Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/739032
42 Events maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2016 Banif selects Pelican for Intelligent Payments Management BANIF Bank has chosen Pelican, a leading provider of technol- ogy solutions for the financial services sector, for its new trans- action banking platform that will provide end-to-end automation of both SWIFT and SEPA payments, including integration with over the counter (OTC) instructions, Banif 's internet banking system and back office. Chris Micallef, Head of Opera- tions and Systems at Banif Bank Malta, said: "We required a solu- tion that helps us make our pay- ment functions more efficient. By using Pelican's innovative tech- nology, we will be able to keep improving on our client service offerings and continue delivering a positive experience to all our customers." Pelican's transaction banking platform includes an intelligent fi- nancial messaging hub for banks, which utilises Artificial Intel- ligence and Natural Language Processing to provide end-to-end automation of the complete pay- ments process that also works with existing systems to handle all integration, routing, transforma- tion, enrichment and exceptions processing. Parth Desai, CEO at Pelican, said: "By using cutting-edge tech- nology, we are ensuring banks and corporates are able to reduce risk while simultaneously increasing transparency and control across the entire payments life-cycle. This approach delivers outstand- ing levels of efficiency by not only streamlining middle and back-of- fice functions, but also by enabling Intelligent Payments Manage- ment (IPM) through integration of AI and traditional technologies." EY record global revenues up by 9% in 2016 EY has announced combined global revenues of US$29.6b for its financial year ended 30 June 2016. Overall, financial year (FY) 2016 revenue grew by 9% in local currency (versus FY15). Since the launch of its Vision 2020 plan in 2013, EY has recorded a strong 9.2% compound annual growth rate. All of EY's service lines delivered solid growth in FY16: Assurance grew 4.8%; Advisory 13.1%; Tax 9.6% and Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) 14.2%. Mark Weinberger, EY Global Chairman and CEO, says: "These solid global results have been achieved in a difficult business en- vironment. We are seeing contin- ued global economic headwinds including geopolitical uncertain- ties, divergent monetary policy and turbulent emerging markets. Businesses are facing unprec- edented disruption in their busi- ness models due to the pace and scale of technological innovation. Our sustained, strong growth rate over the past several years is the result of the quality and value our people are bringing to the market. Significant investment in our people and new technologies have allowed us to respond to the dynamic environment. There is still more work to do as we focus on helping businesses solve their toughest challenges." Ronald Attard, EY Malta Coun- try Managing Partner, said: "These excellent results once again confirm that EY is now a key global player in our field. Regis- tering record growth for the sixth consecutive in the financially and economically volatile years we call the present is truly remarkable. For EY Malta, and more so for our current and prospective clients, this is certainly good news. We are determined to continue build- ing on this solid track record. The future is today." Innovation and technology are rapidly disrupting businesses and entire industries. As part of Vi- sion 2020, EY has a holistic ap- proach to digital transformation and innovation, which is embed- ded across all its member firms, service lines and sectors. As part of its focus on innova- tion, EY member firms made 26 strategic acquisitions in FY16, which will bring expanded profes- sional skills and capabilities to the market. Alliances, including seven new agreements signed in FY16, are also playing an important role in helping the global organization bring preferential access to prod- ucts and skills to the market. And the EY global innovation team, launched in FY16, is as- sisting in bringing leading-edge robotics and artificial intelligence to businesses. EY also continues its US$450m investment program in innovations in audit quality, the foundation of investor confi- dence. Revenue increased across all four of EY's geographic areas: the Americas 9.7%; Europe, Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA) 7.5%; Asia-Pacific 12.5% and Ja- pan 6.4%. The US led developed markets growth, recording another strong year with US$12.2b in revenue, a 9.3% increase over FY15. Revenue in the US was driven by double- digit growth across its Tax, Transaction Advisory Services and Advisory service lines, com- bined with several major audit en- gagement wins. Elsewhere in de- veloped markets, the UK achieved strong growth, led largely by its Assurance and Tax businesses. EY also saw strong growth across its member firms in Australia, France, Italy and Japan. EY's emerging market practices recorded a second consecutive year of solid double-digit growth – up 12.8% overall (outpacing FY15 growth of 12.3%) – despite continued difficult economic conditions in key emerging mar- ket economies. Growth in the emerging markets was led by In- dia (18.4%); Greater China (14.6%) and Brazil (12%), where the EY member firm in Brazil sponsored the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and was the official professional ser- vices provider to the Rio 2016 Or- ganizing Committee. Grant Thornton presents latest internship programmes at Freshers Week 2016 AS students started prepping up for another year on campus, Grant Thornton made its presence felt at this year's edition of Freshers' Week at the University of Malta. Apart from giving students the chance to discover what careers are available to them in fields such as audit, tax, accounting and ad- visory services, Grant Thornton's stand was also home to the iconic Pokemon Pikachu where students could try their skills and luck at catching the maverick character for a chance to win one of several prizes including gym member- ships from Westin Workout and Fitness Club 247, as well as com- puter vouchers and Nutribullet blenders, courtesy of Forestals. The Grant Thornton stand was full of life and energy as students populated the area to find out more about the exciting career prospects that the firm has to offer interns, or simply to see fellow stu- dents battling it out to capture the mighty Pikachu. A number of pub- lic figures such as President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, Prime Min- ister Joseph Muscat, Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo, and a number of members of parliament and MEPs also visited the stand. Grant Thornton offers a number of summer and winter internship programmes providing those on the programme with real respon- sibility and insight into life as a trainee. "With our unique cul- ture and opportunities, our or- ganisation is a place where you can grow," commented Grant Thorn- ton managing partner Mark Buge- ja, whilst visiting the firm's stand on campus. "Wherever you are in your ca- reer, we help our people, be it sea- soned professionals or those that are just starting, to make a differ- ence every day." "Opportunities at Grant Thorn- ton are vast, which is important for students like myself," stated Claire Agius, an intern who joined the firm's tax division in 2015, and is reading for a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Banking and Fi- nance. "The best thing about this intern- ship is its flexibility, where I can fit working hours around my sched- ule and academic requirements. I am not tied to a fixed schedule, which gives me ample time to also work on assignments and revision. Another driving element is the ap- proachability of the partners and senior management," added Leona Galea, another Grant Thornton intern from the Accounts division. "What I really appreciate at Grant Thornton is the flow of ex- change of ideas and knowledge, making it easier for me to not only do my job well, but also to learn by observing others. This is com- plemented by ongoing training, including an intense on-boarding programme which helps provide a holistic view of the firm's opera- tions." "As a team we operate in a really hands-on way and I can guaran- tee you'll be challenged from the outset. You will however be sur- rounded by a team that is welcom- ing and helpful, and it makes a big difference when you have that level of support. Here, it's not just all about work, the firm also works hard to create a fun culture: from small things like imqaret with ice cream on hot summer's days and Friday drinks, all the way up to our annual summer and Christ- mas parties. Our events and social team work hard all year round to organise events that all staff can get involved in. " For more information on careers available with Grant Thornton one can send an email on recruit- ment@gt.mt.com or visit www. grantthornton.com.mt HSBC Group General Manager visits Malta HSBC Bank Malta hosted com- mercial and corporate custom- ers at a reception in Fort St Elmo, Valletta during a three-day visit in Malta of Ian Stuart, Group Gen- eral Manager and Head of Com- mercial Banking Europe. During his visit, Ian Stuart met a number of HSBC customers and employ- ees, as well as spoke at the EY's Malta Attractiveness Survey 2016 Conference. HSBC Europe Head of Commercial Banking Ian Stuart, HSBC Malta Head of Commercial Banking Michel Cordina, Edmond Brincat, Tonio Zarb, Charles Xuereb