Can you tell us a bit about why you chose to study CIMA? And why you selected First Intuition as your learning provider?

• I decided to take the leap into finance and pursue my CIMA journey. After spending many years in senior retail leadership roles, I found myself really enjoying the financial side of things – analysing results, making strategic decisions and managing budgets. So, when the company went through a restructuring, it felt like a now-or-never moment to dive fully into the area I was passionate about and make the career change I’d been thinking about. CIMA felt like the perfect fit because of its forward-looking focus and how it ties business thinking with finance. It also allowed me to build on the skills I had already developed in my previous role.
• I chose First Intuition after seeing it recommended by so many people on LinkedIn, especially for its engaging approach to learning and flexible course options.

Can you describe your experience studying via FI Online and Online Live courses? Were there any features of the online learning platforms that you found particularly helpful?

• I found the FI Online platform really easy to use and intuitive. I liked the structure of the chapters, followed by lots of question practice. I used the pre-recorded videos that walked through each chapter. This is my preferred way of learning and helped me to move along quickly and not get distracted. On the whole, I found the platform incredibly convenient; as long as I had my phone and some headphones, I could study anywhere without needing to carry books or be at a desk.
• For the case studies, I used the Online Live courses, where the tutors were excellent at addressing our questions, helping us understand the format, and providing guidance on how to best prepare. They reassured us during what can be the most daunting aspects of CIMA, keeping our learning focused and aligned with each exam’s requirements. The marked mock exams, whilst extremely hard and time-consuming, were also critical in helping me pass.

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What study habits or techniques did you find most effective whilst preparing for your CIMA exams?

• My study techniques evolved throughout my AAT and CIMA learning journey. You name it, I tried it. First off, this is what worked for me. Everyone is different, and the key is to experiment with different methods to find what sticks.
• For me, writing loads of notes didn’t work. My go-to methods were loads of question practice (and I mean hundreds and hundreds) and flashcards—digital ones that you can quickly create on your phone using voice recognition. 
• Many people say that the fastest way to succeed in AAT and CIMA is through practice questions, and it’s so true. I would repeat questions I’d already done until I knew them inside out.
• I’d only create flashcards after I’d fully digested the syllabus, using question practice to identify which areas needed more work. The beauty of making flashcards on your phone is that you can dictate the text using Siri (or equivalent) and study them anywhere. I’d often go through them while washing up, or my wife would test me while I was driving.

How did you manage to stay motivated throughout your CIMA journey?

• My biggest motivator, without question, was the desire to obtain a qualification that would give me career flexibility and options, along with strong progression opportunities, so I could provide for my family.
• In addition, the other students were a huge source of motivation. I connected with many people through LinkedIn, exchanging ideas and techniques. Seeing others achieve what I was striving for always pushed me to keep going.

If you had to give three pieces of advice to current or future students, what would they be?

1. Don’t worry if something doesn’t stick straight away. My advice would be to get a general understanding and move on to the next chapter, and it will probably click into place either without realising it or when you revisit it. Try googling it and getting a different perspective; Investopedia was my go-to for learning definitions and further (free) reading.
2. Find your routine and form habits around it. For me, I was up at 5 am for three years almost every day. I’m a morning person, so that worked for me, and I could get loads done. For others, it might be the evening. Whenever it is, make it part of your life, talk to your family and friends to make sure you’re getting their buy-in and support and do it consistently.
3. Set yourself a goal. Whether it’s completing an OT exam, a module or a full level, set your timeline and work backwards. If you want to do the exam in 8/10/12 weeks, first book the exam, then work out when you’ll want to be doing your mock exams, and then work out when you’ll want to finish the syllabus. Once you have your timelines, challenge yourself to make that work and see what you can do.

You progressed quickly through your CIMA qualification—what do you think contributed most to your success?

• To be honest, when I started, I fully expected it to take 3 years. However, having completed the AAT, I was surprised by how much overlap there was between the two qualifications, which helped massively. I even drew on some of what I had learned from AAT at the strategic level.
• The most significant factor has to be consistency – once I had my routine, I just kept to it, partly because I knew if I had too much of a break, it would be harder to get going again but mainly because I knew the cumulative effect of studying day in day out would add up. For example, I would take a maximum of two or three days off after passing an exam. Then, I’d start studying the next level once I had sat a case study and was waiting for the result. I would study 7 days a week from 5 am for 1-2 hours, more closer to exams and at weekends.
• You’d be surprised how quickly you adapt to waking up early every day. It’s incredibly satisfying to realise that by 8 or 9 am, you’ve already had a productive two-hour study session.

Finally, what impact has CIMA had on your career so far and what’s next for you now that you’ve completed CIMA journey? Are there any further professional goals you’re aiming for?

• CIMA has expanded my learning and knowledge of business and finance into areas of the world I just didn’t know existed before! I feel empowered and confident to deliver financial services to clients and better understand how I can add value to my role. This isn’t the end of my studying. I’m keen to expand my knowledge further. Perhaps look at a top-up master’s and definitely do some more targeted training, too.
• My professional goal is to be in the boardroom, leveraging my finance expertise and operational leadership experience to drive value for businesses. Building strong, collaborative relationships is a priority for me, and true success means growing alongside a network that thrives together. I am a huge believer in the proverb, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

Thank you very much for your time and insight on your CIMA learning journey Tom. FI wish you all the best for the future!

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