Any ideas on the value of a software developer obtaining a CFA charter? I want to stay in development (am currently developing a back office cash system), but am looking to develop in the front office, ideally working directly w/ other charterholders and/or Series 7’ers. An MBA seems like an expensive way to accomplish this… Additionally, anyone have ideas on what roles/positions are available to hardcore developers who are also CFAs? Gracias!
Hi I used to be a software developer… I dont believe your work experience will be relevant or count towards the 4 years needed to obtain your CFA charter. You need to demonstrate you are in the Investment Decision making process, not just a supplier of tools for those that make the decisions.
I disagree. I got my charter based on experience of developing front office tools. Of course, I assume it depends on what those tools do.
wrossi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I disagree. I got my charter based on experience > of developing front office tools. Of course, I > assume it depends on what those tools do. Hi wrossi… Thanks for the input. I read that CFAI were recently becoming much more strict on what type of work experience they accepted. Can i ask when you got your charter approved and what types of front office systems you developed…?
My work experience was approved in 2006, I received the charter in 2007. I develop fixed-income derivative valuation software mostly, it value portfolios, compute sensitivies and such. Its used as a trading and portfolio management tool.
I developed a high frequency porn site. Will it count towards my experience?
comp_sci_kid Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I developed a high frequency porn site. Will it > count towards my experience? depends… were u actively making decisions or just watching?
What’s about project management experience in a company which develops portfolio management software for hedge funds, asset manager, etc. PM in this case mean doing the whole valuechain from supporting developers till introducing and supporting the costumer… Will this count?
My understanding is that making in-house software counts, but working for a software company doesn’t. I’m not sure why, but I suppose they have to draw the line somewhere.
I know a mid-size asset mgmt firm that is strongly encouraging back office developers to get the CFA and is willing to foot all the fees. The person I know in this job could barely describe what the firm does.
Just about anything can count if it is spun correctly. Job titles don’t mean much it is the nature of the work that matters.
I have an extensive computer science background (incl. phd and personal interest in machine learning) and I will just start in a project management role in an boutique IT consultancy focused on financial front-office tools. While I don’t expect my work experience to count towards the charter, the expertise I am getting doing the program makes our customers much more confident, and I guess they get billed more for my hours, which translates into higher job security and higher bonus. I might switch eventually to earn the years somewhere and for a more interesting job content. But I have to admit, at the moment financial services salaries in Switzerland suck in comparison to what I get in financial services IT jobs. To make a long answer short: Just do it, its win-win.
@egal would you mind telling me for which company you work? I will have an final round interview at sophis in london for a project managment consultant position… unfortunately early september, since I am in bangkok for my recent company till then… this of course takes the momentumt out of my application 