School Visit at the MFSA

• Introduction

Peter GrechManager – Human Resources UnitMalta Financial Services AuthorityAttard – BKR 3000tel: 2548 5539

email: pgrech@mfsa.com.mt

Objectives of the visit

enables students to learn more about financial services

provides assistance and guidance to students who will shortly be making decisions about their studies in relation with their future career

Know more about job opportunities within the financial services sector

Financial Services

• Banking Players• Non-bank Financial Services Players• Investments & Trusts Services Players• Insurance Players

• Money Ball

• Regulators Referee/Umpire

• Market Playing field

The Curriculum Vitae

• A CV is a document that provides an overview of a person’s qualifications (hard skills) and other skills (soft skills) in a clear and effective manner

• Examples:

– Hard skills certificate, diploma, first degree, masters degree, doctorate, others

– Soft skills communication skills, team-work, leadership, self-

confidence, others

Hard Skills

• What are ‘hard’ skills?– ‘Hard’ skills are more of what might

appear on your CV (resume) - your education, experience and level of expertise

Hard Skills: Foundation

• List of ‘O’ Levels – required– English–Maltese–Mathematics– Accounts and Economics / Business

Studies– ECDL– Science Subject– Other language

Hard Skills: Foundation

• List of ‘O’ Levels – good to have any of these:– History– English Literature– Computer Studies– Any other subject/s

Hard Skills: Qualifications

Entries to the financial services industry:• University of Malta:

– Degree in Banking & Finance– Degree in Accountancy– Degree in Economics– Degree in Insurance– Degree in Law– Degree in Maths & Computing– others

• MCAST:– Diploma in Banking & Financial Services– Diploma in Business – Diploma in Insurance Studies– AAT Diploma in Accounting– BTEC Diploma in IT– others

Career Opportunities• Accounting• Accountancy Support• Law• Legal Support• Banking• Investments and securities• Economics• Insurance• Actuarial and statistics

• Trusts and trustees• Company formation• ICT• Management and administration• Clerical and secretarial• Taxation• Risk Management• Risk Assessment• Prevention of financial crimes

Banking• Types of Careers

– Clerical / secretarial duties– Advisory work– Management of processes– Customer service– Legal– Accountancy– IT– Marketing– Human Resource– Other areas: insurance, lending, foreign currency

management, investment management, trade finance, internal auditing, regulatory compliance, prevention of money laundering

Insurance• Types of Careers

– Legal advisors– Insurance managers– Insurance brokers– Underwriters– Loss adjusters– Claims handlers– Surveyors– Customer service representatives– Sales representatives– Compliance officers– Accountants– Risk managers– Money laundering report officers– Financial reporting officers– Client advisors

Investments & Financial Advice

• Types of Careers– Client focused:

• Financial advisers

– Administrative:• People who provide support to the operations

Trusts & Fiduciaries• Types of Careers

– Licenced trustees– Legal services– Accounting and audit professionals– Business and tax advisors– Back office support workers

Anti-money Laundering• Types of Careers in

– Legal and compliance work– Transactions and fraud analysis– Software engineering / development– Risk specialisation– Training on anti-money laundering

Planning Ahead

• Where do we go from now?– Immediate goal: achieve good results at

‘O’ level– Start thinking about what best fits your

aptitude: what do I prefer to do?– Get involved in activities other than

those organised at school

Soft Skills

• What are ‘Soft’ Skills?– ‘Soft’ skills are essentially people

skills – the non technical, intangible and personality–specific skills

– Soft skills are acquired and experienced – they cannot be developed by merely reading text books

Examples of Soft Skills / Qualities

• Self-confidence• Maturity• Commitment and responsibility• Positive attitude• Professional behaviour and appearance• Proactive and flexible attitude to work• Proficiency in written and spoken English• Time management skills• Creative ability• Ability to take initiative• Leadership skills• Organisatonal skills• Managerial skills• Decision making skills• Ability to work with emotional intelligence

Soft Skills: Developing Your Skills

• Work with others:–meetings– voluntary work– development and training opportunities– sports– adventure– Drama–Working assignments and projects as a

team player

Before / At An Interview

• Prepare yourself well before the interview – visit the organisation’s website

• Be punctual• Be a good communicator• Make sure you are appropriately dressed • See that you are well groomed• Watch your body language – posture and eye contact• Switch off mobile • Don’t hold back from showing what you can do• Be ready to say why you are the one who should be

selected

Careers in Finance website