New investment management certificate is to be introduced

Sunday Business Post - Recruitment Pages - Oct 21 2007

The Institute of Bankers in Ireland and the Securities and Investment Institute (Ireland) have joined forces to launch a new certification programme to facilitate career progression in the investment management sector.

Diarmuid Bradley, director of education at the Institute of Bankers, said the Certificate in Investment Management would equip holders with the professional knowledge and skills necessary to successfully develop careers in the investment management space.

“Fund management has became a big growth area in Ireland,” said Bradley. “The sense we had was that there needed to be some education element to tie in with that and educate industry professionals. This would benefit the individuals in terms of their careers and also the customers who would use their service."

The qualification is aimed at professionals engaged in managing investments, including areas such as private client asset management, advisory and discretionary portfolio management and fund management.

Bradley said employers would welcome the introduction of this qualification.

"To work effectively in the industry you need specialist knowledge and skills because of the complexity and the level of change,” he said.


Bradley said interest in the certification was expected to come from a broad spectrum of candidates employed in the financial services sector.

"We are expecting people who are working in both front and back office of investment organisations to apply,” he said.

He said that candidates interested in moving into a career in financial services might also consider the qualification.

"Because of the growth of the investment, funds and asset management sectors you get people coming from other degrees,” he said. “It is certainly not confined to people with a business degree.”

The course runs from October to September. It includes Saturday seminars at the School of Professional Finance in Dublin’s docklands (an externally recognised school of University College Dublin) and distance learning elements, which allows participants to continue to work full-time while studying.

“They are combining what they are learning on the job, with practical knowledge of the particular subject area," said Bradley.

He said that the majority of candidates would already have third level degrees, although the minimum requirements for applicants are five passes in the Leaving Certificate including English and Maths. Applicants over 21 years can apply on mature grounds.

The course content includes a thorough overview of the Irish investment and funds management industry, said Bradley.

"One focus will be familiarity with the products in the investment and funds management industry,” he said. “There is a significant level of growth in the range of products and the complexity of products at present. They will understand the products and how they can be appropriate to different clients and people with different investment needs."

The syllabus is divided into two modules: regulation and investment management. Tuition covers subjects including rules and regulation specific to firms trading on the Irish Stock Exchange, macro and micro economics, securities and derivatives, and investment appraisal and performance management.

There is a registration fee for students of €490 per module. This includes examination entry, study manual and seminars.