Private Equity Certificate
Non-Members: USD 890 | Members: USD 712 (20% Off)
Unlock the essential toolkit that is required to navigate and thrive in the private markets sector.
About this Certificate
Take a leap forward in your career by studying for the Private Equity Certificate. This intermediate level certificate in private equity focuses on practical skills and outcomes expected of an analyst or associate in a private equity firm. The Private Equity Certificate features financial modeling instruction and assignments developed in partnership with Financial Edge – a leading training provider for top private equity firms around the world.
Built on globally recognised CFA® Program content, the Private Equity Certificate gives you the job-ready skills you need to build robust LBO (leveraged buyout) models, leverage private market investing, assess deals, and define strategies for value creation in private equity. If you wish, you’ll be able to use the knowledge you gain as a foundation for more advanced studies, with the CFA Institute Advanced Private Equity Certificate launching in summer 2025.
Who should enroll
- Analysts or associates in private equity partnerships.
- Investment banking analysts who wish to move to private equity.
- Finance students who aspire to work in private equity.
- Finance professionals transitioning from other sectors.
Why choose the Private Equity Certificate?
Courses and Final Assessment
The certificate is composed of five courses and one final assessment. Learners who are already familiar with the foundational content covered in Course 1 will have an opportunity to test out of each of its three modules by successfully completing a pre-assessment for each one.
Courses must be completed in sequence as the concepts are related and build on each other. Course descriptions are provided below or you can view the full syllabus (PDF)
For the financial modelling assignments in Courses 1 and 4, learners will need Microsoft Excel running on a Windows device.
Further study
Develop your skills further with the Advanced Private Equity Certificate, available in August 2025 (you will need to complete the Private Equity Certificate as a prerequisite).
Curriculum
Gain essential skills for the private markets, including fixed income securities analysis, financial statement analysis, and financial modeling. In this course, you’ll learn to calculate bond metrics, understand the basics of derivatives for risk mitigation, distinguish business forms, analyze financial reports, forecast performance, and integrate financial statements for strategic forecasts.
Available beginning 21 Aug 2024
Have a clear understanding of private equity, focusing on value creation and the synergy between private equity firms and portfolio company managers. You’ll be equipped to navigate through private equity strategies for different company life stages, including venture capital, growth equity, and buyouts.
Explores private debt instruments and their applications in take-private transactions, focusing on their structures, terms, conditions, and providers, and the broader financial ecosystem. You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of credit risk, methodologies for assessing corporate creditworthiness through both qualitative and quantitative lenses, and the implications for private debt valuation.
Delve into the intricacies of private equity financial modeling. You’ll advance your skills in constructing financial models that accurately forecast company performance and facilitate effective valuation in a PE context.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a general partner in managing private investment funds. You’ll also be adept at discussing the mechanisms and strategies used by private investment firms to align interests with investors, evaluating fund performance, selecting investment opportunities, enhancing value within portfolio companies, and conducting due diligence while establishing business plans in the private investment process.
Prerequisites
No prerequisite knowledge is required, but a foundational understanding of private equity is recommended. This is achievable through the Private Markets and Alternative Investments Certificate, Level I of the CFA Program, or relevant work experience
What you Will Learn
| 1. |
Essential financial tools for analysing and interpreting fixed income instruments and derivatives, crucial for informed decision-making in private markets. |
| 2. |
Advanced accounting and financial reporting insights, paving the way for robust financial statement analysis and forecasting. |
| 3. |
Strategic financial modelling techniques to project company performance and assess valuation in a private equity context. |
| 4. |
Practical applications of intermediate financial modelling to enhance precision in private equity deal structuring and risk assessment. |
| 5. |
Insight into the roles and responsibilities of general partners, with a focus on aligning interests, evaluating fund performance, and managing private investment funds. |
Topics Covered
Course 1: Private Markets Essentials
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- Corporate accounting and financial statement preparation
- Introduction to financial modelling and forecasting techniques
- Fixed income securities and derivatives concepts: Features, valuation, and risk management
Course 2: Private Equity
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- Value creation and alignment of interests in private equity
- Private equity strategies across the business life cycle
- Valuation techniques: LBO and venture capital VC methods
- Exit strategies and risk analysis in private equity investments
Course 3: Private Debt for Private Equity Practitioners
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- Survey of private debt instruments
- Private debt structures and providers
- Credit analysis and valuation of private debt
- Risk management of private debt
Course 4: Intermediate Financial Modelling
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- Enhancing revenue projections and recognizing complex revenue patterns
- In-depth cost structure analysis and financial impact of scaling operations
- Asset management within financial models, including depreciation and amortisation techniques
- Tax implications in financial models, emphasizing deferred taxes and tax optimisation strategies
Course 5: General Partner Perspectives
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- Roles and decision-making of general partners in private investments
- Investor relations, fee structures, and performance evaluation
- Selection and management of investments, value creation strategies
- Due diligence and business planning in the private investment process