Mumbai: Banking & Financial Analyst – BFA 2017 convocation for the BFA Level I and Level II graduating batch of 2017, was held at Courtyard by Marriott, Mumbai on 17 June 2017. The academy also inaugurated BFA 2018 batch of the BFA Level I & Level II program. Mr. Nilesh Shah, Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co. Ltd., was the Chief Guest and presided over the event in Mumbai.
Banking & Financial Analyst (BFA) is a certification conferred upon by Brickwork Finance Academy. The certification is offered at two levels – BFA Level I and BFA Level II. The candidates who pass these exams would have higher level of analytical rigor, understanding of equity, fixed income, derivative markets, knowledge of Indian bank lending and mastery of credit and risk analysis. They could be absorbed as rating analysts, financial analysts, business analysts, credit analysts, risk analysts, loan officers, fixed income analysts in commercial banks, investment banks, mutual funds, insurance firms and pension funds. They can also be absorbed as business analysts in KPOs and IT firms in BFSI sector.
Only 30% pass BFA Level II exams. The BFA 2017 batch candidates were primarily post graduates, CA, CFA, ACCA, MBA, Engineers, MCom., MPhil., etc. About 49% of the candidates are MBA / Post Graduates / Engineers and about 41% have passed various levels of CA, CS, CFA-US, ACCA-UK. Of the candidates who appeared for BFA exams, 55% cleared BFA Level I and only 30% could clear BFA Level II this year.
The current BFA 2018 batch has enrolments from top B-schools such as IMT Dubai, Ghaziabad; Great Lakes of Management, Chennai. In addition, ACCA – Chartered Certified Accountant (U.K.), with CFA – US and CA students form a part of the community.
Shri Nilesh Shah, while delivering the convocation address said, “I would like to congratulate the youngsters who have participated in the program, worked hard and passed BFA Level I and Level II examinations. The stint with Brickwork Ratings will go a long way in giving a strong foundation for their careers as fixed income analysts, equity research analysts or risk analysts in both Indian and international markets.”
Delivering the Inaugural Address, Prof. K R S Murthy, Advisor BFA and former Director of IIMB, said, “BFA Program has gradually emerged as a training ground for young analysts in equity, rating and risk. The program has far more practical inputs well suited for their careers in finance. I would like to congratulate all candidates who have passed BFA Level I and/or Level II examinations as well as those who attended classes and received participation certificates.”
Welcoming the audience, Shri Vivek Kulkarni, IAS (Retd), President of Brickwork Finance Academy said, BFA Level I and Level II program is growing every year and number of graduates now work for Brickwork Ratings, S&P Analytical Services, Moody’s Analytics, HSBC Research, HSBC Analytics, ANZ Bank, Fidelity, Cognizant, IL & FS, Laxmi Vilas Bank, Canara Bank and many other commercial and investment banking outfits. BFA program receives thousands of applications for the small class size. Hence we follow strong scrutiny in our enrolment process. The program is now available in many cities in India – Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh etc.”
