13
AT PROFESSIONALISM LEVEL EVERY
ATPROFESSIONALISM
LEVELEVERY
Among the countless finance degrees around the world, the Chartered Financial Analyst qualification has become the gold standard.
Financial Times, 13 August 2010
www.cfainstitute.org2
Level I
Level II
Level III
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AND WEALTH PLANNING
EQUITY INVESTMENTS
FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ANALYSIS
FIXED-INCOME INVESTMENTS
ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
DERIVATIVES
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS
QUANTITATIVE METHODS
CORPORATE FINANCE
ECONOMICS
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Professionalism at every level the cfa® charter
Having the right employees in place is key to ensuring success. As the global marketplace becomes increasingly competitive, employers are using the CFA charter to identify the most qualified job applicants and the most committed employees.
The building blocks of the CFA charter are firmly grounded in the CFA Program curriculum, a comprehensive framework of concepts that CFA charterholders will use at all stages of their careers and in many areas of specialization. The curriculum evolves each year to include
new tools, ideas, and concepts that reflect the dynamic and complex nature of the global finance profession.
The custom curriculum is based on an extensive and ongoing global practice-analysis process that relies on input, discussions, surveys, and reviews from thousands of active practitioners and CFA charterholders.
Charterholders stand out from the crowd because they have demonstrated that they have tenacity and are able to go through a rigorous program and study hard: it shows a certain type of personality that definitely performs well.
Peter Jakobus, CFASenior ManagerErnst & YoungFrankfurt, GERMANY
3www.cfainstitute.org
Level I
Level II
Level III
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AND WEALTH PLANNING
EQUITY INVESTMENTS
FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ANALYSIS
FIXED-INCOME INVESTMENTS
ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
DERIVATIVES
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS
QUANTITATIVE METHODS
CORPORATE FINANCE
ECONOMICS
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
curriculum toPic breakdownby exam level
Hong Kong, CHINA
www.cfainstitute.org4
exceed exPectationshire a cfa charterholder
Since its introduction, the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) charter has become one of the most respected and recognized professional credentials in the world.
Earning the CFA charter demonstrates a mastery of the analytic and decision-making skills needed in today’s fast-evolving and competitive work-place. In addition, by pledging to uphold the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Profes-sional Conduct, CFA charterholders commit to the highest standards of professional excellence.
The CFA designation is a mark of distinction that is globally recognized by employers as well as a host of other organizations.
• Regulatorybodiesinmanycountriesrecognizethe CFA designation as a proxy for meeting certain licensing requirements.
• Morethan125distinguishedcollegesanduni-versities around the world have incorporated a majority of the CFA Program curriculum into their own courses.
• TheCFAProgramhasbeenbenchmarkedasbeing comparable to master’s degree levels in finance in the United Kingdom.
Professional ethics is one of the most important traits that global employers look for when they are hiring.
Dr. Bruce Wonil Lee, CFAPresident and CEOAllianz Global Investors Korea LimitedSeoul, SOUTH KOREA
5www.cfainstitute.org
Dr. Bruce Wonil Lee, CFASeoul, SOUTH KOREA
www.cfainstitute.org6
access ability and exPeriencethe cfa charterholder
A charterholder exhibits professional characteris-tics and career traits that meet employer needs, regardless of the specialization or field.
A CFA charterholder is:
Credible: Has demonstrated a mastery of a comprehensive body of knowledge, fulfilled four years of on-the-job experience, and adheres to a code of ethics.
Committed: Has dedicated 300 hours of study to each of three levels of rigorous examinations.1
Current: Has access to continuing education and lifelong learning resources.
Connected: Is a member of a network of more than 100,000 investment professionals in more than 100 countries.
CFA Institute has a variety of resources to assist interested employers with finding highly qualified candidates:
• Jobline: A targeted, online employment search tool for job seekers and employers (www.cfainstitute.org/HireCFA).
• CFA Institute Research Challenge: As sponsors, employers gain access to the best and brightest university students competing in a global equity research challenge.
• Local Societies: CFA member societies support the mission of CFA Institute around the globe by maintaining job boards, hosting networking events, and supporting continuing education.
1Based on the June 2011 Post-Exam Candidate Survey.
7www.cfainstitute.org
charterholder occuPationscharterholder exPerience
charterholder locale 2011 candidate locale
5 Years or Less
6–10 Years
11–15 Years
16–20 Years
More than 20 Years
Not Applicable
5%3%
24%22%
17%
29%
Portfolio Managers
Research Analysts
Chief Executives
Consultants
Risk Managers
Relationship Managers, Sales & Marketing
Financial Advisers
Corporate Financial Analysts
Investment Banking Analysts
Other ex. trader, auditor, broker, academic
22%30%
14%
7%5%
4%4%
4%4%
5%
Data are based on self-reported demographic and employment data as of 1 August 2011. Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.
CFA charterholders are experienced, well-rounded, and versatile professionals, and the breadth of knowledge gained from completion of the CFA Program has applications across the investment industry and around the world.
North America
Europe
Asia Pacific
Africa & Middle East
Latin America & Caribbean65%
1%
16%
2%
15% 33%
2%
43%
6%
16%
North America
Europe
Asia Pacific
Africa & Middle East
Latin America & Caribbean65%
1%
16%
2%
15% 33%
2%
43%
6%
16%
North America
Europe
Asia Pacific
Africa & Middle East
Latin America & Caribbean65%
1%
16%
2%
15% 33%
2%
43%
6%
16%
North America
Europe
Asia Pacific
Africa & Middle East
Latin America & Caribbean65%
1%
16%
2%
15% 33%
2%
43%
6%
16%
www.cfainstitute.org8
Promote Professional excellenceencourage enrollment and Support candidateS
Both employers and employees recognize the value and benefits of the CFA designation. In addition to hiring charterholders, many firms encourage staff members to pursue the charter and support them in their studies.
There is no one way to help candidates prepare for the CFA exams, and candidate management will differ across firms and business areas. As you create your employee development programs, you may find it helpful to know that some CFA candi-dates receive benefits from their employers.1
1Based on the June 2011 CFA Program Candidate Survey.
Some of these benefits include:
• Paidstudyleave
• Reimbursementofenrollment,registration,and prep-provider fees
• Offerofabonuspaymentforpassingtheexams and earning the charter
• Internal study groups
• Mentoringprograms
The person who interviewed me at my firm is a charterholder, and my direct boss is also a charterholder, so they know the effort that was put in, the knowledge gained, and the edge that it gives you.
Rana Atallah, CFAAssistant Vice President, Asset ManagementNational Bank of Kuwait CapitalKuwait City, KUWAIT
9www.cfainstitute.org
Rana Atallah, CFAKuwait City, KUWAIT
www.cfainstitute.org10
Salvador AvilaNew York, UNITED STATES
Daniel Gamba, CFANew York, UNITED STATES
11www.cfainstitute.org
cfa instituteglobal aSSociation of inveStment profeSSionalS
World economies and markets depend on widespread trust. This responsibility—the trust bestowed on investment professionals—informs the core of the CFA Institute organizational mis-sion: “To lead the investment profession globally by setting the highest standards of ethics, educa-tion, and professional excellence.”
CFA Institute is a global, not-for-profit organiza-tion comprising the world’s largest association of investment professionals. With more than 100,000 members and many regional societies around the world, CFA Institute is dedicated to developing and promoting the highest educa-
I have several employees who are now in the process of pursuing the CFA charter and we support that at BlackRock: we fund the CFA Program for employees interested in the challenge of earning it.
Daniel Gamba, CFAManaging DirectorHead, Latin America and Iberia BusinessBlackRock, Inc.New York, UNITED STATES
tional, ethical, and professional standards in the investment industry.
In addition to the CFA designation, the edu-cational and career resources offered by CFA Institute include the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM®) designation. The organization is also a leading voice on global issues of fairness, market efficiency, and investor protection.
CFA Institute and its predecessor organizations have been setting standards of excellence for the investment industry since 1947.
©2011 CFA Institute
Every year we see more and more firms demand the CFA charter or significant progress in the CFA Program.
Sam Levine, CFAExecutive RecruiterThe Buttonwood Group, LLCMichigan, UNITED STATES
Cover: Chicago, UNITED STATES
CHARLOTTESVILLE560 Ray C. Hunt DriveCharlottesville, Virginia22903-2981USA800-247-8132 Phone (USA and CANADA)+1-434-951-5499 Phone (outside USA and CANADA)
NEW YORK477 Madison Avenue21st floor New York, New York10022USA
HONG KONGSuite 4905-08One Exchange Square8 Connaught Place, CentralHong Kong, CHINA
LONDON7th Floor131 Finsbury PavementLondon EC2A 1NT, UNITED KINGDOM
BRUSSELSSquare de Meeûs 38/401000 Brussels, BELGIUM
BUENOS AIRESOpening in 2012
For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org or e-mail [email protected].
