Is CFA in India Good for a Career?

Hey there! Welcome back again. Are you thinking about how good is the CFA as a career option in India? Let’s deep dive and understand all about theCFA course. Let us also understand if CFAs are in demand and who are eligible for CFA. We will also be answering the most frequently asked question which is, why is CFA so hard?

Did you know that CFA is one of the most respected certifications in the Finance profession? Yes, most of you might already know this. CFA is one such elite profession that is well structured and the most respected certification globally. This certification pushes the candidates to earn more credits and ensures that the candidates regularly update their knowledge and skills, which is not a pre-requisite for other Accounting and Finance related courses.

Is CFA a good career option in India? Let’s find out: 

1. 1) Every industry or any firm requires capital to run its business, and that’s exactly where an investment banker is required. The main role of an investment banker is to raise capital by issuing stocks or by borrowing money. Investment bankers are very aggressive in nature, such as sales professionals. 
2. To become an investment banker, one needs to portray excellent financial and sales skills for raising money which is why they are highly demanded, and hence CFA is a very good career option in India.
3. In addition to this, an investment banker also performs various valuation methods, provides suggestions for product offerings, private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and builds and maintains a relationship with new and existing clients for the very main purpose, which is to expand the business and raise capital.
4. The average salary of an Investment Banker as a Chartered Financial Analyst with an experience of about 1-4 years is an average of Rs.8-10L, which increases over a period of time.
5. Portfolio Managers are the real investment decision-makers of the company. Their main role is to develop and implement various investment strategies along with managing day-to-day portfolio management activities. To be a Portfolio Manager, one needs to have excellent research skills along with the ability to generate and execute new ideas. They are the ones who are responsible for managing the funds. The funds can be open mutual funds, closed funds, hedge funds, venture capital funds, etc.
6. The average salary that can be drawn by Portfolio Managers is nearly 7.1 Lakhs. The salary estimates are based on the salaries received from the Portfolio Managers. This is another reason why CFA is a great career option in India.
7. The other important set of people in any organization are the Risk Managers. In simple terms, the Risk Managers are the ones who manage various forms of risk. Their key function is to determine the potential losses. 
8. They are the ones who manage and gather risk-related data and are also responsible for mitigating the risk as required. To be a Risk Manager, one needs to have good communication skills, which include both written and verbal skills along with other skills like negotiation and diplomacy skills. 
9. The need for presentation abilities also becomes very important here. Strong analytical skills and numerical skills are a must for all those who aspire to be Risk Managers.
10. The average salary of the Risk Managers is anywhere between 8L-10L per annum.
11. This is another reason why CFA is a very good career option amongst many others. Apart from this, the scope of CFA in India also stretches to the market research analyst and private bankers. The scope of CFA in India is widely spread.

Coming to the most important and frequently asked question, which is, why is CFA so hard? You might have heard the phrase ‘Nothing in life comes easy.’ Yes, the CFA exams are quite difficult to crack, but the perks and benefits are equally good post-completion of CFA. One should stay focused and dedicated as CFA has a lot to offer in terms of value and CFA job opportunities in India.

CFA Eligibility:

Any candidate who has recently graduated or is in the final year is eligible to pursue CFA. It is also meant for all the experienced candidates who wish to upskill further and grow in the field of Finance. It can also be done by those who wish to make an entry in the field of Finance with the pre-requisite skills in the industry.

Topics covered under the CFA syllabus:

1. Ethical and Professional Standards 
2. Quantitative Methods 
3. Economics 
4. Financial Reporting and Analysis 
5. Corporate Finance 
6. Equity Investments 
7. Fixed Income 
8. Derivatives 
9. Alternative Investments 
10. Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning 

To complete CFA, one must complete all the three levels of the exam, have relevant work experience, collect a letter for reference, which comes in handy to join the CFA Institute. The perks of successfully completing the CFA are a higher salary, a better reputation, global recognition, and advancement in career along with a platform to network with peers.

If you are someone who wishes to build a successful career in the field of Finance, then pursuing CFA and taking up the CFA examination would be an excellent way to ensure top-notch skills along with a rock-solid knowledge base. The CFA program is designed in such a way that it covers everything, all the concepts related to finance and the investment field. The number of people who have cleared the CFA and are charter holders is impressive and provides a valuable network to leverage one’s career.

The CFA certification also provides exposure to a variety of roles in the field of Finance. It not only focuses on investment banking and equity research but also one can focus on other roles, which are in Foreign Exchange, Fintech, Alternative Investments, or any other upbeat profiles as the CFA course prepares the candidates for all kinds of demanding profiles.

 Are you ready to upskill and transform your career? Happy learning!