Finance is at the core of business decision-making. In today’s complex organizations, having a clear understanding of foundational financial concepts will give you a professional advantage regardless of your industry, position, or role.

The fundamentals of the “funding-financing” duality have not changed, but over the last century, societies have moved towards a more globalized and highly technological world.

This has resulted in a body of knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in finance and investments as set forth and maintained by the CFA® Institute, which regulates professionals in the sector internationally. The evolution of this body of knowledge is further fueled by the experience gained due to significant events that impact our civilizations (global warming and pandemics, technology and science).

Finance touches many aspects of our personal and professional lives, resulting in significant demand for qualified, skilled, and knowledgeable professionals by a wide range of employers, such as banks, investment companies, and insurance and consulting companies. The financial sector offers exciting career opportunities, ranging from corporate finance on the “sell-side” to portfolio management on the “buy-side.”

If you would like to become a professional in this profitable sector, sharpen your knowledge and skills, or start your journey towards becoming a CFA® Charterholder, the Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis can provide you with critical competencies and skills to help you realize your goals.

Eduardo Lima, Ph.D.
Academic Program Coordinator

This program is a good fit for you if you are:

• An early or mid-career professional with an undergraduate degree in any discipline who wants to launch a career in the financial services section or move up to a mid-level position (e.g., Financial Analyst or Investment Portfolio Analyst) in financial institutions and other businesses

This program should enable you to:

• Evaluate practices, policies, and conduct according to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct
• Interpret summarized financial and economic data based on the current economic theory and statistical methods
• Analyze and evaluate the financial statements of publicly traded corporations relative to the US GAAP and IFRS accounting standards
• Use analysis and principles to inform both the decisions a corporate issuer must make, related to capital projects and capital structure, and the decisions an asset manager must make, relative to an investment policy

1. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an approved university with a minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.0 in the last two years of full-time academic studies.
2. If your CGPA is lower than the above requirement, please submit the following for consideration with your application:
   
   a) Letter of Intent: 1 to 2 pages in length, single-spaced, written in English or French, addressing the following:
   • your knowledge that would be pertinent to the program
   • your interest in the field of study and the reasons for applying
   • plans for integrating the training into your current or future career
   • description of your professional experience and its relevance, if applicable, to the program
   • awards received or other contributions
   • any additional information relevant to your application
   
   b) Curriculum Vitae
   
   c) Two letters of reference, signed and on letterhead. At least one should be from a current or former employer.
   
   d) GMAT and/or GRE test score results (optional)
    
3. Applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency.
4. This program is currently open to Canadian/Permanent Residents.

The field of finance has a very wide and active job market. Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis will be well positioned to fill employment positions offered by a variety of financial institutions, such as banks, investment companies, insurance companies, consulting companies, pension and other funds, as well as by regulators, the CFO offices of major corporations, and fintech start-ups.