Overview

Our eight-month Finance advanced diploma program equips graduates to build upon their previous degree/diploma and excel in a diverse range of customer-facing advisory roles within Canada's financial services industry.  

Graduates work in careers in banking, investments, financial planning, or insurance and are employed within banks, credit unions, investment companies, and insurance agencies. 

Program Learning Outcomes 

  • Critical Thinking and Knowledge: use core specialization knowledge in solving business problems 
  • Ethical Perspective and Social Responsibility: identify organizational activities to reduce unethical behaviour. 
  • Collaboration: work effectively in diverse teams, supporting team performance to achieve organizational goals. 
  • Communication: present effective business communications in a variety of formats 
  • Business Strategy: strategize to plan for changes in business. 

Examples of what graduates from this program can do: 

  • Sell investment products and provide financial planning services. 
  • Work in the banking, investments, financial planning, or insurance industry. 
  • Analyze and evaluate financial products and services for clients. 
  • Develop and implement financial plans and strategies for clients. 
  • Provide investment advice to clients. 
  • Manage client portfolios and assets. 
  • Provide risk management advice to clients. 
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of financial products and services, industry regulations, and financial market trends. 
  • Work collaboratively with clients, colleagues, and industry professionals to meet client needs and achieve organizational goals. 

Success Factors 

You might be a good fit for this program if you would enjoy: 

  • Leveraging your previous degree or diploma to excel in the financial services industry. 
  • Guiding clients towards attaining their financial goals through tailored advice and strategies. 
  • Thriving in a dynamic and customer-centric business environment that emphasizes prompt service and efficient solutions. 
  • Building meaningful connections with diverse individuals and establishing trust to effectively address their financial needs. 
  • Utilizing your skills across various business lines, including banking, investing, lending, and insurance, to provide comprehensive financial solutions. 

The industry and program environment require individuals to: 

  • Proactively initiate conversations and establish rapport with individuals from diverse backgrounds. 
  • Demonstrate the ability to maintain focus and work effectively during extended periods of sitting. 
  • Exhibit strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in data analysis, market trends assessment, and risk evaluation. 
  • Utilize analytical skills to interpret complex information and make informed decisions in line with market dynamics. 
  • Cultivate and nurture relationships to foster trust and gain a comprehensive understanding of clients' unique needs. 
  • Uphold high ethical standards by maintaining confidentiality, prioritizing clients' best interests, and adhering to industry regulations. 
  • Adapt to ever-evolving market conditions and changes in regulatory landscapes, demonstrating flexibility and resilience. 
  • Employ problem-solving skills to identify challenges, develop innovative solutions, and optimize outcomes for clients. 
  • Exhibit excellent time management and organizational skills, effectively prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines. 

Finance (with Co-op)

For information about our Finance with Co-op Advanced Diploma program.


Elevate Awards

Full-Tuition Awards Available!

The Elevate Award is a full-tuition award that supports university or college graduates looking to enhance their professional skill sets by pursuing an advanced diploma program. Up to 20 full-tuition Elevate awards are granted annually to domestic students (Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents). Awards are limited; apply to the program today!

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Admissions

  • Two-year diploma or university degree

If you do not have a prior post-secondary credential, please see our Business Administration program where you can specialize in Accounting, Finance, Human Resource Management or Marketing.  

English is the language of instruction at Assiniboine. All applicants educated outside of Canada or in a country not on the test exempt list must meet the English language proficiency requirement. See assiniboine.net/elp for more information. IELTS score of 6.0 with no subscore less than 5.5 or equivalent is acceptable for this program. 

International Applicants

If you are an international applicant, please read our Helpful Information for International Students prior to applying to this program. 

Careers & Connections

Career Opportunities

  • Financial planning
  • Personal banking and lending
  • Stocks and investing
  • Insurance 

Connections

The college’s partnerships with the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC), IFSE Institute, and the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) will provide students with the courses that fit, or work towards, the educational requirements for industry certifications such as licensed mutual fund representative, Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and licensed life insurance agent.

Assiniboine has a number of agreements with other colleges, universities and professional organizations, making it possible for students to apply credit taken at Assiniboine to programs at other institutions. For up-to-date information on agreements, visit the Articulation Agreements page.

Tools & Supplies

You benefit from industry networking and guest speakers and attend classes in computer labs, regular classrooms and lecture theatre. This program uses online learning resources and instructional resources.

Booklists are available from your school office 30 days prior to the start date of your program. Visit the Bookstore website to learn more.

Program Checklist & Textbooks/Supplies

Technology Requirements

Students in this program are required to bring their own laptop for use on-campus. The laptop must meet the technical needs outlined by the program. MAC computing devices are not compatible with program software. Refer to assiniboine.net/tech for detailed information. 

Courses & Costs

Costs

Estimated Program Costs (Domestic students)
  Credits Tuition Course fees Students' Association fees (Inc Health Premium) Estimated textbooks, tools and supplies
Finance Advanced Diploma 60 $3,400 $690 $470 $2,740

All fees are estimated and subject to change without notice.

Related licensing fees for BUSN-0172 Life License Qualification, BUSN-0170 Financial Planning and BUSN-0160 Canadian Investment Funds are included in the chart above (under 'estimated textbooks tools, and supplies') but paid to IFSE Institute and/or Canadian Securities Institute.

Estimated Program Costs (International students)
  Credits Tuition Course Fees Students' Association fees (Inc Health Premium) Required Health Insurance Textbooks, Tools, & Supplies
Finance Advanced Diploma 60 $15,270 $690 $470 $750 $2,740

All fees are estimated and are subject to change without notice. All international students must purchase health insurance. The college adds this fee to your student account and then sends your name and fee to the insurance provider on your behalf.

Related licensing fees for BUSN-0172 Life License Qualification, BUSN-0170 Financial Planning and BUSN-0160 Canadian Investment Funds are included in the chart above (under 'estimated textbooks tools, and supplies') but paid to IFSE Institute and/or Canadian Securities Institute.

Courses

To graduate with an advanced diploma in Finance, students must successfully complete 60 academic credits. The minimum passing grade for each course is indicated on the course outline. Course offerings are subject to change and may vary by intake. 

Courses
Title Credits/CEUs Elective Distance PLAR
Advanced Software (COMP-0598)

Prerequisite: COMP-0597 Software Applications
In this course, students learn to use software to store and prepare data for analysis in a variety of business situations. Students begin by learning to use various tools and features to improve the analytical capability of their spreadsheets. They also learn when to use a spreadsheet and when it is more appropriate to utilize a database. Students learn how to create relational databases to store data effectively, as well as how to extract data in the form of queries and reports. Students use Excel to perform metrics and analysis using real business examples. Use of database software for data mining and analysis purposes will add knowledge, skills and abilities related to business intelligence and meeting organizational objectives.

6 credit(s) Yes No No
Business Law (LAWG-0093)

Knowledge of laws affecting your commercial activity can help you avoid unnecessary legal and, consequently, financial liabilities. Fundamental legal principles, as well as specific commercial transactions, are discussed in this course.

6 credit(s) Yes Yes No
Canadian Business and Society (BUSN-0166)

Students explore the complex business environment and the relationships organizations have with civil society, the natural environment and each other. Through this examination, students learn that ethical decision-making is critical to the successful management of any organization. Topics include changing economic, political, social and cultural forces and their influences on business and society; the continuum of socially responsible management and ethical business practices; and the challenges and opportunities that influence where an organization fits on the continuum. Special attention is given to Indigenous history and developments.

6 credit(s) Yes Yes No
Canadian Investment Funds (BUSN-0160)

Prerequisitse: ECON-0006 Economics 1
This course is an industry-recognized mutual fund licensing course (Investment Funds of Canada) and is offered through the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI). Upon successful completion of this course, students will possess the necessary credential in order to function as a mutual fund representative. The topics covered in this course include regulatory environment, registrant responsibilities, suitability, economic factors and financial markets, types of mutual funds, portfolio management, taxation, retirement and making recommendations.

6 credit(s) No No No
Consumer Behaviour (BUSN-0176)

Prerequisite: MKTG-0044 Marketing Principles
This course analyses the behaviours that consumers display in searching for, purchasing, using and evaluating products, services and ideas that they expect will satisfy their needs. The course examines the decision-making process involved in the allocation of resources.

6 credit(s) Yes No No
Corporate Finance (BUSN-0165)

Prerequisite: ACCT-0004 Financial Accounting 2
Students explore finance issues and the tools used by financial managers in decision-making. Topics include the corporate financial environment and its impact on decisions, time value of money, investing and risk management, distribution of earnings, capital budgeting techniques and short-, medium- and long-term financing decisions.

6 credit(s) No Yes No
Financial Planning (BUSN-0170)

Prerequisite:BUSN-0169 Personal Finance
This course is offered through the Canadian Securities Institute and serves to develop advanced knowledge of key financial strategies. The course outlines the process of applying key financial planning concepts in order to develop and recommend an appropriate plan for clients. Students must registered directly, and pay, in order to get CSI credit.

6 credit(s) No No No
Indigenous History (INDG-0005)

In order to make sense of current issues and developments in Indigenous communities, learners need an understanding of the history of
these communities and their relationships with the crown and/or state. This course gives the learner the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the history of relationships between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous societies, their institutions and the unique context of these histories and the current realities and initiatives, considering Indigenous culture. While it is impossible in one course to consider the diverse Indigenous cultures and histories within Canada, this course provides an overview of the commonalities with regard to shared
histories, significant events, and common core aspects of Indigenous cultures.

6 credit(s) Yes No No
Indigenous Human/Fiscal Issues (INDG-0006)

This course examines some of the human resource and financial issues a financial officer may face when working in an Indigenous context. It offers participants the opportunity to acquire the essential skills and knowledge needed to fulfill one of the roles of a financial officer: that of a human resource manager. The framework for course discussions is current initiatives - both at the national and professional level - addressing issues related to the present fiscal relationship between Indigenous governments and the Canadian state, with particular attention given to issues related to accountability.

6 credit(s) Yes No No
Life License Qualification (BUSN-0172)

Prerequisite: BUSN-0169 Personal Finance
The Life License Qualification Program, offered through IFSE, is a pre-requisite course that qualifies the student to write the licensing exam through the Insurance Council of Manitoba. Topics covered in this course include life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, segregated funds and annuities, and ethical and professional practice. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to evaluate appropriate insurance options as they relate to the financial planning process.

6 credit(s) No No No
Personal Finance (BUSN-0169)

Students use current financial planning software to support the financial plans created for clients. Students use the software to outline and deliver financial plans, which cover such topics as inflation, historical returns, comprehensive and periodic retirement goals, major purchase goals, education goals, insurance goals, capital growth, RRSPs, payouts from RRIFs and LRIFs, and loan and mortgage calculations. This course also uses a real time investment simulator (Investopedia.com) model to teach the principles of investing in the financial markets. The course uses a case study to provide the student experience in portfolio management through the creation of a diversified portfolio. The course culminates with the student presenting the portfolio to the instructor in an interactive fashion.

6 credit(s) No No No
Professional Selling (MKTG-0065)

Prerequisite: MKTG-0044 Marketing Principles; COMM-0006 Communications
This course involves students in creating and role-playing consultative sales presentations - both business-to-business and business to person. Topics include the steps in a sales presentation as well as sales force management. Various role-play situations enable students to apply the selling principles and techniques.

6 credit(s) No No No
Statistics 1 (MATH-0002)

This course acquaints students with the concepts of statistical methods and theory as applied to economic and business data. It examines frequency distribution, probability, probability distribution, sampling, estimation and hypothesis testing.

6 credit(s) Yes Yes No
Statistics 2 (MATH-0003)

Prerequisite: MATH-0002 Statistics 1
This course is a continuation of the concepts introduced in Statistics 1 and includes advanced topics such as hypothesis testing, regression, correlation, time series, statistical decision theory and linear programming.

6 credit(s) Yes Yes No
Taxation 1 (BUSN-0171)

Prerequisite:ACCT-0004 Financial Accounting 2
This course covers the fundamental principles and concepts of Canadian federal income tax legislation as it applies to individuals. The course emphasizes the understanding of the conceptual structure of the Income Tax Act and equips students with skills in the application of its rules to practical cases including the use of tax return software.

6 credit(s) No Yes No

Fast Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the next program information session?

Program information sessions are completely free to attend, and we invite you to bring a guest along as well. It's a good idea to register in advance so we know you're coming.

To find the complete schedule for our program information sessions and to RSVP, visit the program information session page.

I have a Mac laptop, can I use that?

No. MAC computing devices are not compatible with Business Administration or Office Administration program software. Refer to assiniboine.net/tech for detailed information.