Executive Certificate Course in Fund Administration and Regulatory Compliance training course jointly organized with HKU SPACE - CEF Reimbursable Course

Course Description - Our CEF reimbursable flagship training course “Executive Certificate in Fund Administration and Regulatory Compliance” is comprised of 10 classes of 3 hours each, two in-takes each year (March and September) taking an integrated teaching approach focusing on Hong Kong fund industry. Other than our Association’s Education committee members as the principal lecturers, various experienced industry experts are also invited as the guest speakers to share their valuable experiences with the students. 

Audience - This course is designed for professionals in the funds or related financial services industry who seek a comprehensive understanding of the fund industry, with a particular focus on operations, regulatory and compliance frameworks, and current industry hot topics. It is well suited for individuals in roles such as fund accountants, customer services, compliance, auditors, IT, and legal, who have an interest in gaining a holistic view of the end-to-end fund operations process.

Major achievements of this flagship course :

• A resounding success of this training program to nurture over 200+ bright professionals since September 2022

• One of the few courses from HKU SPACE continuously received above average scores from the students

• A very unique training programme in Hong Kong combining class lectures with industry guest speaker sessions specifically designed for fund administration and fund industry

• A number of students successfully changed their careers to fund administration after completing the programme

10-Week Curriculum Summary

This comprehensive 10-week program provides a holistic journey through the asset management industry, beginning with foundational concepts and culminating in a practical case study. It is designed to equip participants with a deep understanding of fund structures, operations, regulations, and market trends across Hong Kong and China.

Part 1: Foundations & Structure (Weeks 1-3)

Module 1: The Fund Ecosystem introduces the key stakeholders, including asset managers, investors, distributors, and service providers, mapping out the interconnected landscape of the fund industry.

Module 2: Legal & Constitutional Framework focuses on the Hong Kong market, offering a systematic explanation of how funds are legally constituted, structured, and governed.

 Module 3: Fund Types & Mechanisms uses practical examples to dissect various fund structures, from retail funds, MPF, ETFs, and REITs to alternative assets like hedge funds and private equity. Special attention is given to complex topics such as performance fees and waterfall models.

Part 2: Operational Value Chain (Weeks 4-6)

Module 4: The Investment Value Chain explores the strategic rationale behind outsourcing. It details the critical role of the fund administrator, covering the end-to-end middle and back-office functions and providing a framework for selecting an administrator.

Module 5: NAV Calculation & Control provides a deep dive into the end-to-end process of Net Asset Value (NAV) calculation, emphasizing the operational workflow and the essential control processes that ensure accuracy and integrity.

Module 6: Risk Management & KYC covers the dual pillars of risk management and the critical process of Know Your Customer (KYC) for investor onboarding.

Part 3: Compliance & Regulation (Weeks 7)

Module 7: Hong Kong Regulatory Regime offers a detailed review of the SFC licensing framework and the regulatory processes governing modern fund structures, specifically the Open-ended Fund Company (OFC) and Limited Partnership Fund (LPF).

Part 4: Advanced Topics & Regional Context (Weeks 8-10)

Module 8: Market Hot Topics addresses current industry developments, including the evolving retail fund distribution model, the rise of family offices, and the emerging field of Real-World Asset (RWA) fund tokenisation.

Module 9: The China Market provides a comprehensive overview of cross-border investment schemes (QFI, CIBM, QDII/QDLP, QFLP) and the establishment of onshore entities such as Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises (WFOE PFM/FMC).

Module 10: Capstone Case Study serves as the final assignment, challenging participants to apply the knowledge gained across all modules to a practical, real-world scenario.

Cross-Module Integration: Throughout the program, industry experts will be invited as guest speakers to share practical experiences, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application.