For the second year in a row a Griffith Business School team will contest the final of the CFA Institute Research Challenge in Sydney.
John Fan, Andrew L’Estrelle, Euan Orsini and Jason Rayment are heading to Sydney for the 2013 CFA Institute Research Challenge Final on October 14.
The CFA Challenge is a global educational initiative that promotes best practices in equity research among the next generation of analysts through hands-on mentoring and intensive training in company analysis and presentation skills.
In Round 1, ten teams from Queensland, NSW and ACT compiled a professional quality stock report based on an introductory presentation by Caltex Australia Limited at the launch of the Challenge in July.
Each team had the opportunity to visit the premises of the company, listen to the presentation by a Caltex Executive and ask relevant questions. They were also allowed one follow-up email.
An industry advisor was assigned to each team, with Ken Howard from RBS Morgans assisting the Griffith students who were coordinated by academic advisor, Dr Alexandr Akimov at the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for students to try themselves as professional stock analysts,” Dr Akimov said.
“Even though it’s a game, it is a game played to high, professional standards. In a sense it is an internship where they can build a lot of valuable skills.
“They have to bring together a number of different strands and build a professional standard report. This covers economics, industry analysis, valuation, company and financial analysis.
“It is also a fantastic opportunity to present themselves in front of senior executives from the industry.”
The four teams with the highest written report scores were announced last week, with Griffith joined by defending champions University of Sydney, UTS and University of Woollongong in the final.
Griffith saw off challenges from ANU, University of Queensland, Bond University, Macquarie University, University of Western Sydney and UNSW to qualify for the final again.
If they can go one better than last year, the team would advance to the Asia-Pacific Regional Finals.
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