Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/753405
43 Events maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2016 In Focus: The Future of the Accountancy Profession THE Malta Institute of Ac- countants (MIA) is proud to announce details of its Biennial Conference, which this year will be held on November 25 at the Corinthia Hotel, St Georges Bay. The theme of this year's event is 'Disruptive Innovation: Adapt- ing for your Tomorrow" and fo- cusses on the multifaceted chal- lenges faced by the accountancy profession in an ever- evolving, and often- unstable, socio- and economic realities. Many wonder where the ac- counting profession will be in a few years' time and discussions during the conference will cen- tre on a range of thought-pro- voking themes, such as how ac- countancy is evolving, how are the qualities and the ideal set of skills of a successful accounts professional defined and how this industry remains relevant in the digital age. The MIA is a non-profit or- ganisation and the largest pro- fessional association in Malta, representing some 3,000 ac- countants and over 800 ac- countancy students, registering some 10% growth in member- ship each year. This year's Biennial Confer- ence is particularly interesting because it brings together a pool of multidisciplinary profession- als - from accountants and fi- nance specialists, to business owners, psychologists, ICT spe- cialists and academics; together they will debate the future which accountancy faces, away from the stereotypical 'number crunching' image which one typically (and erroneously) as- sociates with this industry. The conference will welcome a host of expert local and for- eign speakers from entities such as ACCA, ICAEW, FEE, 6pm Group, PwC, Farsons Group and Deloitte, as well as from universities both in Malta and the UK. Topics on the agenda include inter alia Drivers for Change and Competencies Re- quired, Expanding Expecta- tions: Intelligence, Creativity, Digital Technologies & Emo- tional Intelligence. The confer- ence will also include sessions on how to apply new skills to the many facets of the Maltese economy. Leading international speak- ers will include Olivier Boutel- lis-Taft, CEO for Federation of European Accountants (FEE), Dr Martin Manuzi , EU Re- gional Director for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) and Anthony Walters, Head of Policy for Europe AT THE As- sociation of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), which is the world's leading body for professional accountants. Among the local key note speakers one finds the Minister for Finance, Prof. Edward Sci- cluna, Shadow Minister for the Economy, Mr Claudio Grech and the MIA President, Franco Azzopardi. ''Accountants are expected to make professional judgements and, in doing so, to exercise the highest standards of integrity,'' says Mr Azzopardi, "More than ever before, to remain relevant, accountants need to master new skills, particularly when it comes to ICT, digital and so- cial media. The accountants of tomorrow will need a dynamic combination of honesty, inde- pendence, technical acumen and soft skills to succeed in a constantly growing market." This year's event is one not to be missed, not only by account- ants themselves, but also by business owners, CEOs (of both public and private entities), aca- demics, and students eyeing a career in the exciting industry of accountancy and finance. New appointments add fresh vibe to Malta's largest contact centre AT a time of sustained growth in staff numbers and call volume, the HSBC UK Contact Centre (UKCC) Malta has welcomed An- gela Brown in the role of Recruit- ment Manager and Christine Borg as the new People Experi- ence Manager. Angela Brown joined HSBC in Edinburgh in 2006 as a Customer Service Associate and gradually progressed into a Premier As- sociate before moving to Malta in 2009. Since her arrival at the UKCC Malta, she has held the positions of Academy Mentor and Academy Manager where she was responsible for managing teams of new recruits through their induction period. "Malta and the Maltese econo- my are expanding at a great pace and I am optimistic by the op- portunity to recruit during such a special period of growth. My experience and wealth of knowl- edge within the HSBC UKCC and the Human Resources func- tion will prove to be particularly useful in my new capacity as Re- cruitment Manager," said Angela Brown. Christine Borg started work- ing at HSBC UK Contact Centre Malta in 2012 as Customer Ser- vice Representative. She moved to Payment Protection Insurance as a Case Handler and quickly moved up the ladder to a senior position. In 2015, she was select- ed for the role of Team Manager, before taking up the role of Peo- ple Experience Manager. "Having worked my way up through the various departments at HSBC UKCC, I feel I can re- late first hand to what are the key elements required to keep my colleagues happy and motivated while enabling them to give the best possible service to our cus- tomers in the UK," said Borg. Exciting opportunities exist to join HSBC UK Call Centre Malta and be part of a great team. More information can be obtained from www.hsbc.com.mt/careers. An age neutral CV can be for- warded to malta.recruitment@ hsbc.com From left: Angela Brown, Recruitment Manger, and Christine Borg, People Experience Manager at HSBC UK Contact Centre Malta Brave the seas at the annual Thomas Smith Christmas Charity Swim THOMAS Smith Group is proud to announce its annual Christmas Charity Swim 2016 in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation. Now in its 18th year, this much awaited annual event, held under the patronage of the Office of the President, will once again be held off the pier by Inde- pendence Garden, Sliema, on the 18th of December. The public is encouraged to par- ticipate and raise as much money as possible in aid of the Malta Com- munity Chest Fund Founda- tion. On the day, registra- tion starts at 09.30hrs and the swim is to commence at 1030hrs. A registration form may be re- trieved from the Thomas Smith Christmas Chari- ty Swim Facebook page, by contacting Thomas Smith of- fices on 22 058 058, or by emailing charityswim@ tcsmith.com. Any contribution is welcome, however we urge family, friends and colleagues, help spon- sor swimmers to raise €50 per par- ticipant prior to the swim. In 2015, 320 swimmers partici- pated in this noble event, collect- ing a total of €14,000 which was donated to H.E. Marie- Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta at San Anton Palace. Thom- as Smith aims to collect even more funds this year, and is once again encouraging more swimmers to brave the cold waters. Those who cannot attend the event yet still wish to donate to this cause, may do so by send- ing a blank SMS to 50618178 (€4.66) or 50619279 (€11.65); or via a bank transfer to the fol- lowing account: HSBC Bank (Malta) plc, 32, Merchants Street, Valletta. Account No: 033- 080037-002; Swift Code: MME- BMTMT; IBAN No: MT04M- MEB44336000000033080037002. For further information about this charitable event, or for a copy of the registration form, call Thomas Smith on 22 058 058, email charityswim@tcsmith. com or follow the Thomas Smith Christmas Charity Swim Face- book page. Franco Azzopardi Participants in an earlier edition of the Thomas Smith Group Charity Swim