What is the IOC?

The Investment Operations Certificate (IOC) is a professional qualification from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments (CISI).

What does it cover?

The qualification gives you a solid understanding of the financial services industry, the bodies, rules and legislation which regulate it, and underlying areas…

Much has been written about the millennial generation and its impact on the workplace in general. But what, specifically, can you do as a law firm to engage with this demographic group? And what changes can you make to ensure you're recruiting and retaining the very best of Generation Y?

What is a…

Elsewhere we have written about the competency-based interview and how to structure your answers to do well. We also included some examples of basic questions and included guidance on how to tackle each…

A successful job interview requires a lot of preparation. You need to prepare what to wear, what to say, and even what to bring with you.

To make the preparation a little easier, here are our top tips on what you should take to your next job interview, as well as a few things that you shouldn’t.…

Many people hold a misconception that contracting is only for very experienced professionals.  

But if you have a few years of experience under your belt, contract work could be a lucrative option for you.

Here are five benefits – and three considerations – of stepping into the contract world early on in your working…

If you’re at the start or in the early stages of a career within financial or professional services, you should consider Scotland’s investment operations sector. A complex and fast-paced area, it presents a credible long-term career option.

Here we look at five reasons why you can have a successful and rewarding career in investment operations.

1. Less competition

Many candidates interested in joining the fund management industry desire…

Many enthusiastic graduates express an interest in becoming an investment analyst. It is, after all, a role which can conjure up images of prestige and wealth. But vacancies are few and far between – particularly in Scotland - and asset management companies that are hiring can have very specific requirements. So what does it take to…

Writing your first CV or updating an old one probably feels like a daunting task that will take hours or even days to complete.

There is a massive amount of advice you can find about writing CVs, whether it’s how to make your CV stand out or five different templates that will get you an interview. We’re spoilt for choice online – but this can make it even more…

The asset management industry in Scotland – and the rest of the UK, for that matter – is grappling with a problem that cuts to the very heart of its existence. No, it’s not the pressure on fees. Nor is it investors growing love affair with passively-managed funds. 

Fund managers are suffering from a dearth of fund managers. If not tackled robustly, the problem may persist for many years…