CFSA Exam Information and Guideline
Certified Financial Services Auditor (IIA-CFSA)
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
Certified Financial Services Auditor® (CFSA®) Exam Syllabus
The CFSA exam tests a candidate's knowledge of current auditing practices and understanding of internal audit issues, risks, and remedies in the financial services industry.
The exam consists of 115 multiple-choice questions.
The testing period is two hours and fifty-five minutes.
Exam questions are all multiple-choice (objective) with four answer choices.
80% of the exam covers four domains: Financial Services Auditing, Auditing Financial Services Products, Auditing Financial Service Processes, and The Regulatory Environment.
The remaining 20% relate to the candidates' chosen discipline and will be at the proficiency level.
CFSA candidates may choose any one of the three disciplines as part of their CFSA exam test.
Candidates may not choose to be tested on more than one discipline.
The CFSA designation does not distinguish one chosen discipline from another.
The CFSA exam core content covers four domains:
Domain I: Financial Services Auditing (25-35%)
Domain II: Auditing Financial Services Products (25-35%)
Domain III: Auditing Financial Service Processes (25-35%)
Domain IV: The Regulatory Environment (10-20%)
CFSA Exam Individual Disciplines
Banking: Products, Processes, and the Regulatory Environment (20% — Proficiency Level)
Insurance: Products, Processes, and the Regulatory Environment (20% — Proficiency Level)
Securities: Products, Processes, and the Regulatory Environment (20% — Proficiency Level)
Financial Services Auditing (25-35%)
(P) = Candidates must exhibit proficiency (thorough understanding, ability to apply concepts) in these topic areas.
(A) = Candidates must exhibit awareness (knowledge of terminology and fundamentals) in these topic areas.
A. IIA International Professional Practices Framework (P)
B. Internal Control/Risk Management/Governance (P)
Internal Control Frameworks
Risk Management Frameworks
Governance Models
C. Audit Process (P)
Audit Planning
Audit Fieldwork
Risk Assessment
Analytical Review
Data Gathering and Evaluation
Testing
Tools and Techniques (e.g., CAAT)
Audit Communications
Monitoring Outcomes
D. Implications of Information Technology (P)
E. Auditing Financial Statement Elements (P)
Balance Sheet
Statement of Cash Flows
Income/Expense Statement
Off Balance-sheet Items
Auditing Financial Services Products (25-35%)
(P) = Candidates must exhibit proficiency (thorough understanding, ability to apply concepts) in these topic areas.
(A) = Candidates must exhibit awareness (knowledge of terminology and fundamentals) in these topic areas.
A. Lending/Loans (A)
B. Deposits (A)
C. Trusts (A)
D. Annuities (A)
E. Derivatives (A)
F. Electronic Services (A)
G. Cash Management Services (A)
H. Stocks (A)
I. Bonds (A)
J. Commodities (A)
K. Mutual Funds (A)
L. Employee Benefits (A)
M. Capital Market Products (A)
N. Securities Lending (A)
O. Insurance Policies (A)
P. Insurance Products (A)
Q. Foreign Exchange (A)
R. Asset Management (A)
S. Money Market Products (A)
Auditing Financial Service Processes (25-35%)
(P) = Candidates must exhibit proficiency (thorough understanding, ability to apply concepts) in these topic areas.
(A) = Candidates must exhibit awareness (knowledge of terminology and fundamentals) in these topic areas.
A. Risk Management (A)
Asset/Liability Management
Trading Market Risk
Credit, Liquidity, Operational Risk
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
Reserves
B. Underwriting (A)
Loans
Securities
Insurance
Private Placement
Initial Public Offerings
C. Securitizations (A)
D. Treasury Operations (e.g., Cash Management) (A)
E. Back-office Operations (A)
F. Marketing Sales and Distribution (e.g., Insurance Agencies, Bank Branches, Brokers) (A)
G. Claims (A)
H. Investments (A)
I. Broker/Dealer Activities (A)
J. Rating Advisory Service (A)
K. Mergers and Acquisitions (A)
L. Loan Operations (e.g., Collateral Issues, Perfecting Liens) (A)
The Regulatory Environment (10-20%)
(P) = Candidates must exhibit proficiency (thorough understanding, ability to apply concepts) in these topic areas.
(A) = Candidates must exhibit awareness (knowledge of terminology and fundamentals) in these topic areas.
A. Overview of the Regulatory Environment (A)
Function of Central Bank
Function of Insurance Regulators
Function of Securities Regulators
B. Laws and Regulations (A)
Equal Credit Opportunity/Antidiscrimination
Home Mortgage Disclosure
Reserve Requirements
Insider Transactions
Lending Disclosure
Deposits Disclosure
Real Estate Sales Disclosure
Self-assessment of Internal Controls/Risk Management
Investor/Depositor Protection
Financial and Personal Information Privacy
Anti-Money Laundering
C. Stock Exchanges and Other Markets (A)
D. Money and Banking (A)
Role of Money and Banking
Bond and Stock Markets
Effect of Interest Rate Movements
Monetary Management Theories