Event Overview

Singapore's asset and wealth management (AWM) sector has experienced remarkable growth, expanding 10-12% annually over the past decade. The number of funds and managers has surged fivefold, establishing AWM as a major financial services pillar employing over 15,000 people. This comprehensive course provides an essential foundation for individuals seeking to enter or advance within this dynamic industry, covering its specifics, terminology, and technical details not found condensed elsewhere.

Designed for practical application, the course is led by a globally experienced industry expert with over 25 years of experience. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of investment fund structures, the Singapore regulatory landscape, cross-border distribution frameworks (UCITS/AIFMD), the roles of key service providers, and the operational mechanics (including NAV calculation and fee structures) for both open-ended (mutual/hedge funds) and closed-ended (PE/RE) funds. It also addresses critical risks, fraud mitigation, and relevant accounting standards (IFRS 9, consolidation), equipping attendees with immediately applicable, industry-ready knowledge.

Event Outline

1.  Introduction & Industry Context

    *   Growth & significance of Singapore's AWM industry.

2.  Fundamentals of Investment Funds

    *   Building blocks of funds.

    *   Jurisdiction selection factors.

    *   Fund structures (legal entity, strategy, investor type, regulatory status, standalone/master-feeder/umbrella).

3.  The Fund Ecosystem

    *   Roles of service providers (Trustees, Custodians, Administrators, TAs, Directors, Managers, Advisors).

    *   Roles within a fund manager (Front/Middle/Back Office, Product, IR, Research, PM).

4.  Singapore Landscape & Regulation

    *   Regulatory framework (Authorized, Restricted, Exempt funds).

    *   Investor types.

    *   Fund Management regime & exemptions (e.g., SFOs).

    *   Fund structures in SG (Unit Trusts, LPs, Companies, VCC).

5.  Cross-Border Fund Distribution

    *   UCITS framework.

    *   AIFMD application in SG/APAC.

6.  Open-Ended Funds (Mutual/Hedge)

    *   Structure, lifecycle, documents.

    *   Investment strategies.

    *   Fee calculations (Management, Performance - incl. hurdles/HWMs).

    *   NAV mechanics (GAV/NAV).

    *   Performance measurement (Total Return, Ratios).

    *   Equalization vs. Series Accounting.

7.  Closed-Ended Funds (PE/RE)

    *   Structure, lifecycle (PE/RE), LP terminology.

    *   Investment strategies (PE/RE).

    *   Fee structures (Management, Carried Interest - waterfalls, clawback).

    *   Performance measurement (IRR, XIRR, TVPI, RVPI, DPI).

    *   NAV mechanics.

8.  Operational Risks & Failures

    *   Key lifecycle risks.

    *   Root causes of fraud cases (Phantom funds, Ponzi, Mis-valuations, etc.).

    *   Risk mitigation factors.

9.  Fund Accounting Technical Topics

    *   Debt/Equity classification implications.

    *   Consolidation concepts & exemptions.

    *   IFRS 9 classification tests.

    *   Functional vs. Reporting currency.

Key Takeaways

Attendees will gain:

1.  Comprehensive Foundation: A clear understanding of AWM industry structure, key players, and essential terminology.

2.  Regulatory Navigation: Knowledge of Singapore's specific fund regulations, investor types, and cross-border frameworks (UCITS/AIFMD).

3.  Fund Mechanics Mastery: Practical knowledge of how different fund types (open-ended, closed-ended) operate, their fee structures (management, performance, carried interest), and NAV calculation.

4.  Operational & Risk Awareness: Insight into the roles within fund managers and service providers, common operational risks, and how failures/fraud occur and are mitigated.

5.  Critical Accounting Concepts: Understanding of core accounting standards (IFRS 9, consolidation, classification) relevant to fund reporting.

6.  Industry-Ready Skills: Practical, applicable knowledge directly relevant to roles within the AWM ecosystem in Singapore.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for:

*   Career Changers: Bookkeepers, accountants (non-AWM), treasury/payments staff exploring fund admin/services or the AWM sector.

*   Industry Upskillers: Fund administrators, accounting & audit firm staff expanding into AWM.

*   Service Providers: Professionals in firms supporting AWM clients (e.g., admin, legal, tech).

*   Aspiring Professionals: Individuals aiming to join financial services companies with AWM clients.