The CFA Program is considered one of the highest distinctions in the investment management profession, with the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) qualification enabling candidates to acquire the knowledge and skills required to thrive in the competitive capital markets industry.

Among the star achievers is Dihan Udugampola from the Sri Lankan chapter who passed all three levels of CFA examinations in his first attempt, thereby completing the CFA Program within the span of just 1 year and 8 months. He is also a Chartered Accountant and holds a First Class Honors Bachelor of Science (Special) degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Having developed a strong preference for capital markets at a young age and keen to pursue a career in the capital markets domain, Dihan maintains that choosing the CFA Program was a no-brainer as it is the gold standard in the investment field, with the curriculum encompassing all areas necessary to carve out a successful career path.

Dihan asserts that preparation, along with a passion for learning and the industry, proved key in achieving success at the CFA exams: “I had a strong passion and liking towards this field, so I really looked to get a proper education and have a solid foundation, to pursue the career that I love.”

To this end, Dihan says he set both long-term (six months - to complete each examination Level) and short-term (daily) goals to study and revise the curriculum accordingly, adding: “You should ideally have a plan of six months and work towards it, gradually committing to a proper long-term as well as a short-term plan.”

Exam candidates would do well to not skip any study modules and should be familiar with the full curriculum, involving extensive revision throughout the six-month period leading up to the exams, according to Dihan.

He reiterates: “Anyone who's studying for CFA Exams should go through the curriculum first and understand it very well. Don't just have an exam-oriented mindset; study with a real thirst for knowledge and for your own betterment.”

A recipient of the CFA Access Scholarship, Dihan notes that CFA Institute offers immense support to candidates through its Scholarship programme. CFA Society Sri Lanka has built an ecosystem and community of candidates through the local Candidate Council, whereby they are able to ask questions from one another and share both exam and study experiences.

Curriculum updates, sessions offering tips for exam preparation, subject masterclass sessions, free mock exam sessions, and even programs on how to use a financial calculator are also made available by the CFA Society. Moreover, the Society organises events to bring together candidates and charterholders, helping them network and get to know one another.

Reflecting on how the CFA qualification has helped in his current job role, Dihan points out that as a Senior Analyst at Acuity Knowledge Partners working on  fixed income, he is able to use the knowledge learned in the area in its entirety, on a daily basis.

Dihan comments that the CFA qualification has enabled him to stay in tandem with the foreign clients he works with and helped add value to discussions, in turn delivering better quality output: “The entirety of the CFA Program curriculum helps build a better, more rounded finance professional working in the field of investments or capital markets.”

Future plans for Dihan include a Master of Finance at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School - a CFA-accredited program - in Fall 2023, where he firmly believes CFA credentials would help him understand the content better and perform better. Upon completion of the Master’s program, he hopes to enter the investment banking industry.

In conclusion, Dihan advises those who are contemplating enrolment in the CFA program to have a keen interest in capital markets, affirming that “If you want to excel in the industry, there is no doubt that it is the correct step to take.”

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 275 members consists of CEOs, CFOs, portfolio managers, equity analysts, banking professionals, investment advisors, and other senior-ranking financial practitioners and over 300 candidates, mainly in the financial sector.

Image Caption : Dihan Udugampola