He is a graduate of the Finance for Senior Managers Program at Harvard Business School and has accumulated over 18 years of professional experience in finance. Alongside nearly 14 years of academic and training activities, he has held leadership roles in finance, reporting, and management. Among his students are global top performers in international finance examinations. He currently works as a specialized instructor in international finance certification programs.
Vamig Safarov
He has over 12 years of professional experience in finance and has held leadership roles across both the public and private sectors. He currently serves as the Head of Reporting & Budgeting at the Special Representative Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the Karabakh Economic Region. He has played a significant mentoring role in developing high-performing ACCA FR and DipIFR candidates. At Honours Academy, he is a specialized instructor in ACCA FA, FR, and DipIFR.
Ruslan Huseynov
He currently serves as a Senior Specialist in the Internal Control Department at PASHA Bank. He possesses deep professional knowledge and diverse experience in financial control, internal audit, and risk management. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in World Economy at the Faculty of International Relations and Economy of Baku State University, and later earned his Master’s degree in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. Mr. Huseynov holds the CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) international certification and has successfully completed several international development programs in blockchain technologies. He is also a member of the ACFE (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners) and represented Azerbaijan at the “36th Global Conference on Fraud” held in Nashville, USA.
Jalal Bagishov
He has over 10 years of professional experience in economic analysis, asset management, and risk management. He also has extensive teaching and mentoring experience in economics and finance, including long-standing involvement with the CFA Program. He earned his Master’s degree in Economics from Williams College (USA), where he was awarded both the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship and the Presidential Scholarship. He completed all three levels of the CFA Program with high results and obtained the CFA Charterholder designation. Throughout his career, Mr. Bagishov has held senior positions in various state institutions focused on investment and economic development. He currently serves as a Senior Advisor at the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. At Honours Academy, he is a member of the training faculty for the CFA Level I and CFA Level II programs. Through his teaching activities and professional career, Mr. Bagishov has played a significant role in shaping hundreds of finance professionals and CFA candidates.
Elmin Seyfəddinli
He is a finance and investment professional with diverse experience in the industry. He currently works as an Underwriter at PASHA Insurance, where he specializes in corporate client relations, risk assessment, insurance portfolio management, and financial analysis. Mr. Seyfaddinli holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation — one of the most globally respected credentials in the field of finance. He has also gained substantial experience in financial modeling, investment analysis, and market valuation through various professional projects. At Honours Academy, he serves as an instructor for the CFA Level I Program. In his classes, he combines theoretical knowledge with practical examples, helping students develop a real-world understanding of investment decision-making, financial statement analysis, and portfolio management.
Rufat Manafov
He has more than 14 years of professional experience in risk management, internal control, and investment management. He currently serves as the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) at AFB Bank. Prior to this role, he held various risk management positions at two of the country’s leading banks. He also has academic teaching experience in risk management at UNEC and Khazar University. Mr. Manafov earned his Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics and Cybernetics from Baku State University, and subsequently completed his MBA at UNEC. He holds the FRM (Financial Risk Manager) certification and successfully passed all three levels of the CFA Program, obtaining the CFA Charterholder designation. At Honours Academy, he serves as an instructor and mentor in risk management, providing students with practical insights into risk assessment, internal control systems, and investment management.
Sarkhan Piriyev
He is a trading specialist and instructor with professional expertise in financial markets. He holds the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation and currently serves as the Head of Treasury and Trading. He has extensive practical experience in treasury, trading, and financial markets, along with deep knowledge in investment management, financial analysis, and ethical standards. At Honours Academy, he teaches the CFA Level I Program, delivering lessons through real-world examples and exam-oriented strategies.
Nanakhanim Balayeva
She is a specialized expert and instructor in payroll and financial reporting. She has practical professional experience in payroll, taxation, and financial reporting, and has worked as a Payroll Consultant at a Big Ten company. She is recognized for her expertise in building automated payroll and reporting processes between HR and finance departments. Ms. Balayeva holds ACCA qualifications as well as relevant Microsoft certifications.
Ravan Bakhishov
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from UNEC (International School of Economics – ISE). He has achieved strong results in Reporting examinations (up to 90%) and has demonstrated successful performance in both ACCA and CFA exams. He has gained experience in financial risk management at PASHA Life Insurance and the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ). At Honours Academy, he serves as an instructor-mentor for ACCA FA, FR, and CFA Level I.
