I have completed the CISI AGSO qualification. It was a challenging but rewarding experience that I would recommend to anyone who wanted to study a more advanced qualification. I chose to complete the qualification as part of my own personal development, and also as part of a wider development program at my firm. My employer supported me by funding the cost of the course, which was great as it is quite an expensive qualification. I had already done some studying for the CISI Securities Operations Foundation and Certificate exams and so knew what to expect from Fitch Learning in terms of the resources provided to help you study and learn, so I was confident that I would be able to gain support if I needed it. The materials were excellent, and the online questions that came with each resource really helped me to test myself and understand where my strengths and weaknesses were before taking the exam. There are two stages to this qualification; firstly you must pass all three exams in the Securities Operations Principles Certificate in order to sit any of the AGSO exams. This means before you can even sit one of the five AGSO exams you need to pass seven exams! Once you have completed these exams successfully you can then move on to studying for any of the five AGSO exams. The Advanced in Global Securities Operations (AGSO) is the final qualification level in the CISI capital markets programme, and is awarded to those who have achieved all three of the following qualifications: Securities Operations Certificate (SOC) Certificate in Investment Compliance (CIC)
Certificate in Investments and Derivatives (CID) The CISI AGSO certificate is an advanced level qualification that focuses on the operational aspects of global securities markets. The content has been developed by industry experts and covers a broad range of asset classes including equities, bonds, derivatives and alternative investments. The course also provides insights into investment compliance regulations and the roles and responsibilities of the securities operations department. I knew from an early stage that I wanted to work in financial services, but it took a few years to decide exactly what I wanted to do. I studied Business Management at university and was considering a career in investment banking, but after interning for a hedge fund I decided the role wasn't for me. While there, however, I learned about middle office operations and it seemed like an interesting area to pursue. Operations is one of those professions that not many people know about until they get into it – it can be perceived as dry and unexciting. However, I felt that the combination of business management, finance and IT – which you have exposure to in operations – would be fascinating and provide real scope for progression.
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