The Professional Certificate for Designated Persons in a Fund Management Company, a new programme at Level 9 on the NFQ, was launched at an IOB event featuring Derville Rowland, Director General Financial Conduct at the Central Bank. The programme is designed to support the development of individuals in Designated Person roles, or those who aspire to these roles. It is also relevant to individuals who support Designated Persons and to other professionals in Fund Management Companies. Two cohorts have now completed the programme and we look forward to meeting the next group in October. Graduates of the programme are eligible to become Accredited Funds Professionals.
At IOB our fund programmes are subject to continuous review to ensure they are up to-date in relation to regulatory and other developments. In this academic year we revised the third module of the Professional Certificate in International Investment Fund Services and changed the title to Depositary Functions and Transfer Agency. We are very happy to have John Siena from Brown Brothers Harriman, who chairs the Association of Global Custodians – European Focus Committee, to present on the depositary related elements.
Details of all our programmes, including those related to the use of financial derivative instruments and to sustainable finance are available in the prospectus.
In tandem with the new accredited programme for designated persons in a fund management company, Funds by IOB will provide a suite of masterclasses related to funds and asset management. The aim of each one is to determine and develop best practice standards in the area of focus. A masterclass on fund distribution was delivered in February followed by Liquidity Risk Management in June. As a precursor to the latter, IOB held an event “Fund Liquidity Risk Management – Time is running out!” in December. Masterclasses related to risk – operational risk and fund risk – and investment management are in preparation.
Other events in 2021/22 included valuable presentations from a variety of experts on:
AML/CFT: Review of key regulatory developments for 2021/2022 and their practical implications: Amy Morris and Marcus Doherty from BBH discuss the Central Bank’s guidelines on AML/CFT for the financial sector, the central registers for beneficial ownership and expected developments.
Investment Fund Value Assessment II: Giles Swan discusses regulatory initiatives requiring funds and their managers to assess the value they provide to investors and likely future developments in this area.
Currency hedging in funds: The regulatory requirements that apply to currency hedging in funds and how to ensure best execution are areas covered in this interesting webinar led by Ellen Lederman with Sid Patel and Mark Kieran of BBH.
IOSCO and asset management – an update: Kris Nathaniel-Brighton explains and provides an update on the current IOSCO work programme related to funds and asset management.
Crypto currencies – the questions you were afraid to ask: Professor Brian Lucey addresses questions ranging from bitcoin to stablecoins to central bank digital currencies.
Interview with Nathalie Kenway – Eimear Mc Bride Director of Innovation and Digital Education at IOB chats to Natalie Kenway, Global Head of ESG insight for ESG Clarity.