Understanding Financial Derivatives: A Practical Introduction
1-Hour Introductory Session
Course Title: Understanding Financial Derivatives: A Practical Introduction
Date: Wednesday, 14 October 2026
Duration: 1 Hour
CPD Credit: 1 CPD Hour
- CATT Students
- CAF Students
- CPA Students
- Everyone provided they have some finance/accounting background
Medium of instruction: Somali
Financial derivatives are often seen as complex financial instruments, yet they play an important role in modern finance, investment, banking, risk management, and corporate treasury operations. This introductory CPD session is designed to simplify the concept of derivatives and explain how they derive their value from underlying assets such as currencies, commodities, shares, interest rates, or market indices.
The session will introduce participants to the main types of derivatives, including forwards, futures, options, and swaps. It will also explain the difference between exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives, the key market participants, and the basic reasons organizations use derivatives, particularly for hedging and risk management.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to understand what financial derivatives are, recognize common derivative instruments, distinguish between basic derivative markets, and appreciate both the usefulness and risks of derivatives in financial decision-making.
Key Focus Areas
- Meaning and purpose of financial derivatives
- Common types: forwards, futures, options, and swaps
- Exchange-traded vs over-the-counter derivatives
- Hedging, speculation, and arbitrage
- Practical examples in currencies, commodities, and interest rates
- Key risks and professional considerations
- Financial derivatives from an Islamic perspective
Target Participants
Accountants, auditors, finance professionals, bankers, investment officers, students, and professionals interested in strengthening their understanding of financial markets.
Verifiable CPD Certificate
Participants who attend and successfully complete the workshop will receive a verifiable Certificate of Participation from ICPAS with CPD recognition.
The certificate can be verified through the ICPAS online certificate-verification system.
Speaker
Saed Ahmed Sulub, PhD FCCA CIA CPFA
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICPAS and Adjunct Associate Professor of Accounting at the University of Hargeisa.
About ICPAS
The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Somaliland is the national professional accountancy body working to develop, regulate, and strengthen the accounting profession in the public interest.