Course Content

Alternative investments are both a specific investment class for the funds industry and an important asset category within many general funds. As such, it is important for those involved in fund accounting and funds administration to understand

• What alternative investments are
• Hedge funds
• Private equity
• Other alternatives
• How they are bought, valued and sold
• The regulations affecting alternatives particularly UCITS and AIFMD
• Risk measures and risk management for alternatives
• How are they dealt with in the back office and in finance/treasury?

The course will include a series of case studies on

• Inside a hedge fund
• Inside a private equity fund
• Issues on valuing alternatives in a fund

Operational risk issues for alternative investment funds accounting and funds administration

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate to colleagues a knowledge of the key characteristics of alternative investments
• Give examples of the benefits and risks of alternatives and what can go wrong
• Describe how risks are managed

Describe why the back office practicalities alternatives are so important

Who is the course for

• You work in asset management
• You work in funds administration
• You are with the regulator
• You want to work in financial services in Ireland

Modules

• Introduction – what are alternative investments?
• Key market participants
• Key trends
• Hedge funds
• Due diligence process
• Funds of funds and other structures
• Measures of risk and return
• Case study 1 : inside a hedge fund
• Private equity
• Jargon busting quiz and measuring performance
• Case study 2: inside a private equity fund
• Overview of other alternatives – commodities, property etc.
• How alternatives are bought, valued and sold
• Case study 3: valuing alternatives – fund accounting
• UCITS and AIFMD regulations
• How are they dealt with in the back office and in finance/treasury?
• Case study 4:Operational risk in alternative investment funds and funds administration
• Future trends and course wrap up

Trainer Profile