Q: What are the qualifications needed to work as an investment analyst in Ireland? Is there a particular course or could you get in with a third-level business qualification?
- Dublin student
Last year on May 5th a similar query dealt with working on the London Stock Exchange and investments generally. Since Dublin has become a major internationally recognised centre for financial services including securities and fund management, there has been great interest in this type of career.
The Society of Investment Analysts in Ireland (SIAI) was founded in 1991 and worked with the Institute of Investment Management and Research (IIMR) in Britain to provide an investment qualification in Ireland. A separate set of Irish qualifications was established in 1997: the Certificate in Investment Management (CIM) and the Associateship of the Society of Investment Analysts of Ireland (ASIAI).
To qualify for the CIM which is the entry level, you don't need a third-level qualification, but you must have at least a grade C in five Leaving Cert subjects at ordinary level, including English and maths.
There is no age limit and you are not required to have any particular work experience - but, obviously, if you work in that field, you will find the whole thing a lot easier.
The CIM consists of four separate subjects, accounting and taxation; economics and statistics; securities, markets and portfolio management and finally investment industry - regulation and structure. This course is held at DCU and further information is available by phoning the college at (01) 704 5852. This is a direct-entry course and is not in the CAO system.
The professional level qualification (ASIAI) involves a rigorous applied knowledge of securities analysis, portfolio management and related topics plus two years at any time in the previous five years of relevant work experience.
You can achieve this in three stages - a preliminary phase consisting of the CIM, followed by Parts I (interpretation of accounts and corporate finance, securities and investment, economics and applied statistical analysis) and then Part II portfolio management, investment regulation and practice and a case study. Part I and II exams are identical to those for the associate membership of the British professional qualification of the Institute of Investment Management and Research (AIIMR).
Relevant work experience is acceptable from areas such as investment management; stockbroking or treasury environment; jobs handling the analysis of equities, bonds, property, investments or derivatives; or analysis or management of portfolios etc.
You could also do a third-level course and gain exemptions from specific papers: these include courses such as NUI's B Comm, BA (maths and economics), MBS, MBA, MA in accounting; TCD's bachelor of business studies and master's of business administration; UL's bachelor of business studies; Queen's bachelor of economic science; NCEA's national cert in business studies and national diploma in business management; DCU's BA in accounting and finance, and bachelor of business studies etc.
However, if you have the British qualification by exam in full (AIIMR) or DCU's M Sc in investment treasury you will be exempt from all ASIAI papers.
Another route for exemption from specific papers is through the professional accountancy qualifications of the ACA, ACCA, CIMA, IATI and some other professional bodies.
Full information from Ronan Smith, Education Officer, Society of Investment Analysts in Ireland, St Stephen's Green House, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 - phone (01) 676 4164.
Q: I'm interested in a career in floristry when I finish school in June. Where can I train? How long do courses take? How do I apply? Is there much expense involved?
- Dublin Leaving Cert
YOU could do a full-time course in floristry and interior landscaping in Crumlin College of Business & Technical Studies, Dublin - phone (01) 454 0662. You must have reached Leaving Cert/Leaving Cert Applied standard and do an interview.
A related course at Ringsend Technical Institute, Dublin - phone (01) 668 4498 - could be of interest. That is interior plantscaping.
Both courses have the same entry levels and qualify for a National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA) qualification which is recognised anywhere in the EU. Students on these courses can apply a maintenance grant on the same basis as students going to third level. There are no fees other than expenses in relation to materials, exam fees etc
The floristry course provides a good background in the theoretical and practical aspects of floristry and, because of increasing interest in floristry, jobs are available in retail outlets, garden centres, interior / exterior landscaping. The practical subjects covered include floristry design, colour, care, purchasing, buying, methods of preservation; interior and exterior landscaping; plant identification and care; retail display and visual merchandising.
The interior plantscaping course trains in the functional use of plants in interior areas and covers subjects such as plant and soil science, ornamental plants, display design, safety and health, floristry, accounts etc and there is a relevant work placement.
There is a one-year PLC course in floristry/interior landscaping in Colaiste Stiofain Naofa, Tramore Road, Cork - phone (021) 961020.
You should apply now for these PLC courses. Interviews are usually held in April or May.
If you wish to study on a part-time basis, there is a course in retail floristry in DIT Mountjoy Square - phone (01) 402 4143. However, you must have have a training position with a retail or wholesale florist to be eligible. This course is run on Thursdays, all day.
The course deals with floral display, accounting/ taxation, floriculture/plant care, sales/ customer care and law. Fees are about £350 plus exam fees and applications are taken in July and August. The course is provided by the DIT in association with the Irish Flowers Council.
Queries can be answered only through this column and not by phone or post. Write to Sile Sheehy, Education & Living, The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 - or by email to education@irish-times.ie
