Mercury offers CFA qualification

Mercury Institute of Management ushers in a new era for professionals in the capital market of Sri Lanka, for those who aspire to be a part of the prestigious profession, by offering the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification to Sri Lankan students.

The CFA program is the most widely known and respected investment credential in the world. The graduate level curriculum provides a strong foundation and link theory and practice with real-world investment analysis and portfolio management skills along with the practical knowledge you need in today’s investment banking fields.

It also emphasises the highest ethical and professional standards and offers an excellent foundation to careers in the investment profession.

Speaking of the qualification CFA course coordinator of Mercury Institute Thilina Ukwatta stated: “Earning the CFA designation which is considered the gold standard in the investment banking field can move one’s  resume to the top of the pile in extremely competitive fields, including, investment banking, business development, corporate mergers and acquisitions and leading to many going on to careers as portfolio managers or research analysts at hedge funds and private equity firms.”

Entry requirement for CFA is a recognised bachelor’s degree or an equivalent professional qualification such as ACCA, CIMA, CIM, CMA, and ICASL or to be a final year student of the bachelor’s degree program.

One could also have four years qualified professional work experience or have a combination of work and academic experience that total four years.

Completing the CFA program confirms one’s mastery of the rigorous CFA curriculum, and signifies their success in passing all three exam levels, which is one of the requirements for earning the CFA charter.

A candidate, who successfully completes the program and show industry experience of four years, is awarded a ‘CFA Charter’ and becomes a ‘CFA Charter Holder’.

Passing the series of CFA exams also demonstrates mastery of a broad range of investment and technical skills to succeed in asset or investment management, specifically in the field of investment banking. 

Elaborating on the career opportunities available Ukwatta stated: “Many CFA Charter Holders find that earning the CFA Charter provides them with an opportunity for working within numerous investment specialties and markets around the globe.

“Employers recognise the CFA charter as the definitive standard by which to measure the competence, integrity, and dedication of serious investment professionals, as they know the time commitment and dedication it takes to earn the qualification and they have the confidence that you have ability, dedication, ethical grounding and the hard, transferable analytical skills necessary to do the job in question.”

He also said, “There are financial benefits as well. It is proven in the Wall Street that CFA Charter Holders are at an upper salary scale compared to its counterparts.

“In addition, the opportunity to network with other CFA Charter Holders, who are almost all in the investment management business, is a priceless opportunity to get your face in front of the people who matter; the people who make hiring decisions.”

When asked why the institute decided to affiliate themselves with the qualification, Ukwatta stated: “Today Mercury stands out as one of the leading Institutes provides quality professional education such as ACCA where we were the first institute to bring tuition for this qualification to our Sri Lankan students 11 years ago.

“We are currently the only platinum status tuition provider for ACCA, and once again the pioneers in bringing the CFA qualification to our students.”

Explaining further he said, “The Institute has size controlled classes which provides one-to-one learning programs for students, which in turn aids them in terms of receiving focused lecturer attention.

We also possess a team of exceptionally gifted lecturers who all come from a CFA background and are experienced personnel from the industry.

“The teaching methods adopted by the institute includes, a structured approach in teaching and study methods geared for exam success such as full coverage of syllabus, followed by revision at the end of each session in the form of extensive Q&A discussions and practice of over 500 exam oriented questions.”

Ukwatta concluded by saying, “We are the only institute which provides the CFA calculator free of charge to all students upon enrolment due fact that currently it is unavailable in Sri Lanka, which is however, a must for the examination.

“Due to complex nature of the financial calculator we even provide a special calculator session for all enrolments.

Enrolments are now on for April 2013 intake for the CFA Level one December 2013 examination.