PBF is the way to fast forward your career, according to new graduate
Maggie Lien - ING’s newly appointed Senior Manager Regulatory Risk - shares her experience completing FINSIA’s Professional Banking Fundamentals and says it’s just the way to take the next step in your career.
Q. What are your overall thoughts about the course - content and format?
The PBF course is a great qualification for those either new to the banking and finance sector, or for people looking to build on their academic qualification and wishing to gain more specific banking and financial services knowledge. The course content is structured in a way that balances theory and key concepts, as well as its practical application in banking.
Q. Which parts did you find the most straight forward and which did you consider the most challenging? What were the most interesting and why?
Coming from a regulatory background, there was no doubt I found the chapters on Regulatory environment and Risk Management most straight forward. Surprisingly, I found the chapter on Ethics to be the most interesting, especially the case studies presented towards the end of the chapter. These activities provided an opportunity to apply the key concepts of ethics and integrity in a range of situations.
Q. How does our professional qualification compare with undergraduate education?
The PBF gives a thorough overview of how the industry is structured, its operating environment, as well as an insight to the current regulatory landscape.
Q. What would you say to people in financial services who are considering doing the course? Would it be suitable for people from outside the industry?
This is a course definitely worth completing. In addition to gaining a broad overview of the banking industry and how banks operate, I also got to learn about banking products whilst exploring the key principles of ethical behaviours. There were also tools provided to help me apply them in a work environment. Overall, completing the course fosters critical thinking, widens my point of view and has allowed me to gain the necessary skills needed in banking.
Q. What do you see as the benefits of the course?
In addition to developing an understanding of the banking and financial services sector, completion of the PBF paves the way to undertake the Certified Professional Banker qualification. The PBF is also an internationally recognised professional qualification - a bonus!
Q. And how do you feel it will benefit your career in banking?
Having an internationally recognised professional qualification shows commitment to the industry as well as my own professional development. No doubt this will be looked upon favourably when taking the next step to further my career.
Q. Would you agree that this is applicable to all departments within the organisation? Is it industry specific or role specific? Which departments within financial services does the PBF apply to?
I would say the PBF course can be applied to a wide range of departments. Whilst the lead focus is banking, with an entire chapter dedicated to credit lending, it is also relevant to those working across areas such as HR, IT or Marketing.
Q. What do you believe is a comfortable time frame to complete the PBF? How many hours did you study a week?
3-6 months is probably a comfortable timeframe to complete the PBF. I spent on average 2 hours a week working through the course notes and making sure to complete the pop quiz at the end of each chapter to consolidate my knowledge.
Q. How’s it impacted on your job on a day-to-day basis?
I have a better appreciation of the diverse range of challenges facing the banking and financial services industry, which makes it paramount to always be on the front foot and remain vigilant while carrying out my professional duties.
