What is the Certified Investment Management Specialist?

The Certified Investment Management Specialist is a globally recognised professional certification by the Global Leadership Institute (GLI), designed to equip professionals with advanced competencies in Finance & Accounting.

How long does this certification take?

The programme is 12 Weeks and can be completed at your own pace through our self-paced online option, or alongside live virtual sessions.

Is this certification globally recognised?

Yes. GLI certifications are internationally recognised and carry CPD credits, making them valuable for career advancement worldwide.

What level is this certification?

This is a Advanced Level certification, suitable for professionals with relevant experience or background in the field.

You can enrol by emailing info@certifications.ac, contacting us via WhatsApp at +254 722 223 084, or filling the enrolment form below.

Certified Investment Management Specialist (CIMAS)

Executive Summary

Certified Investment Management Specialist

Designed for today’s high-impact professionals, the Certified Investment Management Specialist (CIMAS) delivers a rigorous Advanced-level curriculum that equips participants with the knowledge, tools and frameworks needed to excel in financial management, accounting, budgeting and financial analysis.

This 12 Weeks programme is structured around IFRS, GAAP and recognised financial management and reporting standards, ensuring every graduate applies internationally validated methods to real-world challenges.

GLI’s CIMAS holders are recognised by leading organisations across Africa, the Gulf, Europe and the Americas as qualified, results-driven professionals. Whether you are advancing your current career or transitioning into new responsibilities, this certification provides the competitive edge you need in 2026 and beyond.

Programme Overview

Certification at a Glance

Certification

Certified Investment Management Specialist

Acronym

CIMAS

Who Should Enrol?

Finance Officers and Accountants
Budget and Cost Analysts
Finance Managers and Controllers
Auditors and Financial Analysts

Programme Inclusions

Everything Included in Your Enrolment

All study materials and study guide
Access to GLI online learning portal
Online examination and assessment
Digital certificate and digital badge
Physical certificate (shipped to you)
CPD credits for professional bodies
GLI alumni network membership
Facilitator and tutor support
Resource downloads and reference library
Automatic enrolment confirmation

Certification Benefits

Why This Certification Matters for Your Career

Career Advancement

Accelerate your career towards senior finance, controller and CFO roles

Professional Recognition

Credential aligned with IFRS, GAAP and recognised financial management and reporting standards

Leadership Capability

Develop the strategic and operational skills to lead complex financial management functions

Organisational Impact

Design and implement financial management systems that drive performance and measurable results

Compliance Readiness

Master the standards, compliance and ethical governance central to financial management

Global Employability

Qualify for financial management roles across corporates, banks, NGOs and public-sector organisations worldwide

Competency Framework

Core Competencies You Will Develop

✦Investment Policy Structures

✦Security Selection

✦Portfolio Risk

✦Manager Selection

✦Portfolio Monitoring

✦Investment Reporting

Course Curriculum

Programme Modules

The full programme, module by module.

Core CurriculumModules 1–20 · specific to Certified Investment Management Specialist · module 20 is the capstone

1

Investment Management Foundations

Capital markets: how securities are issued, traded and settled · Investment portfolio management · Real options and strategic investment · Risk and return: the relationship every investment decision rests on

2

Investment Policy Structures

The policy cycle: formulation, instruments and implementation · Dividend policy and shareholder returns · Investment of surplus funds · Investment and disinvestment decisions

3

Asset Allocation Models

Asset allocation: the decision that drives most of the outcome · Asset-liability committee (ALCO) governance · Equity, fixed income and the main asset classes · Financial strategy and capital allocation

4

Portfolio Construction

Portfolio construction and theory · Risk, return and portfolio theory · Innovation portfolio: horizons, experiments and commercialisation · Technology and digital strategy: alignment, portfolio and roadmap

5

Security Selection

Working capital and the cash conversion cycle · Funding the working-capital cycle · Cost of capital and the financing decision · Working capital management: the cash tied up in running the business

6

Portfolio Diversification

Credit portfolio management: concentration, correlation and appetite · Portfolio diversification and limits · Corporate strategy: portfolio, diversification and the parenting question · Solvency, capital and prudential supervision

7

Investment Product Structures

Behavioural finance: the predictable ways investors go wrong · Transactions: due diligence, valuation and integration · Facility and asset protection · Chain of custody in digital evidence

8

Portfolio Risk

Yield, productivity and profitability metrics · Portfolio of evidence and reflective practice · Variable-rate application and yield mapping · Digital advisory, e-extension and mobile services

9

Benchmarking

Liquidity and funding risk · Benchmarking against standards and best practice · Advisory and non-financial services · SME portfolio management

10

Investment Performance

Tax accounting: current tax, deferred tax and the return · Accounting for grants, projects and restricted funds · Evidence: collection, chain of custody and admissibility · Asset tracing, recovery and organisational response

11

Manager Selection

Innovation portfolio and the three horizons · Evidence and chain of custody: making findings defensible · IT governance, decision rights and the technology portfolio · Corporate strategy and portfolio choices

12

Portfolio Rebalancing

Evidence handling and chain of custody · Safeguarding people and assets · Cash, assets and loss prevention · Corporate portfolio strategy and parenting advantage

13

Investment Mandates

Institutional mandates: objectives, constraints and the investment policy statement · Risk and vulnerability assessment · KPIs and performance reporting · Duty of care and risk management

14

Portfolio Monitoring

Portfolio monitoring and review: what to watch and what to ignore · Cost-benefit and investment appraisal · Financial risk in projects · Managing schedule and budget performance

15

Alternative Investments

Alternative investments · Campaign or go-to-market plan · Brand strategy, identity and equity · Market research and intelligence

16

Investment Governance

IT governance, compliance and data protection obligations · Digital and market transformation · Managing growth, risk and resilience · Governance codes and comply-or-explain: using the code as a tool

17

Investment Reporting

Evaluation use: reporting findings that change decisions · Climate-smart agriculture and seasonal risk · Harvest timing, maturity and yield assessment · Investment appraisal and risk

18

Portfolio Optimisation

Treating customers fairly and market conduct · Risk, compliance and feasibility analysis · Enterprise risk management in banks · Credit risk measurement and mitigation

19

Investment Review Systems

Governance, risk and compliance · System performance and reliability metrics · Risk, security and feasibility analysis · Concurrency and performance

20

Investment Management Practicum

Banking regulation, capital and supervisory expectations · Investment, capital markets and wealth advisory · Industry and business risk · Credit risk measurement

Professional ElectivesModules 21–30 · common to all GLI certifications · broaden your professional range

21

Strategic Communication and Executive Presentation

Vision, purpose and translating direction into work · Audience-centred communication and message structure · Executive leadership: the board interface and enterprise stewardship · Persuasive structure: framing, evidence and the ask

22

Leadership and Team Effectiveness

Leadership identity, style and the limits of style · Leadership assessment, feedback and continuous self-review · Leadership versus management and when each is needed · Situational and adaptive leadership

23

Analytical Thinking and Evidence-Based Reasoning

Creativity and critical-thinking development · Analytical techniques and bias · Evidence-based improvement · Problem framing: symptoms, definition and scope

24

Professional Decision-Making

Managerial decision-making, bias and decision rights · Escalation and decision-making · Decision support: briefs, options and judgement under pressure · Decision frameworks: criteria, weighting and trade-offs

25

Negotiation, Influence and Stakeholder Management

Negotiation preparation: interests, options and the walk-away · Power, followership and organisational politics · Negotiation: preparation, interests and value creation · Concessions, anchoring and the shape of a bargain

26

Project and Execution Management

Proposals, bids and the business case · Project roles and the project manager · Developing the project business case · Planning, scheduling and personal workflow systems

27

Financial Literacy for Professionals

Financial reporting standards and their application · Financial management for the operating manager · Liquidity, funding and balance sheet management · Management accounting: costing, budgeting and decision support

28

Digital Skills, AI and Technology for Professionals

Digital workplace, collaboration and user support · Productivity, collaboration and workflow tools · Tools for interaction and collaboration · Working with data: quality, interpretation and honest presentation

29

Ethics, Governance and Professional Accountability

Ethical leadership: integrity, tolerated behaviour and moral courage · Ethics, conduct and speaking up · Business development risk, ethics and integrity · AI for managers: adoption, oversight and governance

30

Personal Effectiveness, Productivity and Career Growth

Emotional competence: awareness, regulation and expression · Self-awareness, strengths and the accuracy of self-image · Emotional intelligence and self-regulation · Priority: outcomes, importance and the urgency trap

Every module opens in the learning portal with its full lesson set, worked examples, further reading and video masterclasses. 30 modules · 150 lessons.

Learning Outcomes

What You Will Achieve

Investment Policy Structures — applied to your own work
Asset Allocation Models — applied to your own work
Portfolio Construction — applied to your own work
Security Selection — applied to your own work
Portfolio Diversification — applied to your own work
Investment Product Structures — applied to your own work

Enrolment Process

How to Get Certified

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Step 1: Choose Your Certification

You are viewing Certified Investment Management Specialist — one of GLI's 1,990+ globally recognised professional certifications.

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Step 2: Enrol & Pay Online — Instantly

Click Enrol & Study Online to register and pay securely via Paystack, Visa, Mastercard, M-Pesa or bank transfer. Access is granted the moment payment is confirmed.

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Step 3: Study in the GLI Learning Portal

Work through 30 structured modules and 150 lessons at your own pace, with downloadable resources and expert-designed content — all inside the LMS.

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Step 4: Pass, Get Certified & Verified

Sit your final examination online, earn your certificate instantly, and receive a globally verifiable Certificate ID — plus GLI Alumni Network access.

🎓 Enrol & Study Online — Instant Access

Secure checkout · Instant LMS access · Globally verifiable certificate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

What is the CIMAS certification?

The Certified Investment Management Specialist is a professional certification awarded by the Global Leadership Institute. It covers 20 core modules specific to Investment Management Specialist, culminating in the capstone “Investment Management Practicum”, plus 10 professional elective modules common to all GLI certifications. Candidates study through the online portal, submit the capstone project and sit a final examination; those who pass receive a verifiable certificate carrying a unique certificate ID.

Who should enrol in the CIMAS?

This certification is ideal for Finance Officers and Accountants, Budget and Cost Analysts, Finance Managers and Controllers and Auditors and Financial Analysts, and other professionals seeking to formalise their expertise in financial management, accounting, budgeting and financial analysis with a globally recognised credential.

How long does the CIMAS certification take to complete?

The programme is structured over 12 Weeks and offers flexible learning modes. Self-paced learners can progress at their own schedule, while live virtual participants follow a structured cohort schedule with facilitator-led sessions.

Is the CIMAS internationally recognised?

Yes. GLI certifications are recognised across 100+ countries and are aligned with IFRS, GAAP and recognised financial management and reporting standards. Graduates receive a digital certificate, a physical certificate and CPD credits recognised by employers worldwide.

What is the cost of the CIMAS certification?

The Certified Investment Management Specialist is offered in two formats: Self-Paced at USD 449 and Live Virtual at USD 649. Corporate group rates are available for organisations enrolling 5 or more participants. Contact GLI for a bespoke corporate training quotation.

What does the CIMAS certification include?

Enrolment includes all study materials and study guides, access to GLI's online learning portal, online examination, digital certificate and badge, physical certificate (posted), CPD credits, GLI alumni network membership, and ongoing facilitator support.

What is the assessment format for the CIMAS?

The Certified Investment Management Specialist is assessed through an online examination consisting of multiple-choice questions, case study analysis, and practical application assignments. The assessment is designed to evaluate real-world competency, not just theoretical recall.

What CPD credits do I earn from the CIMAS?

The Certified Investment Management Specialist carries Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits, which can be applied towards professional body requirements including recognised international professional associations.

Can I study the CIMAS while working full-time?

Absolutely. The self-paced option is designed for busy working professionals and allows you to study when and where it suits you. Live virtual sessions are typically scheduled in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate professional commitments.

What career outcomes can I expect from the CIMAS?

Graduates progress towards senior finance, controller and CFO roles. The CIMAS strengthens your expertise in financial management, accounting, budgeting and financial analysis and positions you for advancement across corporates, banks, NGOs and public-sector organisations.

Graduate Voices

What Our Alumni Say

“

The curriculum was directly applicable to my daily work. I immediately applied what I learned and saw results within weeks of completing the programme.

Finance Director

Private Sector

“

GLI's certification is the most practical professional programme I have attended. The international frameworks gave me credibility with my employer and clients.

Financial Controller

NGO Sector

“

I earned my CIMAS while working full-time. The self-paced format made it possible, and the quality of the content is genuinely world-class.

Senior Accountant

Government

Certified Investment Management Specialist

Certified Investment Management Specialist

Certification at a Glance

Who Should Enrol?

Everything Included in Your Enrolment

Why This Certification Matters for Your Career

Core Competencies You Will Develop

Programme Modules

What You Will Achieve

How to Get Certified

Common Questions

What Our Alumni Say

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