Quantitative analysts work in the financial sector using mathematical techniques and computer programming to research and assess financial markets to make intelligent transaction and decisions on behalf of a business.
Quantitative financial analysts work in all kinds of firms in the securities industry, including commercial banks, investment banks, wealth management firms, and hedge funds. Insurance companies, management consulting firms, accountancy firms, and financial software companies also employ quantitative analysts.
Quantitative financial analysts tend to find themselves employed by consumer banks, investment banks, wealth management firms, and stockbrokers. One way to get a foot on the ladder of quantitative finance is to take a degree in a subject such as mathematics, physics, engineering, or computer programming. While this is a good start, the ideal course to take is one that combines all the philosophies and specialties of quantitative finance.
CQF (Certificate of Quantitative Finance)
One of the leading quantitative finance courses in the world is the CQF (Certificate of Quantitative Finance). This course is intended for those wanting to move forward in their career. It is led by leading professionals in the quant finance industry, and also reputable academics. The CQF is held in very high esteem by those in the quant finance world and would be a very attractive certification to potential employers.
The CQF is appropriate for people from a wide range of different environments. Many students of the course already have undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in finance or economics, programming, statistics, and engineering. Some already have been employed in the financial industry for some time, especially in fields such as portfolio management, quantitative analytics, and stock trading.
Others who take the course are aiming to utilise the CQF to make their way into the quant finance space. They all have the same wish to learn the newest quantitative finance tools and techniques used by experts to resolve real-world problems.
University
University course are one of the ways to learn some of the basics in quantitative finance. Subjects such as computer science, statistics, mathematics, engineering, and economics are all useful in quantitative finance, and so one of these degrees would be a good foundation before going to study specific quantitative finance courses and qualifications.
CQF or University Course?
A lot of the students that undertake the CQF often already have degree-level qualifications but wish to do the CQF as that is a professional qualification with a lot of credibility in the world of quant finance. Whilst degrees are a good way of learning some of the basic elements of quant finance, the CQF is the perfect way to be seen favourably by possible employers in the finance industry. Quant employers are looking for analysts with knowledge of real-world quant finance tools and techniques, something that often isn’t included in university courses.
