INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED SECRETARIES AND ADMINISTRATORS (ICSA)

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION (IFA) LEVEL 4

BPP is proud to have accredited status with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) – the international qualifying and Membership body for the Chartered Secretary profession and the world's leading authority on governance and compliance.

We've been offering the ICSA qualification for many years and have structured our courses to meet a whole range of study requirements. With our excellent study materials, highly qualified tutors and helpful administrative support, BPP can offer you a successful ICSA study experience, equipping you for a variety of different career paths.

IFA Level 4 is a suite of four qualifications which provide a broad overview of the offshore financial market and the opportunity for you to specialise in either accounting or investment. The qualifications will give you the underpinning knowledge needed to work in the offshore financial services sector.

Successful completion of IFA Level 4 allows you to study for IFA Level 5 which can help you progress to junior/middle management roles.

BPP – Key information

  • Many years experience of offering ICSA courses

  • Consistently achieve outstanding pass rates

  • Regularly have prizewinners from within our classes

  • Face to face and Online learning study options

  • Access to some of the best teaching and learning materials on the market

  • Each of the four qualifications is a JFSC Table 5 qualification – suitable for Category C employees

Overview

About ICSA

ICSA is the leading professional body for company secretaries and a global voice on governance and regulatory issues across all sectors. The Institute's headquarters are in London, but ICSA also operates in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

ICSA's International Finance and Administration (IFA) Level 4 Qualifications

These qualifications are appropriate for you if you are new to the offshore industry, particularly Trust and Company, as they are foundation level qualifications. There are no formal entry requirements, although candidates should be in a relevant occupation.

The four qualifications are:

  1. Award in International Finance and Administration
  2. Subsidiary Certificate in International Finance, Accounting and Administration
  3. Subsidiary Certificate in International Finance, Investment and Administration
  4. Certificate in International Finance and Administration

ICSA membership

When you pass the ICSA Certificate in International Finance and Administration, you will be entitled to use the designatory letters Cert ICSA after your name.

Candidates can then continue to study for IFA Level 5, the second stage towards full membership of ICSA.

For more information about ICSA, please call 01534 711841.

Qualifications

1. Award in International Finance and Administration
a. This qualification combines the content of the old Offshore Business Environment and Principles of Trust and Company modules. It provides an introduction to the offshore financial environment, including products and services available; how the sector is monitored and regulated, as well as how trusts and companies are created and managed.
b. The Award is for you if you need a Table 5 qualification which covers the core areas of international finance and administration

2. Subsidiary Certificate in International Finance, Accounting and Administration
a. This qualification covers the same content as the Award, and introduces the fundamentals of accounting – how financial information is created and used.
b. This qualification is for you if you want to specialise in accounting.

3. Subsidiary Certificate in International Finance, Investment and Administration
a. This qualification covers the same content as the Award, and introduces types of investment products and how they work.
b. This qualification is for you if you want to specialise in investments.

4. Certificate in International Finance and Administration
a. This qualification covers the same content as the Award, plus fundamentals of accounting and investment, as covered in the Subsidiary Certificates.
b. This is for you if you want to progress to the Diploma in Offshore Finance and Administration.

Exam information

1. Award in International Finance and Administration
a. The Award is assessed by one core module written exam which is three hours

2. Subsidiary Certificate in International Finance, Accounting and Administration
a. This qualification is assessed by the core module exam and a single hour and a half accounting exam

3. Subsidiary Certificate in International Finance, Investment and Administration
a. This qualification is assessed by the core module exam and a single hour and a half investment exam

4. Certificate in International Finance and Administration
a. This qualification is assessed by the core module exam, a single hour and a half accounting exam and a single hour and a half investment exam.

Exam dates

Exams are held twice a year, in June and November. Students must register with ICSA directly before they can sit their exams.

Exam format for Award IFA

The exam papers are split into four sections:

  • Section A -multiple-choice and short answer compulsory questions
  • Section B -short-answer compulsory questions.
  • Section C -longer essay-style questions from which you answer two from a choice of three.
  • Section D -longer essay-style questions from which you answer two from a choice of three.

The marks allocated for all questions you are required to complete total 128. The pass mark is 50%.

Exam format for the top up modules (i.e. Investments & Accounting Fundamentals)

  • Section A -multiple-choice and short answer compulsory questions
  • Section B -short-answer compulsory questions.
  • Section C -longer essay-style questions from which you answer two from a choice of three.

The marks allocated for all questions you are required to complete total 75. The pass mark is 50%.

Exam Results

Your exam results will be available approximately eight weeks after you have sat your exam.

If you have any problems please contact ICSA on +44 (0) 207 580 4741 for international students and 0207 580 4741 from the UK.

ICSA will give you a student number and confirmation of the time, date and place of the exam. Please ensure that you have these details

Free Lifetime Pass Assurance

Our ICSA training delivers a higher than average worldwide pass rate and we're therefore proud of the quality of our education and training. We're also proud of the peace of mind we offer our students with free Pass Assurance that protects you if you fail the exam on your first attempt.

BPP's Pass Assurance varies dependent on how you study, and at which level.

Download Pass Assurance information here.

All terms and conditions stated are subject to BPP's additional Pass Assurance Terms and Conditions.

Learning materials

Please note that Pass Assurance covers the cost of tuition only. Additional BPP Learning Media physical study materials are not included. You will get full online support with updated and refreshed content.

Additional support

Should you fail your exam and you don't qualify for lifetime pass assurance we can still offer you support. Please contact your tutor or call the ICSA Course Administrator so we can advise you on your next steps.

Download Course Booking Form

Ways to study

The ICSA International Finance and Administration Level 4 courses are available as both classroom or online - allowing you to choose the option that best suits your circumstances.

Classroom based Course

All our courses for IFA Level 4 are in the evenings from 5.00 – 8.00pm GMT.

Through classroom learning you will:

  • Learn the core areas of the syllabus
  • Practice questions on the syllabus' core areas
  • Develop your exam technique by completing two mock exams to help manage your time in the exam and maximise your marks on every exam question
  • Review past exam questions and explore what the examiner wants to see in your answers
  • Make the crucial difference between a borderline fail and a confident pass
  • Test your pure knowledge, relevant skills and competencies

Revision Phase

Syllabus knowledge is only part of what's required to pass the exam - our revision courses focus on the skills and techniques needed to pass your exams.

Study materials

Our study materials include 24/7 access to the online recording of the course; our popular course notes; revision notes; question banks; mock exams as well as ICSA's text book.

Online Course

Our online tuition and revision courses combine pre-recorded lectures and practice questions together with our first class course notes and question banks.

The courses have marked mock-exams and an online tutor to help guide you through your studies.

Next Steps...

Call (+44) 01534 711 800