Test prep for CFA, FRM, CAIA and FDP designations
Edge Designations Finance & Investment training provides test prep for CFA, FRM, CAIA, FDP and is approved for the CFA® Institute, GARP (Global Association of Risk Professionals), CAIA® Association and The FDP Institute®
Running the best Finance and Investment programs and designations constantly strives to make this a reality for all candidates studying with us. He may be contacted at info@edgedesignations.com.
We are approved by CFA® Institute, GARP (Global Association of Risk Professionals) & CAIA® Association.
We make use of experienced lecturers who are experts in the field to deliver the course material.
We have more than 20 year’s experience in training finance professionals and our courses offer exceptional value.
Our program coordinator, Russell Jude, is dedicated to the running of the best Finance & Investments Programs in South Africa and constantly strives to make this a reality for all candidates studying with us. He may be contacted at info@edgedesignations.com.
We are approved by CFA® Institute, GARP (Global Association of Risk Professionals) & CAIA® Association.
We make use of experienced lecturers who are experts in the field to deliver the course material.
We have more than 20 year’s experience in training finance professionals and our courses offer exceptional value.
meet the team
Russell Jude
CFA, FRM, CAIA, CA (SA)
Team Leader
Russell Jude is the head of the program. Russell qualified as a CA(SA) in 1996 and obtained his CFA®charter in 1999. Russell lectures across all three levels of the program. He completed his accounting articles at Arthur Andersen in 1998, after which he spent almost 10 years in private equity with Kagiso Ventures, a leading empowerment private equity fund. Russell lectures across all levels and all programs.
Mohamed Ismail
Advanced Mathematics of Finance and Actuarial Science, CFA, FRM
Mohamed Ismail lectures fixed income and risk management across all the CFA and FRM levels. He is the Head of Fixed Income and portfolio manager of the multi-asset strategy at Mergence Investment Management. He has over 12 years of experience in the fixed income market working in both buy-side and sell-side roles. He holds degrees in Advanced Mathematics of Finance and Actuarial Science, and is a CFA® charterholder and certified FRM. He is also an INSEAD graduate with a Masters in Finance degree with distinction.
Cobus Cilliers
CFA, CA(SA), CAIA, CIPM, Masters in Finance (London Business School)
Cobus Cilliers lectures equities and alternative investments for across all programs. He completed his CA (SA) training program at Standard Bank, and started working in the investment management industry (as analyst and portfolio manager) after qualifying as a chartered accountant at the beginning of 2012. Cobus holds a Master in Finance qualification from London Business School, which he completed in 2016. He is also a CFA®charterholder, CAIA charterholder and a Certified Financial Planner.
Russell Jude
CFA, FRM, CA (SA)
Team Leader
Russell Jude is the head of the program. Russell qualified as a CA(SA) in 1996 and obtained his CFA®charter in 1999. Russell lectures across all three levels of the program. He completed his accounting articles at Arthur Andersen in 1998, after which he spent almost 10 years in private equity with Kagiso Ventures, a leading empowerment private equity fund. Russell lectures across all levels and all programs.
Mohamed Ismail
Advanced Mathematics of Finance and Actuarial Science, CFA, FRM
Mohamed Ismail lectures fixed income and risk management across all the CFA and FRM levels. He is the Head of Fixed Income and portfolio manager of the multi-asset strategy at Mergence Investment Management. He has over 12 years of experience in the fixed income market working in both buy-side and sell-side roles. He holds degrees in Advanced Mathematics of Finance and Actuarial Science, and is a CFA® charterholder and certified FRM. He is also an INSEAD graduate with a Masters in Finance degree with distinction.
Cobus Cilliers
CFA, CA(SA), CAIA, CIPM, Masters in Finance (London Business School)
Cobus Cilliers lectures equities and alternative investments for across all programs. He completed his CA (SA) training program at Standard Bank, and started working in the investment management industry (as analyst and portfolio manager) after qualifying as a chartered accountant at the beginning of 2012. Cobus holds a Master in Finance qualification from London Business School, which he completed in 2016. He is also a CFA®charterholder, CAIA charterholder and a Certified Financial Planner.
Paul Birkett
CFA, FRM, CPA US
Paul Birkett lectures corporate finance for Level I and II of the program as well as performance evaluation for Level III. Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and an MBA from Southeastern Louisiana University, Louisiana, United States. Paul is qualified as a CPA (NY) and is a CFA and FRM charterholder. He is currently studying towards a MFIN at INSEAD. Prior to joining Africa Special Opportunities Capital (ASO), a distressed debt private equity fund focused on South Africa, he worked within corporate finance at Investec Bank Limited and PwC, in Johannesburg and New York City respectively.
Paul Birkett
CFA, FRM, CPA US
Paul Birkett lectures corporate finance for Level I and II of the program as well as performance evaluation for Level III. Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and an MBA from Southeastern Louisiana University, Louisiana, United States. Paul is qualified as a CPA (NY) and is a CFA and FRM charterholder. He is currently studying towards a MFIN at INSEAD. Prior to joining Africa Special Opportunities Capital (ASO), a distressed debt private equity fund focused on South Africa, he worked within corporate finance at Investec Bank Limited and PwC, in Johannesburg and New York City respectively.
Jaco Eagar
CAIA, BSc Economics
Jaco gained the bulk of his experience in Asset Management, Stockbroking, and Wealth Management. Thereafter, he focused on Private Equity and Project Finance. Positions he has held include COO, CIO, Senior Associate, and Head of Trading. He is currently involved in two start-up financial services companies, specialising in corporate Finance, and Stockbroking and Financial Advisory Services for the retail market.
Kyle Vinokur
Lecturer
Kyle Vinokur holds a Bachelor of Business Science degree with honours in finance from the University of Cape Town. He began his career at RidgeCape Capital, a multi-asset derivatives boutique brokerage. He was responsible for pricing, trade idea generation and trade execution of fixed income, currency and equity derivatives. He is a Level III candidate in the CFA® program and assists students with tutorial and exam preparation. He is helpful and excellent at presenting information in a way that is clear and easy to grasp.
Jaco Eagar
CAIA, BSc Economics
Jaco gained the bulk of his experience in Asset Management, Stockbroking, and Wealth Management. Thereafter, he focused on Private Equity and Project Finance. Positions he has held include COO, CIO, Senior Associate, and Head of Trading. He is currently involved in two start-up financial services companies, specialising in corporate Finance, and Stockbroking and Financial Advisory Services for the retail market.
Kyle Vinokur
Lecturer
Kyle Vinokur holds a Bachelor of Business Science degree with honours in finance from the University of Cape Town. He began his career at RidgeCape Capital, a multi-asset derivatives boutique brokerage. He was responsible for pricing, trade idea generation and trade execution of fixed income, currency and equity derivatives. He is a Level III candidate in the CFA® program and assists students with tutorial and exam preparation. He is helpful and excellent at presenting information in a way that is clear and easy to grasp.
Lunki Jude
Graphic Design & Marketing
Lunki received a BA through UNISA, majoring in English & Criminology, before studying graphic design through Design Alive, as well as receiving diplomas from Shaw Academy in Graphics, Photography & Digital Marketing. She is a talented designer, who aims for 100% client satisfaction & gives her all to every project. Lunki is part of the Edge Designations Design and Marketing team, and is always learning more & trying to improve her skills.
Lunki Jude
Graphic Design & Marketing
Lunki received a BA through UNISA, majoring in English & Criminology, before studying graphic design through Design Alive, as well as receiving diplomas from Shaw Academy in Graphics, Photography & Digital Marketing. She is a talented designer, who aims for 100% client satisfaction & gives her all to every project. Lunki is part of the Edge Designations Design and Marketing team, and is always learning more & trying to improve her skills.