KUCHING: Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) have launched the Global Maybank Apprentice Programme (GMAP) Plus, a unique Maybank apprentice programme with an aim to produce high calibre individuals with skills required by the financial services sector.
(From left) Nora Manaf receiving a token of appreciation from ICAEW chief executive Michael Izza at the launch of the Global Maybank Apprentice Programme Plus in Kuala Lumpur recently.
Maybank in a statement yesterday said the first-of-its-kind collaboration integrates the ICAEW Chartered Accountant qualification, (ACA) into the GMAP.
The programme will witness exceptional young graduates with strong academic credentials and leadership potential undergoing a two-year rotational training programme with Maybank and simultaneously embarking on the ACA qualification from ICAEW.
Under the programme, Maybank said selected candidates will have access to holistic training and development opportunities, coaching and mentoring from senior management as well as international assignments in any regional Maybank office in addition to graduating as ICAEW Chartered Accountants.
The combined experience will provide an accelerated career path towards high level management opportunities.
The agreement to mark the collaboration was signed at Menara Maybank in Kuala Lumpur by its group chief human capital officer Nora Abd Manaf and ICAEW’s chief executive Michael Izza.
The ceremony was also attended by ICAEW South East Asia Regional director Mark Billington, ICAEW Malaysia’s head Loh Wei Yuen and Maybank Group’s Talent Sourcing and Development head Chen Fong Tuan.
After the agreement signing, Loh said, “GMAP Plus will allow those who are training on Maybank’s GMAP scheme to also undertake ICAEW’s internationally-recognised ACA qualification.
“The combination of training with a leading financial services provider and studying for a rigorous professional qualification will mean they develop finance and strategic skills to complement their business experience and expertise.
“ICAEW has always been supportive of Malaysia’s economic transformation.
“As part of our support and commitment to the government’s goal of training more ICAEW chartered accountants, ICAEW is pleased to be working with Maybank to open up this unique training opportunity which will develop the nation’s next generation of business leaders,” Loh said.
Meanwhile, Nora Manaf, who is also a chartered accountant said, “Maybank is constantly in search of talented young people who will fuel Maybank’s aspirations.
“We believe this robust framework to developing talented young individuals will also greatly benefit aspiring finance professionals undergoing the ACA,” said Nora Manaf.
She also said GMAP has received numerous recognitions which included the ‘Best Management Trainee Programme in the Banking and Financial Services Category’ by Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employer’s Awards and the most recent, ‘Excellence in the Graduate Development Category’ in the Human Resources Excellence Award 2014.
Nora Manaf added, “Maybank’s recognition as Employer of Choice for three consecutive years by Malaysia Top 100 Leading Graduate Employer in the Banking and Financial Services Category is testament that we are committed towards lifelong learning and the career progression of our employees.
“Thus, we strongly believe that our trainees will greatly benefit from their apprenticeship with Maybank as we do not only provide them with personalised development programmes, but they now can also get the chance to obtain a full professional accounting qualification,” Nora Manaf observed.
The GMAP is a two-year on the job rotation programme supplemented with personalised development programmes.
Maybank said trainees are attached at its branches, various sectors and undergo a short term international assignment in any of the 20 countries where the financial institution has a presence.
Addtionally, Maybank’s GMAP Plus programme – an extension of its GMAP programme – recognises that building complete finance professionals requires a personalised approach.
The banking group said the programme is open to promising students from all nationalities with work permits facilitated by TalentCorp through the ICAEW Regional Centre of Accountancy Training Excellence.
Maybank said the programme is aimed at developing talents as individuals, and offers 10 main development and career streams within Maybank Group which include Community Financial Services, Global Banking, Insurance and Takaful, Islamic Banking, Group Finance Office, Group Risk, Group Human Capital, Group Strategy and Transformation and Group Technology.