In recent times, quant finance has become a very attractive field. It comes with interesting work, appealing salaries, and generous bonuses. Quants use advanced mathematical systems and algorithms to recognize investment opportunities and other financial duties. The flood of applicants from higher educational establishments with backgrounds in computer programming and engineering have made quant finance a highly competitive field.

Quant analysts are hired by a range of companies in the finance industry, such as banks, investment firms/banks, hedge funds and financial planning firms. Due to the popularity and versatility of quant finance, there are numerous different kinds of companies that hire quants. So, if you are interested in the field of quant finance, there are a variety of different roles you can take in a wide range of industries.

Professional Qualification

One way to advance your career in quantitative finance is to take a professional qualification. . Usually, employers look for certain certifications that prove that you are a highly qualified quant with practical quant finance skills.

One of these highly-recognised and respected qualifications is the CQF (Certificate of Quantitative Finance). The CQF was created for people wanting to take the next step in their professional career, and because of this it is designed to be studied online with flexible learning options – allowing you to complete the course in the pace you feel comfortable with. As well as this, it is taught by leading quant finance practitioners.

Higher Education

Another way of getting into quant finance is through higher education, such as a university master’s degree. Qualifications in subjects such as mathematics, economics, finance, and computer science are all useful when looking for a role in quant finance, particularly if they are master’s or PHDs.

Entry-Level Position

If you are lacking in qualifications or are not able to study for more qualifications, then one option for you is to try and get an entry-level position at a finance or quant finance firm and try to work your way up the ladder. Obviously, this method is not the most streamlined, but it is a good way to start if you are looking for a change of career or if you are at the very beginning of your career. These are the kind of roles that hire graduates, so are ideal if you have just finished university.

Some examples of entry-level positions in quant finance are analysts, traders, researchers, and programmers.