Female balance needed in financial services
Females now equal males in seeking to obtain financial services qualifications, according to the CFA Institute.
The Institute revealed this week that the ratio of female and male exam candidates was now close to 50 per cent and that amongst new candidates sitting for exams in December 2016, 46 per cent were women and 54 per cent were men.
It also noted that female candidates returning to re-sit exams accounted for 44 per cent of the total who did so.
Commenting on the data, CFA Society Sydney president, Anthony Serhan said the data suggested there was movement toward tangible outcomes for diversity.
“This is encouraging for our vision of achieving a 30 per cent target of women in investment management,” he said. “There is still much to be done to make sure this uptick in female candidates carries through into investment roles in the future. We are encouraged that the programs put in place though our member, candidate and university engagement are making a difference.”
Serhan said the CFA Institute wanted financial services to lead Australian business as advocates and practitioners of diversity and inclusion, with an initial focus on gender equality.
“Our societies, locally and globally, are still under-represented in terms of female members so we are very much part of the change movement,” he said.
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