CFA Society Sri Lanka introduces its first-ever program to recognize employers

CFA Society Sri Lanka recently took the opportunity to recognize the top 20 employers of CFA Charterholders and Candidates in Sri Lanka. The Society also presented tokens to the recognized entities at a luncheon event held on 21 September 2022, where Arati Porwal, Director, Society Relations, CFA Institute, made a presentation on the Future of Work in Investment Management – Skills and Learning.

The highlight of the event was the launch of the ‘Employer Recognition Program (ERP)’ to recognize the top 20 employers who support CFA Program candidates and Charterholders by employing them and providing career guidance and progression.  

The welcome address at the launch event was delivered by Vice President of CFA Society Sri Lanka, Aruna Perera, CFA, who remarked: “The top employers of CFA Charterholders globally include JP Morgan, UBS, Royal Bank of Canada, BlackRock and Goldman Sachs. Today, we are launching our Employer Recognition Program, where we recognize the top 20 employers in Sri Lanka. Thank you all for gracing this historic moment with us.”

Outlining the ERP initiative and its benefits to employers, Chairman, Employer Outreach Committee Senaka Kakiriwaragodage noted: “Currently, there are approximately 120 employers in both the private and public sectors who recruit CFA Program candidates and Charterholders in Sri Lanka. These firms believe that the CFA credential demonstrates superior competency in advanced portfolio management, financial expertise, and technical skills, underpinned by ethical conduct and the highest standards of practice, ultimately underscoring their firm’s commitment to excellence.”

He also observed that CFA members and candidates “have helped to serve the needs of client organisations in reliable and unique ways, which in turn would have helped to build positive client relationships. Also, members would have focused on providing firm and investor protection, and reduced risk exposure. I believe these attributes would have helped your organizations to strengthen their competitive advantage.”

The Employer Recognition Program looks to benefit employers by acting as a sign of excellence that sends out a signal to the industry about the support and care provided by an employer to CFA candidates, whilst offering the opportunity to strengthen the bond with the CFA brand. It also helps to attract and retain high-caliber staff at a time the industry faces a talent crunch. The program also allows employers to be listed on the CFA Society Sri Lanka website and enables the use of the CFA Institute Career Center for recruitment.

President of CFA Society Sri Lanka Dinesh Warusavitharana, CFA, commenting on the Employer Recognition Program, stated: “We wish to offer our deep appreciation to those companies that work closely with the Society, and for continuing to recruit and support CFA Charterholders.”

The Employer Recognition Program would benefit Candidates and CFA Society Sri Lanka in a number of ways. CFA Society Sri Lanka strives to fulfill its role in implementing CFA Institute’s strategic objectives by initiating and maintaining local employer relationships; directly promoting CFA Institute and CFA Society Sri Lanka learning products, hosting CFA Program information sessions; and encouraging employers to support CFA Program candidates in their studies and professional development.

The Society also promotes the CFA Institute Career Center; identifies employer needs: products, professional learning, research, ethics & standards; drives demand for those with the CFA qualification amongst employers in Sri Lanka and thereby expands the job market for them; promotes CFA Institute policy advocacy positions to employers and encourages the adoption of industry standards by engaging directly with employers.

Addressing the event, CFA Institute Director – Society Relations Arati Porwal also commended CFA Society Sri Lanka, highlighting “its efforts in launching the ERP initiative, which would serve to further cement the position of the qualification in the country going forward as well.”

The event was attended by representatives of the top 20 employers, including the following key personnel: Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe (Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka), Rathnakala Kumaragurunathan (Director, Investment Research, Acuity Knowledge Partners), Darshan Perera (CEO, NDB Capital Holdings Limited), Yohan Perera (Managing Partner, KPMG Sri Lanka), Udeeshan Jonas (Chief Strategist, Capital Alliance Limited), Chamila Perera (Head HR Sri Lanka and Maldives, HSBC Sri Lanka), Fadhil Jiffry (Chief Financial Officer, LSEG Sri Lanka), Sonali Perera (Head of Ethics and Compliance, JB Financial (Pvt) Ltd), Thilan Sampath (Director Content, Uzabase Sri Lanka), Ray Abeywardena (Managing Director, Acuity Partners), Isuru Tillakawardana (DGM HRM, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC), Bingumal Thewarathanthri (Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank), Radiance De Mello (HR Focal Point Country Officer Sri Lanka and the Maldives, International Finance Corporation), Duminda Hulangamuwa (Partner, EY Sri Lanka), Vanya Goonetilleke (Country Human Resources Officer Citibank Sri Lanka), M R A Shakoor (AGM (Investments), Bank of Ceylon), Jonathan Alles (CEO, Hatton National Bank PLC), Maninda Wickramasinghe (Country Head, Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd), Nimesha Jayakody (Chief Research Officer, Frontier Research (Pvt) Ltd) and PwC Sri Lanka.

CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. Founded in 2001, the CFA Society of Sri Lanka is a not-for-profit organization supporting the professional development and advancement of CFA Charterholders and candidates in Sri Lanka. Its membership of over 240 members consists of CEOs, CFOs, portfolio managers, equity analysts, banking professionals, investment advisors, and other senior-ranking financial practitioners and over 500 candidates, mainly in the financial sector.