Dubai, 17 October 2017: Regional membership for the Chartered Insititute for Securities & Investment (CISI) has increased by 55% since January 2016, showcasing the regional financial services sector’s growing commitment to integrity and professionalism.
As the professional body that provides qualifications for securities, investment, wealth and financial planning professionals, an increase in membership translates to a greater understanding of the importance of professionalism in the financial sector.
In addition to an increase in membership, over 1,944 people working in the financial services field have received CISI qualifications in the past 12 months, signifying a growing interest amongst financial professionals to operate at the international standard of best practice.
Matthew Cowan, Regional Director of the CISI Middle East, India and Sri Lanka, said, “The CISI has reached some important milestones in the first half of the year. In June 2017, we achieved our best performance since the institute formed in 1992. We also reported strong membership and qualification figures in the first half of 2017, which is testament to the hard work and efforts of both our employees and fellow members.
He added, “This milestone aligns with the UAE government’s aims of developing the financial sector into a regional hub ahead of Expo 2020, and reflects the significant cultural change made by many financial professionals following the turbulence of the financial markets over the past few years. We work closely with firms, governmental bodies and individuals to help shape the ethical backbone of financial services.”
As well as technical and commercial qualifications, the CISI also offers courses and tests on integrity for both the workplace and day-to-day life. The CISI believes that professionalism is the effective combination of knowledge, behaviour and skills. Integrity is a key component of professionalism, and a necessity for a successful career in the financial profession.
Enhancing the skill and employability of those working in financial services is an important aspect of CISI’s global remit. Chris Jones, a private banker from Nedbank Private Wealth explains: “In the fast-paced nature of the financial services sector, it is vital to be at the forefront of industry knowledge and to be able to provide evidence your commitment to it, which is where the CISI has completely supported me. Having this level of qualification places me in an elite pool of financial professionals, which is so important for my career.”