CIMA member search and register

To check a CIMA accountant, search the free AICPA & CIMA directories by last name, then check whether they hold a CIMA practising certificate. CIMA, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, shares its directories with the AICPA through the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. Check CIMA’s published disciplinary decisions as a final step.

What is the CIMA member search?

The CIMA member search is the AICPA & CIMA membership directories, a set of free online searches. There is no separate CIMA-only register for the public.

The directories page lists four searches.

The CGMA candidate search also covers people who have passed the exams but have not yet become CIMA members.

What search fields can you use?

Each directory has its own fields, according to the directory search page on 6 November 2026.

• Member search: last name (required), first name, location, state, city and member type, such as CIMA Member or CIMA Retired.
• Credential holder search: credential name (CGMA, ACMA, FCMA, MiP and others), name or location, country, city and postcode with a radius of 5 to 50 miles.
• Member in Practice search: location, postcode radius, area of expertise, first and last name, and company.
• CGMA candidate search: last name (required), first name and location.

You cannot search by membership number. The page does not say how often the data is updated.

How to check a CIMA accountant

Follow these steps before you hire a management accountant or take on a CIMA member as a client.

1. Get their full name, firm and town. Ask which letters they use: ACMA, FCMA or CGMA.
2. Search Find an AICPA or CIMA member. Enter the last name and filter by member type.
3. Check the credential. Use the credential holder search for the letters they claim.
4. If they offer services to the public, search Members in Practice. A listing shows a verified practising certificate.
5. Check disciplinary decisions. CIMA publishes current decisions on its published decisions page.
6. Check any audit claim separately. Search the Register of Statutory Auditors.

ACCA and ICAEW run their own registers. See ACCA member search and ICAEW member search.

Does a CIMA accountant need a practising certificate?

Yes, if they work in public practice. CIMA’s practising certificates page says all members who wish to engage in public practice, as defined in CIMA’s Member in Practice rules, must hold a current practising certificate.

A panel of assessors approves each applicant against the eligibility criteria. Many CIMA members work as employed management accountants, so a member who is not in the Member in Practice search may simply not offer services to the public. Our guide to practice licence requirements compares the rules across bodies.

What can a CIMA member do in the UK?

The answer depends on the regulated activity.

• Accounts, bookkeeping and tax for clients: this is public practice, so the member needs a CIMA practising certificate.
• Anti-money laundering supervision: CIMA is one of the 22 professional bodies in Schedule 1 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, so it can supervise its members in practice. See AML supervision.
• Statutory audit: not through CIMA. The Register of Statutory Auditors, updated 4 November 2026, lists four recognised supervisory bodies: ICAEW, ICAS, ACCA and Chartered Accountants Ireland.

How to complain about a CIMA member

CIMA’s conduct process investigates allegations of misconduct against members and registered students. To use it:

1. Read CIMA’s information for complainants.
2. Complete the Notification of Complaints Form with a summary, the dates of events and your evidence.
3. Say whether legal proceedings are planned or under way.
4. Sign, date and scan the form, then email it with your documents to prof.conduct@aicpa-cima.com.

The download page also links to a prof.conduct@cimaglobal.com address, so check the current address on the form. Disciplinary hearings are public, and you may be asked to give evidence.

Can you use the directories for marketing?

No. AICPA & CIMA says the directories are for non-commercial use only, to verify a member or to find someone to hire. Using the data for other purposes, including marketing to members, may lead to legal action. Members who want to be left out of a directory can contact AICPA & CIMA.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if someone is a CIMA member?

Use the Find an AICPA or CIMA member search on the AICPA & CIMA website. Enter their last name, and filter by first name, location and member type.

What do ACMA, FCMA and CGMA mean?

They are CIMA designations. ACMA is an associate member and FCMA a fellow; CGMA is the Chartered Global Management Accountant designation. You can check each in the credential holder search.

Is there a register of CIMA members in practice?

Yes. The Find a CIMA Member in Practice search lists accountants with a verified CIMA practising certificate, searchable by location, name, company and area of expertise.

Can a CIMA accountant sign an audit report?

Not through CIMA. CIMA is not a recognised supervisory body for audit, so a statutory auditor must be registered through ICAEW, ICAS, ACCA or Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Is the CIMA member search free?

Yes. The AICPA & CIMA directories are free to search, but they are for non-commercial use only, such as verifying a member or finding someone to hire.