About Rathnakala
Based out of Acuity Knowledge Partners’ London office, Rathnakala is currently the subject matter expert in Investment Research, working with the EMEA business development teams to grow the franchise. She is also responsible for the hedge fund client segment in Investment Research and oversees the delivery organisation based out of Colombo, which supports some of the firm’s largest hedge fund engagements. Before moving to London in early 2023, Rathnakala headed the training and knowledge management (TKM) function in Colombo and the buy-side engagements of the Colombo delivery centre.
She joined the firm after completing university at the age of 21 and started off as a shipping sector analyst, supporting the project manager of a large hedge fund responsible for model maintenance of client portfolios. Four years into this role, Rathnakala was asked to supervise a four-member team for buy-side engagement that worked on compiling earnings reports across sectors. During this period, she developed a deep interest in junior skill development and training. During my free time, Rathnakala worked closely with the training team to conduct short technical sessions and work on both university outreach programmes.
In 2018, leading the TKM management function for the Colombo office in addition to the buy-side engagements, she managed c.30 analysts across 10 client engagements. As the training function lead, she also ensured that recruits had the right tools to perform in their roles through continuous training and development. In addition, Rathnakala worked with global business development teams on new client pitches and growing the Investment Research franchise, leading to her current role as SME for EMEA.
Before joining Acuity, she had worked as an intern in consultancy roles with management consultant firms and as a banking sector junior analyst at a leading fund management company in Colombo (CT Fund).
Rathnakala has always had a keen interest in junior skill development and has been an active speaker at such events, which led to her winning the ACCA (UK) Regional Advocate award for the MESA region in 2020. She was also part of the ACCA Sri Lanka Member Network Panel and served as the vice chair of this body during 2021-2023.
Rathnakala has a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Management (London School of Economics, University of London and a member of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA, UK), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA, UK); Certified Professional Accountant (Australia).
