Full Information about Accounting Qualifications

[Shahid_fss]

<center><b>CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST (CFA)</b></center>

<b><i>Before I write I want to say that please don’t leave any message like;
“why do you talk about CFA while ICAP is best of all?”
Remember its just information and to help people.
May Allah guide us
SHAHID LATIF – STUDENT ACCA – SKANS Islamabad</i></b>

CFA is globally recognized and unique investment professional’s body having more than 100,000 professional’s enrolled from more than 150 countries for 2004. I will not go to in depth intro of CFA of ICFA so lets move to our first problem.

<u><b>Important addresses regarding CFA</b></u>

CFA http//www.cfainstitute.org/
Registration https//ocr.cfainstitute.org/ocraforms/default.asp
CFA BOOKS http//www.efastcom.com/CFABookstore/control/main

<center><b>HOW TO BECOME CFA</b></center>

<u><b>Now how do we enroll over selves?</b></u>

Basic requirement to get enrolled is Bachelors of US or equalent or if not then four years of professional experience. You can register online.

<u><b>Syllabus Outlines</b></u>

<b>Ethical and Professional Standards</b>
Professional Standards of Practice
Topical Issues

<b>Quantitative Methods</b>
Time Value of Money
Basic Statistical Concepts
Probability Concepts and Random Variables
Common Probability Distributions
Sampling and Estimation
Statistical Inference and Hypothesis Testing
Correlation Analysis and Linear Regression
Multivariate Regression
Time Series Analysis
Portfolio Concepts

<b>Economics</b>
Market Forces of Supply and Demand
Elasticity
The Firm and Industry Organization
Supply and Demand for Productive Resources
Measuring National Income
Economic Fluctuations and Unemployment
The Monetary System
Inflation Causes and Consequences
International Trade
International Finance
The Macroeconomics of an Open Economy
Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply
Sources of Economic Growth
Government Regulation

<b>Natural Resource Markets</b>
Relationship of Economic Activity to the Investment Process

<b>Financial Statement Analysis</b>
Financial Reporting System
Principal Financial Statements
Earnings Quality and Nonrecurring Items
Analysis of Inventories
Analysis of Long-Lived Assets
Analysis of Income Taxes
Analysis of Financing Liabilities
Analysis of Leases
Analysis of Off-Balance-Sheet Activities
Analysis of Pensions, Stock Compensation, and Other Employee Benefits
Analysis of Inter-Corporate Investments
Analysis of Business Combinations
Analysis of Multinational Operations
Ratio and Financial Analysis

<b>Corporate Finance</b>
Fundamental Issues
Capital Investment Decisions
Business and Financial Risk
Long-Term Financial Policy
Mergers and Acquisitions
Valuation Implications of Corporate Finance

<b>Analysis of Equity Investments</b>
Organization and Functioning of
Securities Markets
Security-Market Indexes and Benchmarks
Equity Risk Definition and Measurement
Fundamental Analysis
Special Applications of Fundamental Analysis
Technical Analysis

<b>Analysis of Fixed-Income Investments</b>
Fixed-Income Securities
Risks Associated with Investing in Bonds
Global Bond Sectors and Instruments
Yield Spreads

<u><b>Syllabus and Course details</b></u>

Despite the rigor of the CFA Program, its flexible, self-study curriculum allows investment professionals to customize their learning around busy work schedules. CFA Institute works to ensure that all of the material covered in the CFA Program is conducive to a distance-learning format. Each level of the program includes a study guide that leads candidates through assigned readings. Specific learning outcome statements accompany each reading, providing candidates with a gauge to measure the progress of their studies.
The CFA Program’s curriculum is designed to reflect a Body of Knowledge™ that keeps pace with the ever-changing dynamics of the global investment community. This Body of Knowledge, developed through an extensive survey of practicing CFA charter holders, consists of 10 general topic areas that are shown in the pop-up link at right and provides a framework for making investment decisions.
The Level I curriculum and examination focus on tools and concepts that apply to investment valuation and portfolio management. Level I also include an overview of the processes of asset valuation and portfolio management. Candidates are expected to display a working knowledge of
• financial statement analysis,
• macro- and micro-economics,
• quantitative methods of investment analysis and management,
• financial markets and instruments, and
corporate finance.

The Level I curriculum also emphasizes basic concepts regarding securities laws and regulations and the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
The Level II curriculum and examination focus on asset valuation. Candidates must apply the tools and concepts emphasized at Level I in analyzing and valuing investments and should have a thorough understanding of industry and company analysis. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to
• analyze specific equity and fixed-income securities and other investments,
• estimate expected investment return and risk,
• compare alternative investment choices and make investment recommendations, and
apply the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct in practical situations.

The Level III curriculum and examination explore in greater depth the discipline of portfolio management. Candidates must demonstrate a working knowledge of the entire portfolio management process and must be capable of applying the concepts learned at Levels I and II to the portfolio management process. Candidates also
must demonstrate a thorough understanding of
• performance presentation standards and measurement techniques, and
the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct from an organizational and compliance perspective.

<u><b>Preperation</b></u>

Most important thing from students’ point of view is the preparation of examination so let me tell you that ICFA encourages self study. You may also go for group study or any other method of study but you should follow study guide of CFA.

<u><b>Other</b></u>

Once a candidate becomes a CFA charterholder, he or she must comply with the CFA Institute conditions, requirements, policies and procedures of a CFA charterholder and CFA Institute member, including those set forth in the CFA Institute Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Code of Ethics, Standards of Professional Conduct, Rules of Procedure for Proceedings Related to Professional Conduct, and other conditions, requirements, policies, and procedures that may be established and amended from time to time, including the submission of an annual Professional Conduct Statement and the payment of membership dues. Failure to comply with the CFA Institute conditions, requirements, policies, and procedures can result in disciplinary sanctions, including suspension or revocation of the right to use the CFA designation