What makes a career a great career? Obviously, different people will give different answers. It’s impossible to account for everyone’s personal taste and personality traits and how they might fit into a particular career. While talking about great career opportunities one might consider the following points: How much do you get paid? What kind of professional development opportunities are available? How much room for innovation does a role offer? The following index is based mainly on four categories: job growth, salary potential, education level, and room for innovation and has been compiled from various reliable resources.

Introduction

The Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI), a non-profit organisation, which was established in 1984, with the objective of imparting high-quality training in finance and management to students, working executives and professionals in India. ICFAI launched the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program in 1985 and since then has been instrumental in developing a new cadre of finance professionals in India.

ICFAI functions under the overall guidance of the Board of Governors comprising leading consultants, senior IAS Officers, bankers and corporate executives. The Academic Council of ICFAI comprises of practitioners and distinguished academicians from IIMs and other leading educational institutions. ICFAI is credited with a team of qualified and experienced professional staff and faculty members.

 
 
 

 

 

Eligibility

 

Any graduate in any discipline from a recognized university is eligible to seek admission to the Programme, which is made on the basis of an admission test. The students appearing in the final year examination of graduation are also eligible. However, MBAs, Post Graduate Diploma Holders in Management, CAs, CWAs, CSs, CAIIBs, first class graduates/post-graduates and senior executives with ten years of service in the public sector or the private sector may seek exemption from the admission test.

The admission test aims at testing the aptitude of the candidates for professional studies in financial analysis. Hence the test places emphasis on the test of quantitative reasoning. The admission test is held four times in a year i.e. in the months of January, April, July and October at 24 centres spread all over the country

The candidates who are successful in the admission test and those who are exempted from passing the admission test are enrolled for the Programme.

 

Job ProspectsUpon successful completion of the programme the candidates are awarded the degree and designation of Chartered Financial Analysts. ICFAI being closely associated with such institutes all over the world including the USA, Japan, Norway, France, Singapore etc, the successful candidates may seek careers not only in India but also abroad.
At present over 150 CFAs have found placements in several banks, financial institutions and corporate sector. In these fields, the CFAs occupy the key position with lucrative salary and perks like Appraisal Executives, Fund Managers, Investment Managers, Financial Analysts, Manager Hire Purchase, Manager Portfolio Management, Financial Consultants, Investment Advisors etc, Plethora of mutual Funds and hire purchase companies during the recent years have increased the employment opportunities for CFAs manifold.

Where To Apply
 

ICFAI and its affiliates offer the following Educational Programs on a distance-learning mode in the areas of:

Finance
Accounting
Insurance
Management1) The CFA Program (The Chartered Financial Analyst Program)The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program was launched in 1985 with an innovative course design and curriculum. Over the years, the CFA Program received overwhelming response from a cross section of candidates. The CFA Charter awarded by ICFAI is widely recognized as the symbol of professional excellence in finance .The CFA Program is well recognized by leading employers in India. The Government of India (AICTE) accorded recognition to the CFA Program as a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Analysis. Currently there are over 1850 CFAs who successfully completed the CFA Program of ICFAI and received the prestigious CFA Charter. The CFAs are well placed in the corporate sector, banks, financial institutions, Insurance companies, mutual funds and the financial services sector. Thus ICFAI has been instrumental in developing a new cadre of finance professionals in India.

The CFA Program of ICFAI is widely recognized as the hallmark of excellence in Financial Management and Analysis. The CFA Program is a comprehensive professional program in financial analysis as applicable to Corporate Finance & Control, Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management, International Finance & Risk Management and Financial Services & Banking. It is offered in two modes…

a) The Regular CFA Program

Duration: 3 years

Eligibility: Graduates in any discipline


b) The Accelerated CFA Program

Duration : 2 years

Eligibility: for First Class Graduates, Postgraduates, Working Executives and Professionals like CA/CWA/CS/MBA/CAIIB.

For more details on the CFA Program visit us at www.icfai.org

2) CPA Program (The Certified Public Accountant Program): The Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI) has set up the Society of Certified Public Accountants (SCPA) a non-profit society to develop and regulate the profession of Certified Public Accountants in India on sound ethical lines through rigorous standards of certification, membership, professional practice and continuing education. The National Institute of Certified Public Accountants (NICPA) is a constituent of SCPA and offers the ” Certified Public Accountant” (CPA) Program .The CPA Program is based on the state of the art theory and contemporary practice and covers all major allied areas of accountancy so as to enable the students and practitioners face challenges and seize the opportunities of the future.

Eligibility: Graduates (from any stream)

For more details on the CPA Program visit us at www.cpaindia.org

3) C-RIM Program (The Certified Risk & Insurance Manager Program) : The Institute of Certified Risk & Insurance Managers (ICRIM) has been set up by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India ( ICFAI ), a non-profit society for the development of the Profession of Risk & Insurance Managers. ICRIM offers the “Certified Risk & Insurance Manager”(C-RIM) Program which is a comprehensive professional program covering all major areas in Risk & Insurance Management.

Eligibility: Graduates (from any discipline)

For more details on the C-RIM Program visit us at www.icrimindia.org

4) The CTM Program (The Certified Treasury Manager Program) : ( One year ) : The Association of Certified Treasury Managers (ACTM), India (an affiliate of ICFAI), in association with the Association of Chartered Treasury Managers (ACTM), USA, offers the professional certification program in Treasury, Forex and Risk Management titled the “Certified Treasury Manager” (CTM). It is widely appreciated as the leading professional course in treasury and forex management. This program is designed keeping in mind the significant developments that have taken place in the Treasury and Forex Management. It is offered to Treasury & Forex Professionals, Risk Managers, Postgraduates and other Professionals like CA/CWA/CS/MBA/CAIIB and students of these courses.

Eligibility: CFA, CA, CWA, CS, MBA, M.Com and Final Level Students of these courses
(Provided they are graduates), Post Graduates, Students of PG Courses and Working Executives.

For more details on the CTM Program visit us at www.actmindia.org

5) The CIB Program (The Certified Investment Banker Program) ( One year ) : The Society of Certified Investment Bankers (SCIB) is set up by ICFAI for the development and regulation of the profession of Certified Investment Bankers. .SCIB offers a certification program titled the “Certified Investment Banker (CIB)”. The program is offered to Investment Bankers, Postgraduates and other Professionals like CA/CWA/CS/MBA/CAIIB and students of these courses.

Eligibility: CFA, CA, CWA, CS, MBA, M.Com and Final Level Students of these courses (provided they are graduates). Post Graduates, Students of PG Courses and Working Executives.

For more details on the CIB Program visit us at www.scibindia.org

6) The CPM Program (The Certified Portfolio Manager Program) - Leading to the International CIIA Qualification from ACIIA, London: The CPM Program is offered by The Council for Portfolio Management & Research (CPMR), an affiliate of ICFAI. It is a focused program covering indepth all the relevant areas of Portfolio Management and Investment Analysis. It is offered to Equity Research Analysts, Executives in Mutual Funds & Stock Broking Firms, Postgraduates and other Professionals like CA/CWA/CS/MBA/CAIIB and students of these courses.

Eligibility: CFA, CA, CWA, CS, MBA, M.Com and Final Level Students of these courses (Provided they are graduates). Post Graduates, Students of PG Courses and Working Executives.

For more details on the CPM Program visit us at www.cpmrindia.org

7. MBA Program & Global Strategic Management (GSM) Programs: The Icfaian Council for Open and Distance Education (ICODE) an ICFAI Affiliate in collaboration with Transworld University, USA provides Professional education for executive positions through its high quality MBA & GSM Programs .The MBA Program offers specialization in Finance, Marketing, International Business& Human Resource
Management. The GSM Program focuses on International Business and management of MNCs.

For more details on the above Programs visit us at www.icodeindia.org

8. FOUNDATION COURSES (CFA/MBA/CPA/C-RIM):
ICFAI and its affiliates offers the following Foundation Courses:

a) CFA Foundation Course: ICFAI has designed the foundation course keeping in view of the degree college students who are interested in pursuing professional certification program such as CFA Program. The CFA Foundation Course covers topics on Financial Accounting, Micro-Economics, and Macro-Economics.


b) CPA Foundation Course is designed for the benefit of CPA aspirants to plan and commence the studies right from the undergraduate level. The CPA Foundation course will enable college students to acquire a strong foundation in management and accountancy, so that they can confidently work towards acquiring the CPA designation and build careers in accounting.

c) C-RIM Foundation Course is designed for the benefit of C-RIM aspirants to plan and commence the studies right from the undergraduate level. The C-RIM Foundation course will enable college students to acquire a b foundation in Insurance related subjects, so that they can confidently work towards acquiring the C-RIM designation and build careers in Insurance.

d) MBA Foundation Course is designed for the benefit of MBA aspirants to plan and commence the studies right from the undergraduate level. The MBA Foundation course will enable college students to acquire a b foundation in Management related subjects, so that they can confidently work towards acquiring the MBA qualification.

Eligibility for Foundation Courses:All the Degree and Engineering college students (any discipline) are eligible to enroll into the Foundation Course.

Progression to Professional Certification Programs: On successful completion of the above foundation courses, the candidates can enroll into the respective program and pursue these programs along with their Graduation.