WHAT IS FINANCE ANALYST
Finance is the science of funds management. The general areas of finance are business finance, personal finance, and public finance. Finance includes saving money and often includes lending money. The field of finance deals with the concepts of time, money, and risk and how they are interrelated. It also deals with how money is spent and budgeted. In corporate finance, a company’s capital structure is the total mix of financing methods it uses to raise funds. One method is debt financing, which includes bank loans and bond sales. Another method is equity financing - the sale of stock by a company to investors. Possession of stock gives the investor ownership in the company in proportion to the number of shares the investor owns. In return for the stock, the company receives cash, which it may use to expand its business or to reduce its debt. Investors, in both bonds and stock, may be institutional investors - financial institutions such as investment banks and pension funds - or private individuals, called private investors or retail investors. Analysts are typically employed by brokerage firms, investment advisors, or mutual funds. Analysts do the grunt work for brokers, preparing the research that brokers use. The most prestigious certification an analyst can receive is the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Analysts usually specialize in specific industries or sectors to allow for comprehensive research.
CAREER
Those who progress along corporate financial-analyst tracks can expect to eventually find different jobs in the financial community, perhaps as investment bankers, investment advisors, or financial consultants. Those who enjoy the more interpersonal side of finance move into management consultant positions, where they can use their people skills as well as their financial skills. Over 45 percent head to business school within five years and another ten percent go to law school. A few become in-house financial advisors or officers in the industries they covered as financial analysts.
Course of Study
The foundation module of the course is aimed at familiarising candidates from disciplines other that commerce, to the basic principles of finance. It includes courses in financial and management accounting, essentials of tax planning, basic guiding principles of investment, basics of corporate finance and a study of statistics as relevant to financial applications. So people with professional qualifications like MBA, CA, ICWA and M Com. are exempt from the initial foundation module of the course. The others who take the foundation course can appear for the qualifying exam of the foundation module three months after enrolment.
The preliminary level This level, also known as the second module, is divided into two groups – Group A and Group B. Financial accounting and financial management are the two papers in Group A. A candidate can take an exam in these papers six months after enrolment. There is only one paper in Group B: quantitative methods and economics. A candidate can take an exam in this paper twelve months after enrolment.
The Inter level This level, referred to as the third module, is divided into two groups: Group C and Group D. Group C has two papers – one on economic legislation and the other on management accounting. Exams for papers in this group can be taken six months after passing the preliminary level. Group D also has two papers: one on security evaluation and the other on project appraisal planning and control. Exams for this group can be taken twelve months after passing the preliminary level. The final level
The final level or the fourth module is divided into two groups: Group E and Group F. Group E has two papers – advance financial management and financial services. Exams for this group can be taken six months after passing the inter level. Group F has two papers in investment management – the Indian financial system and international financial management. Exams for the papers in this group can be taken one year after passing the inter level. Candidates at this level are also given practical training by placing them with reputed organisations.
ELIGIBILITY
The CFA course is opted for by both students and employed executives. Fresh graduates and also students in the final year of the Bachelor Degree course are eligible for the admission test. The pre qualification of a graduate degree is waived in the case of Commissioned defence personnel who have five years of experience. A financial analyst should have two traits, the first being an ability to work well with numbers and the second being the ability to convey his viewpoint in a precise and comprehensive manner. Keeping this in view, the admission test attempts to test a candidate’s verbal skills and quantitative reasoning abilities.
Test Centers and Admission TicketsTicket availability
Exam admission tickets are only available online to candidates registered for an exam.
December 2010 exam tickets will be available in late October.
June 2011 exam tickets will be available in late April.
CFA Institute does not distribute paper admission tickets.
Agree to CFA Institute policies and procedures
Before viewing your ticket, you will be prompted to read and agree to abide by the conditions, requirements, policies, and procedures for the CFA exam. CFA Institute strongly encourages you to take the time to carefully read and understand these policies. Violation of any of the rules and regulations of the CFA Program will result in CFA Institute voiding your exam results and may lead to suspension or termination of your candidacy in the CFA Program.
Review your ticket
Be sure to review the information on your ticket and notify us immediately of any errors. The name on your admission ticket must match the name as it appears on your current government-issued photo identification (ID). Submit an Identification Information Change Request (PDF) if necessary. If the names do not match, your exam results may be voided. Certain variations, however, are allowed.
Print your ticket
It is your responsibility to print one copy of your admission ticket on clean, unused paper and bring it with you to the test center on exam day. You will not be admitted into the testing room without an admission ticket. Please contact us to obtain your ticket by facsimile.
Check your test center address
Testing facilities may change from year to year; therefore, it is important to note the address on your admission ticket and become familiar with the test center location. You are strongly encouraged to visit your test center before exam day. Candidates do not receive extra testing time if they arrive at the test center late.
Directions and special instructions are available for most test centers.
Other information and instructions
You must not write on the front or back of your admission ticket at any time before, during, or after the exam. Your ticket must display the correct exam date and test center according to our records. Your ticket will only allow you admittance to the test center listed.
PROCEDURE
In order to become a certified Chartered Financial Analyst, a person has to complete a three-year post graduate programme. This programme can be studied through correspondence. It is conducted by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI). And on completion of the course one can become a member of the ICFAI. The admission to this course is based on an entrance exam. This examination basically tests a candidate’s aptitude for the course. The course content delves into fine details of financial analysis. So it is essential that a person opting for this course has a natural aptitude for and the knack to grasp financial matters.
CFA Exam Fee Schedule
CFA Program applicants pay an initial one-time enrollment fee. In addition, applicants are required to pay an exam registration fee.
Returning candidates pay only the exam registration fee.
The enrollment fee and the exam registration fee increase with each deadline.
We are unable to offer refunds or exchanges so we urge you to make your selection carefully.*
June 2011 CFA Exam (Levels I, II, and III)
All fees are in U.S. dollars.*
| Item | by
22 September |
by
16 February |
by
16 March |
Program Enrollment
|
$405 | $405 | $490 |
Exam Registration |
$630 | $720 | $970 |
Curriculum eBook version |
save $40 | save $40 | save $40 |
Total |
Past deadline | $1,085 | $1,420‡ |
‡2011 curriculum pricing details
When you register for the June 2011 exam, you can choose from three curriculum options (all fees are in U.S. dollars):
- If you select the eBook version of the curriculum only, we offer a US$40 discount: Enrollment + exam registration – $40 = total cost.
- If you select the printed version of the curriculum only, you do not receive the $40 discount: Enrollment + exam registration + $20 (shipping*) = total cost.
- If you select both the eBook version and the printed version of the curriculum, you pay the cost of the additional curriculum ($30) plus shipping: Enrollment + exam registration + $30 (+$20 shipping for the printed version*) = total cost.
For example, if you enroll and register for the June 2011 Level I exam by 16 February, the fee structure is as follows (all fees are in U.S. dollars):
- If you select the eBook version of the curriculum only: $405 + $720 – $40 = $1,085.
- If you select the printed version of the curriculum only: $405 + $720 + $20 (shipping*) = $1,145.
- If you select both the eBook version and the printed version of the curriculum: $405 + $720 + $30 + $20 (shipping*) = $1,175.
We are unable to offer refunds or exchanges so we urge you to make your selection carefully.
CFA Program Exam Calendar
The calendars below provide an approximate timeline for planning purposes; however, once you enroll in the program you will be able to log in and view dates relevant to your exam cycle.
June 2011 Exam Schedule (Levels I, II, and III)
| Mid-July | June 2011 exam registration opens |
| 22 September 2010 | First deadline to enroll and register for the June 2011 exam |
| 15 October 2010 | Sample exams available |
| 1 February 2011 | Exam scholarship application deadline |
| 16 February 2011 | Second deadline to enroll and register for the June 2011 exam |
| 16 March 2011 | Final deadline to enroll and register for the June 2011 exam |
| 22 March 2011 | Final deadline for disability and religious alternate date accommodations requests to be received by CFA Institute |
| Late April 2011 | Exam admission tickets available online |
| Early May 2011 | Mock exams available |
| 13 May 2011 | Test center change request deadline (login required) |
| 4–5 June 2011 | Exam days |
| June–July 2011 | Exams graded |
| July–August 2011 | Exam results available |
December 2010 Exam Schedule (Level I only)
| Mid-January 2010 | December 2010 exam registration opens |
| Mid-March 2010 | First deadline to enroll and register for the December 2010 exam |
| 31 August 2010 | Second deadline to enroll and register for the December 2010 exam |
| 1 September 2010 | Exam scholarship application deadline |
| 15 September 2010 | Final deadline to enroll and register for the December 2010 exam |
| 21 September 2010 | Final deadline for disability and religious alternate date accommodations requests to be received by CFA Institute |
| 15 October 2010 | Sample exams available |
| Late October 2010 | Exam admission tickets available online |
| 1 November 2010 | Mock exams available |
| 12 November 2010 | Test center change request deadline (login required) |
| 4–5 December 2010 | Exam days |
| December 2010–January 2011 | Exams graded |
| Late January 2011 | Exam results available for Level I candidates |
Worldwide Contact Information
| Americas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charlottesville, Virginia, USA 560 Ray C. Hunt Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22903-2981 USA |
New York 477 Madison Avenue 21st floor New York, NY 10022 USA |
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| Asia-Pacific | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong Suite 4905-08 One Exchange Square 8 Connaught Place, Central Hong Kong SAR Telephone: +852-2868-2700 Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (Monday through Friday) |
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| Europe. Middle East, and Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| London 10th Floor One Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5AB United Kingdom Telephone Number Information Contact us Monday – Friday from 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. ET Telephone: +1 (434) 951-5499 USA and Canada: (800) 247-8132 Finland: +0 (800) 1247-8132 Israel: +014 (800) 1247-8132 South Africa: +09 (800) 1247-8132
In the Asia-Pacific region, call the toll-free information line*:
E-mail :- info@cfainstitute.org |
Brussels Square de Meeûs 38/40 1000 Brussels Belgium |
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Website :- www.cfainstitute.org
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