ACA/CFA opportunities Ireland

cathald6

Hi I'm a 3rd year college student studying Business at UL. I'm on for a 1:1 degree and I'm currently on placement in a big 4 firm where I feel I'll be offered the training contract.

I luckily got to work in consulting for most of my placement which I loved. I realised that I don't really like accounting. I feel I would love to get involved in investing/ investment banking / investment analysis and have come across the cfa exams. I'm looking at the Davy graduate programme and studying for the cfa exams, I'm wondering could anyone shed some light on this for me ? Have you completed this ? There doesn't seem to be any graduate programmes for the cfa exams.

Everyone tells me to go down the chartered accounting route, that is their bedrock but I'm not sure I want to do it.

I will work for whatever exams I have to but a career in financial services interests me a lot more.
I'm not a very mathsy guy in saying that but I have good numerical ability If that makes sense.

I'm very lucky to have these opportunities in front of me which is why I'm hesitant to turn down the big 4 firm

I'd really appreciate any help,
Thanks!

Jim2007

Well if you are not interested in accounting, then don't do it. The route to membership is very challenging and if you are not well motivated then it is going to be very difficult to force yourself through it. On the other hand CFA is also very difficult, but is very limited in scope, which is probably not what you want at this stage of your career.

My suggestion would be to consider doing a masters degree in either economics or finance, while at the same time gaining a good command of a foreign language, probably German. Then on graduation seek to join one the programs at one of the major European banks (DB, CS, UBS etc) for a few years. That would give you a good start.

cathald6

Jim2007 wrote: »

Well if you are not interested in accounting, then don't do it. The route to membership is very challenging and if you are not well motivated then it is going to be very difficult to force yourself through it. On the other hand CFA is also very difficult, but is very limited in scope, which is probably not what you want at this stage of your career.

My suggestion would be to consider doing a masters degree in either economics or finance, while at the same time gaining a good command of a foreign language, probably German. Then on graduation seek to join one the programs at one of the major European banks (DB, CS, UBS etc) for a few years. That would give you a good start.

Hi Jim,
Thanks for your advice. I'm considering doing a masters in financial services or computational finance in ul. I'm also thinking of applying for the Davy Graduate Programme. I'm going to try study the QFA before I graduate also. I do like accounting but I can't see myself being an accountant for the text of my life, it just seems to give you a very good benchmark in terms of salary and qualification.

Thanks again,
Cathal

Jim2007

cathald6 wrote: »

I'm going to try study the QFA before I graduate also.

I would not do this, it is a distraction. Keep your eye on the prise - the best possible degree result you can get.

heretothere

I also would avoid doing the QFA get the best degree result you can, that is what you will be asked on.

Accountancy exams are really hard! You won't believe you ever complained about college, in saying that yes it is a very good tick on the C.V. I was on good terms with one of the partners in my training firm, and he said the majority of ACAs he studied with are no longer in accountancy, but that it has always stood to them and opened up doors.