Studying Finance and Haven't Heard About Corporate Finance Institute?

Before we begin, let’s make two things very clear about the finance industry. 1) There is an abundance of inexperienced finance graduates. 2) Top employers only hire graduates that have experience.

A classic catch 22 - No experience, no job. No job, no experience.

This is where we introduce Corporate Finance Institute® (CFI). CFI has hundreds of thousands of students and for one very valid reason, the company has created one of the fastest growing online and hands-on financial certifications in the world - the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)® certification.

CFI was first incorporated in 2016 as a joint venture with MDA Training. Since then it has grown to become a leading global provider of financial analyst training and certification programs with students from over 170 countries.

What makes the Corporate Finance Institute so special?

Thorough, educational content... Lot’s of it.

With thousands of resources on its website, CFI acts as a fountain of knowledge for finance professionals in various stages of their careers. Placing a priority on providing informative content in the most engaging way possible is the very reason why Corporate Finance Institute’s FMVA® certificate is quickly becoming one of the most recognized certifications in the world.

How is CFI different from the rest?

CFI courses are designed to provide a deeper insight into the foundations of corporate finance.

A practical skills-based approach is emphasized to help ‘anyone’ become a world-class financial analyst. By structuring finance courses in this way, students stay engaged and learn on a practical level rather than focusing solely on theory (as many other online and in-person institutions focus on).

The CFI Marketplace is the Innovative Differentiator

Once certified, many of CFI’s students are keen to showcase their newly learned skills and publish custom-made templates on the CFI template marketplace. At the same time, many CFI students are eager to practice from templates and case studies while completing the FMVA program and working towards becoming a world-class financial analyst.

The CFI Marketplace has been created for students to discover free and paid finance templates. By providing a purpose-built database of custom-made templates, CFI provides a place to aid professional development for the entire CFI community. Whether you are fresh out of school or an experienced professional looking for a career change, this marketplace will have a template for you.

Learning Finance Online is Booming!

With an average of 150,000 new students joining each year, it is no doubt that CFI’s growth reflects how popular online courses are becoming around the world.

What is driving these numbers?

• To put it simply economic activity.

Generally as economic activity increases, so does the demand for financial analysts. This is backed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the United States Department of Labor, in which they state, “Employment of financial analysts is projected to grow 11 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations.”

In addition to this, the Bureau of Labor Statistics emphasizes that growth within emerging markets will require an adequate amount of skilled professionals. On the contrary, they fail to mention any barriers to post-secondary education faced by those living within emerging regions.

By providing a practical online curriculum like the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst program, CFI can bypass many of these barriers and teach aspiring financial analysts within emerging markets, using real-world examples. 

CFI’s financial analyst certification - FMVA®

CFI's FMVA certification provides students with the opportunity to hone the day-to-day skills required by financial analysts within the industry. With a practical approach, this program covers topics such as accounting, finance, Excel, financial modeling, presentations, and strategy.

The FMVA program is based on building a strong foundation in financial modeling and valuation while developing skills through advanced topics relevant to a student’s professional goals. The practical and market-oriented experience offered by the FMVA program is what puts it head and shoulders above other online finance programs.

CFI’s online courses boast:

• Extreme flexibility in comparison to a university degree. This allows you to study around your work schedule from anywhere in the world.
• Relatability to the real world. If you’re upskilling, you will enjoy courses that are relevant to your everyday tasks
• New career opportunities. 

A Recognized Financial Modeling Course with Global Validation

One major concern when deciding on an online course is down to who the providers are. You may ask yourself, “Is Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) accredited?” and “Is Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) legit?”

CFI is overseen and governed by the Global Corporate Finance Society (GCFS), a nonprofit society that seeks to advance the careers of financial analysts around the world. The GCFS Board of Directors consists of 15 board members, 12 which are independent. This board has a mandate to create, review, update, and validate all of the courses that they offer

The GCFS board meets regularly to audit the FMVA program and ensure the program is following industry-leading best practices. Frequent curriculum reviews ensure all CFI courses offer the most up to date and relevant information possible, which helps to maintain the FMVA’s credibility as one of the globally recognized professional certifications in the industry.

So, how do you solve the catch 22? Enroll in an immersive program such as the FMVA to get the practical skills and real-world experience you need to get a job.