HKICPA and CIMA collaborate to create opportunities for accounting and finance professionals

The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) have entered into a new 5-year agreement to accelerate the growth of the accounting and finance profession in Hong Kong by agreeing mutual examination paper exemptions (MEPE) from the HKICPA Qualification Programme (QP) and the CIMA’s CGMA Professional Qualification. 

The agreement will widen the opportunities to both of HKICPA members and CIMA members, promote knowledge sharing, and contribute to the continued success of the accounting and finance profession. HKICPA members completing QP or other members subject to competency assessment will have an expedited pathway to becoming Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMA designation holders) and CIMA members. Conversely, CIMA members will be able to fast track their way to becoming Hong Kong CPAs and HKICPA members. The MEPE governs the exemptions from the professional examinations of HKICPA and CIMA for their respective members. HKICPA and CIMA members have to meet their own professional body’s membership requirements. 

Ms Margaret Chan, Chief Executive and Registrar of HKICPA, said, “The new agreement signifies the Institute’s continuous commitment to advance the accounting profession development in Hong Kong. This advanced agreement further opens up opportunities for HKICPA members to become members of CIMA, easing their path to gain another world-leading qualification and strengthening their competitiveness.”

“This collaboration also reflects the well-regarded standing of the Institute and its Qualification Programme. The Institute also has reciprocal membership agreements with chartered accounting bodies in major financial centres, making its qualification one of the most internationally-recognized and giving its members unprecedented mobility."

Mr Andrew Harding, FCMA, CGMA, Chief Executive – Management Accounting at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, added, “We are delighted to continue our collaboration with the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and further our joint efforts of developing highly-skilled accounting and finance professionals who can drive sustainable success for their organisations.”

“We are very proud of what we have achieved through our collaboration over the past few decades. The new agreement will enable us to continue to support a growing number of aspiring accounting and finance professionals in Hong Kong to maximise their potential and achieve their professional goals.”

For details of the MEPE between HKICPA and CIMA, please visit website:

https://www.hkicpa.org.hk/en/Membership/Registration/Recognition-of-overseas-bodies