Chris Harmse, CFA, Finance Expert in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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Chris Harmse, CFA

Verified Expert  in Finance

Finance Expert

Location
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Toptal Member Since
September 14, 2020

Chris has nine years of experience working for global investment banks and boutique investment firms. As an analyst, he was responsible for primary research, financial modeling, and valuation of companies to support investment recommendations. He was a key member of a 2-person team that built a franchise from zero into a $4 million per annum business. His diverse multi-asset experience helps him filter information and simplify opportunities into valuable insights.

Certification Highlights

CFA
CFA Institute

Case Studies

Work Experience

Investment Analyst

2018 - 2019
Excelsia Capital
  • Initiated coverage on the South African banking sector, covering companies with a combined market capitalization of over $35 billion.
  • Developed and implemented a new relative valuation methodology for the South African real estate investment trust (REIT) sector that is still in use at the firm.
  • Assisted in developing an investment idea management and monitoring tool to track each analyst's performance and contribution to the fund's performance.
Focus areas: Investment Ideas, Valuation, Financial Modeling, Research

Hedge Fund Analyst & Partner

2017 - 2018
Asymmetry Asset Management
  • Researched investment themes, searching for asymmetrical risk/return ideas across several sectors and regions. My ideas contributed to the funds 25% return in its first year.
  • Built relationships with retail and institutional asset allocators (fund of funds, financial advisors) helping assets under management (AUM) grow 300% in one year.
  • Assisted in launching a crypto asset fund on the ICONOMI platform in October 2017 with AUM peaking at $1 million.
Focus areas: Research, Trading, Portfolio Management, Startups, Investing

Fixed Income Sales

2013 - 2017
BNP Paribas CIB
  • A key member of a 2-person team who built the South African corporate franchise from zero into a $4 million per annum business.
  • Established client investment, funding, and hedging needs through client analysis and extensive interaction.
  • Identified and executed cross-selling opportunities across the bank's other global markets business lines (equities, credit).
  • Structured and executed large client orders (FX & structured derivatives) with BNP Paribas traders in London.
Focus areas: Fixed Income, Sales, Foreign Exchange, Fixed-income Derivatives, Trading
2011 - 2011

Honours Degree in Investment Management

University of Pretoria - Pretoria, South Africa

2008 - 2010

Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Cum Laude) in Investment Management

University of Pretoria - Pretoria, South Africa

FEBRUARY 2016 - PRESENT

CFA

CFA Institute

Finance

Valuation, Financial Modeling, Comparable Company Analysis, Fixed-income Derivatives, P&L Forecasting, Equity Research

Industry Expertise

Financial Markets

Data & Analysis Software

Bloomberg

Output Software

Microsoft Excel

Other

Financial Analysis, Trading, Research, Equity, Portfolio Management, Thematic Research, Fixed Income, Reuters Eikon, Cryptocurrency, Investing, Startups, Investment Ideas, Foreign Exchange, Sales, Modeling, Financial Forecasting, Fintech, Analysis, Stock Insights, Financials, Microsoft 365

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