Junior Investment Analyst (JIA) Certification 
Background
The Junior Investment Analyst (JIA) is a breakthrough certificate issued by Schweser Institute and aims at upgrading students/ employees' skills in Finance and elevating them up to the standards required by their jobs and therefore at helping the certificate holders in achieving the career path they aim for.
As you witness in today’s labor markets, the fast changing and challenging economies are putting excessive pressure on organizations and companies to attract and retain those employees who are most talented and qualified to take them through growth as well as crisis periods. In the region, many prominent companies, such Mubadala and ADIA in the UAE, have been lately focusing on the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and adopting the Level I of the certificate (or an internally developed exam that tests for the CFA curriculum) as a criteria for selecting potential employees, similar to what is used by the most prominent investment banks simply because the CFA is the most prestigious designation in the world.
On the other side of the coin, however, there are students and employees who are facing mounting challenges in proving their credentials in their companies and meeting the entrance/promotion criteria. Statistics, in fact, show that out of around 8,000 candidates who register for the CFA Level I in the MENA region, more than 30% do not show up for the exam due to many reasons, one of which could be lack of sufficient preparation and readiness, recording a percentage that is among the highest in the world. Additionally, out of the 5,600 candidates who sit for the exam, only 1,200 pass the exam. The situation is more severe in the GCC region where around 3,200 candidates sit for the exam and the pass rate is as low as 15%; compared to a global pass rate range of 35‐40%.
These figures are attributed to a variety of factors. One important factor is that candidates are not as prepared as their international counterparts. Another factor of critical importance is that the curricula of our business colleges do not cover key subjects such as Ethics and Quantitative Analysis which make up almost 25% of the material of the CFA level I and to which most international candidates are exposed during their college education. Notwithstanding the factors driving the lowest pass rates in the GCC, one of the most alarming evidence that deserve our attention relates to the fact that more than 80% of those candidates who fail are de‐motivated to re‐sit for the exam. A thorough analysis of the CFA curriculum indicates that the material is not complicated at all but rather huge. Consequently, a proper organization and prior familiarity with the subject material would secure a higher passing rate for the CFA‐ the most prestigious designation in the field of finance.
The Junior Investment Analyst (JIA) designation was recently launched in the region by the Schweser Finance Institute – in collaboration with the Institute for Financial Analysts (IFA), its exclusive JIA partner in the Middle East‐ to fill this gap in the preparation for the CFA level I exam in the Middle East and GCC markets. By covering up to 60% of the CFA material, the JIA solidifies the basic to intermediate background of participants in all CFA topic areas and renders them better prepared to compete with international candidates.
Upon passing the examination, a JIA certificate would be issued by Kaplan Schweser, the leading US educational company that has global presence and provides study material for internationally recognized certificates in Finance such as the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) and the Financial Risk Manager (FRM). As such, the JIA provides candidates with the competence and attractiveness they need to conquer the financial services industry and caters for the growing need for professional excellence within the investment community.
Benefits
The JIA is expected to have a direct impact on the level of preparedness for the CFA designation, achievement and competence in the finance field among graduates of the region. To mention a few of the JIA benefits:
ü The JIA certificate entitles every candidate to get a detailed diagnosis report, providing candidates a chance to enhance their skills in their key deficiency areas. While the reports provided for the CFA exam results give students an indication on their grouping only (one of 3 groups: a grouping for grades below 50, a grouping for grades between 50 and 70, and a grouping for grades above 70), the JIA will present candidates‐ whether passing or failing‐ with diagnosis report that pinpoint their weakness points (topics on which they went wrong in the exam) and thus help them focus on enhancing their knowledge in a specific area.
ü The JIA certificate equips candidates with a solid base of the skills and knowledge they need to distinguish themselves and compete in the world of investments and finance.
ü The JIA designation will be used as a standard for aiding employers and investors in measuring the competence and integrity of employees and candidates in the fields of investment analysis and portfolio management. It will thus equip candidates with the competence and skills required in their jobs, be it in financial analysis, investment, portfolio management, corporate finance, banking, consulting, among so many others.
ü Successful candidates will receive a JIA certificate issued by Schweser Finance Institute, a division of Kaplan Schweser, known worldwide for its specialization in finance certification programs. They will therefore be rewarded for their time and effort and will prove their credentials and skills in the labor market. They will also earn recognition among their employers for having high standards of ethical and professional conduct as well as the qualifications and competence of global investment professionals.
ü The JIA program will create awareness as well as desire among candidates to pursue professional education of relevance to their jobs.
ü Successful candidates will have strong incentives to pursue the CFA designation and following the completion of the program, candidates will know exactly what to expect from the more advanced CFA certificate program and exams.
ü Successful JIA candidates, having earned the profound basic skills and having acquired more than 60% of the CFA Level I material, will increase their chances of successfully passing the exams of the CFA certificate.
Download full presentation about the JIA Certification
Download full presentation about the JIA Certification in Arabic
For more information about the JIA program, please visit Schweser Institute website:
http://www.schweserinstitute.com/JIA.html.