Richard Kinney chose to study CIMA as it was a great preparation for the world of business and wasn’t limited to pure accountancy.

“I started out on the Arcadia Group finance graduate scheme where I undertook my CIMA qualification. I held a number of positions across the business ranging from buying and merchandising finance to a more central group reporting role. The Arcadia Group is the UK’s largest high street retailer and owns brands such as Topman and Topshop, so it was great experience.

I [now] work as commercial planning manager for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment which is the home video distribution arm of the Twentieth Century Fox film studio. The commercial planning department is part of the wider finance function but sits within the sales team supporting the national account managers of major retailers including HMV, Amazon and major grocers such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

We need to be highly attuned to the various commercial risks and opportunities that exist for our retailers including sales performance, stock analysis and return on investment. It is a really varied role and most activity on any account is influenced by the commercial planning team in some way.

As with many organisations it is vital that employees are knowledgeable about the product. Of course in our case the product is film, so it is expected that we are up to date with upcoming new releases. Each Friday we are expected to attend a screening of our latest release in our very own in house cinema. While this is a great perk, it is also very much an important part of the job. Plus, it’s always nice to see the films before they come out so you can brag to friends!

The great thing about CIMA is that it is incredibly varied. In the future I would maybe like to move from a highly commercial environment into an area with more of an operational or marketing focus. I’d like to gain a complete skill set to help me progress to a higher level – one that is not necessarily completely finance focused. “