CIMA Inspires Future Management Accountants at UKZN

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Third-year Accounting students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) recently had the opportunity to engage with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) during a session aimed at deepening their understanding of the profession and expanding their career perspectives beyond the traditional CA(SA) route.

Professor Bomi Nomlala, Director of the Self-Funded Teaching Programme and Associate Professor, opened the session by welcoming the CIMA representative and emphasising the important partnership between UKZN and CIMA. He then introduced the newly established School of Commerce, formed through the merger of the former School of Accounting, Economics and Finance with the School of Management, Information Systems and Governance. He further elaborated on the importance of the relationship by highlighting that: ‘This collaboration ensures that academic content is not only aligned with the standards of professional accounting bodies but also equips students with industry-relevant skills, making them workplace-ready by the time they graduate,’ he said.

At the heart of the engagement was Mr Blessing Mayeza, a Business Development Manager at CIMA, who works closely with universities across Namibia, Lesotho, and South Africa. 

His presentation offered students a comprehensive overview of CIMA’s global role and its affiliation with the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA). Together, these bodies shape professionals in both financial and management accounting fields.

Mayeza drew an important distinction between being an accounting graduate and becoming a professional accountant, emphasising that while a degree provides a foundation, professional certification adds a strategic layer of credibility, practical competence, and global recognition.

He elaborated on the role of management accountants, describing them as professionals who combine financial expertise with strategic insight to guide business decisions, manage risk, and drive sustainable performance.

Touching on the future of finance, Mayeza warned students of the rapidly changing job landscape, suggesting that roles like bookkeepers may soon become obsolete due to automation. 

‘The profession is evolving and to remain relevant, you have to be progressive,’ he said.

He stressed the importance of developing a broad skill set - including business acumen, leadership, digital literacy, and people skills - which are integral components of the CIMA qualification. These competencies enable management accountants to function effectively not just in finance departments, but across various business functions.

A particularly exciting takeaway for students was learning that by pursuing the CIMA route at UKZN, they stand to gain significant academic exemptions, skipping 11 board exams and progressing directly to the Management Case Study level. This fast-tracked path puts graduates within reach of earning the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation with only a few additional exams to complete.

Mayeza also shared the CIMA qualification framework, outlining each level and the skills covered, giving students a clear roadmap of what the journey entails.

Professor Stephen Mutula, Dean and Head of School of Commerce, commended the School for maintaining the accreditation of our programmes and expressed gratitude to CIMA for their visit, which supports the alignment of our curriculum for accreditation purposes.

Words and photograph: Ayanda Radebe