CAREER GUIDE MANUAL - Inseta

337.4.2 Personal requirementsAlthough portfolio managers have their own personal way of investing, theyall need strong quantitative analytical skills. They should also be openminded,well-disciplined, patient and have a thorough understanding ofcompanies and financial markets so that they can detect changes in themarket quickly and react acccordingly.Portfolio managers need good communication skills to build relationships withtheir clients and understand their financial needs. They must be able to doformal presentations that persuasively demonstrate their investment strategiesto people who are not necessarily financial experts. Clients want regularfeedback on the performance of their investments through performancereports. These reports should be user-friendly documents that indicate whatthe actual performance was, how the performance was achieved, forexample stock selection and asset allocation, and how good or bad theperformance was compared to the investments made by other portfoliomanagers and other financial products.Volatile markets can make the life of portfolio managers very stressful. To besuccessful, they therefore need the ability to remain calm and work efficientlyunder pressure.7.4.3 Education and training(a)(b)Entry requirementsBecause a tertiary qualification is required, the candidate must havea Senior Certificate with matriculation exemption. Compulsorysubjects are mathematics and English; useful subjects are accounting,computer science and economics.Undergraduate programmesA Bachelor's degree in finance or economics is a minimumrequirement for portfolio managers, most of whom have an MBA witha financial or economic focus. Many portfolio managers arechartered accountants who have passed the exams and requirementsof the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).