body of Management Accountants.

CIMA certificate holders use the knowledge and skills gained from this course to assure their clients, employer or organisation of their versatility and capability to succeed in business.

What are the benefits of a CGMA qualification?

Chartered Accountants with a CGMA qualification have the skills and knowledge to work in senior-board level positions. Many Chartered Accountants rise through the ranks into senior roles, either in finance, as Managing Director or becoming the Chief Executive Officer.

The benefits of an CGMA qualification include:

• Global recognition of your experience, commitment and skills by key employers
• Connection to a community of like-minded peers with whom you can share best practices.
• Access to CGMA tools, webinars, reports and research that will keep you at the forefront of your profession and give you a competitive edge.
• Opportunities for career growth and development. 
• Access to invaluable resources and a network of 696,000 accounting and finance professionals.

Tips on how to include an ACCA or CGMA qualification on your CV

Tips on how to include an ACCA or CGMA qualification on your CV include: 

• Place it in a prominent position
• Provide the full qualification name
• Mention the status
• Showcase skills and achievements
• Tailor to the job

Place it in a prominent position

Both ACCA and CGMA are instantly recognisable across all sectors and in organisations of every shape and size. If you are ACCA or CGMA qualified, this should be clearly documented on your CV. Either;

• Begin your CV with a strong summary or objective statement, and mention your ACCA or CGMA qualification in this section.
• Emphasise your credentials in a separate qualifications section near the top of your CV.
• Or simply put ‘ACCA Member,’ ‘CGMA Associate Member,’ or ACCA/CGMA after your name to further your association.

Provide the full qualification name

• Clearly state the full name of your qualification, such as "ACCA - Association of Chartered Certified Accountants" or "CGMA - Chartered Institute of Management Accountants."
• If you have multiple qualifications, consider listing them in chronological order.

Mention the status

• Indicate whether you have completed the qualification, are in progress, or if you have passed specific exams. This is key for professional opportunities and demonstrates your commitment to the respective professional body.
• Specify the date you obtained or expect to obtain the qualification. If you are currently studying towards your qualification, documenting it on your CV shows prospective employers that you are actively trying to develop your career. It’s important to not fabricate the truth as job offers can - and are retracted if an employer discovers a candidate does not hold the qualifications they claim to have.

Showcase skills and achievements

• List any relevant qualifications and certifications that you think might help you get the job. If you achieved high scores or distinctions in any of the exams, consider mentioning them to highlight your excellence. Talk about the road you took to qualify as an Accountant to demonstrate your passion for the industry.
• In the skills section of your CV, you may wish to include some of the attributes and skills you have gained or improved by studying for your ACCA or CGMA qualification. Provide examples and explain how these attributes added to your value and experience. This could be what differentiates you from other job candidates, including those who also have an ACCA or CGMA qualifications or other studies.
• You can list specific modules or papers that are particularly relevant to the job you're applying for. This could place you further in the lead in consideration for the role.

Tailor to the job

• Customise the way you present your qualification based on the specific job you're applying for. Highlight aspects that are most relevant to the position to enable you to add value to your CV, skills and experience.

The benefits to including ACCA or CGMA qualifications on your CV

Including your ACCA or CGMA qualification on your CV is important to showcase your professional expertise and qualifications to potential employers. 

If an employer sees that you are an Accountant certified by a chartered accounting body such as ACCA or CGMA, they can feel confident in your abilities and knowledge. The time, effort and research required to obtain such a qualification expresses to potential employers that you are a committed, determined and trustworthy individual.

It also shows that you are willing to go the extra mile, make your CV stand out more, and could be the decider between yourself and an individual without an ACCA or CGMA qualification.

Whether your qualification is ACCA or CGMA, you should anticipate a good salary as a Chartered Accountant as opposed to an Accountant, so make sure it is visible on your CV. 

CGMA and ACCA are not interchangeable, and you need to be prepared to make your choice. You will want to be sure that the modules you study will be relevant to your chosen career and will be valued by your target employers. It’s really important to take some time to choose the benefits of having CGMA vs ACCA listed on your CV.

If you are interested in how to develop your CV further, check out this guide about hobbies and interests to include on a CV for Accountant jobs.

Accountancy jobs and recruitment services

If you’re searching for your dream Accountant job, it’s important to discover how to choose an accountancy practice that’s right for you. Or if you’re new to the accounting industry, why not uncover how to get your first accounting job or insightful information about what accounting jobs are in demand?

Why not take a look at all the latest job vacancies available with Spencer Clarke Group now? Alternatively, why not upload your CV or reach out to one of our specialist consultants, Matt Byrne-Fraser, who can advise on upcoming positions! 

Meet Matt Byrne-Fraser

Who is Spencer Clarke Group?

Since 2017, we’ve been passionate about finding candidates their perfect job and working beyond the mechanics of recruitment. For us, recruitment isn't just about matching candidates to the right jobs, but finding the job that has the ability to boost their salary and standard of living, better their work life balance and improve their mental health. 

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