established 1985
Benefiting from over 30 years’ experience, Fitzwilliam Institute’s online Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Services course features:
What are financial services, the financial services industry, types of financial services, roles of the financial system, functions of financial services, financial institutions, changes in the financial service sector, trends within the financial service, professional bodies, the financial services consumer.
Types of financial organizations governing the industry, size and structure of financial service providers, the commercial banking industry, small and large banks, unit banks, branching, financial holding companies (FHC), organizational structure of International banks, financial objectives.
Lending policies and procedures, types of loans, managing credit risk, regulating lending, credit analysis, the lending process, the loan agreement, loan review.
Features of consumer loans, consumer credit and protection code, financial planning, real estate loans, home equity lending, interest only and adjustable mortgages, credit card loans, laws and regulations, determining rate of interest, loan terms and conditions, evaluating consumer loan applications, credit scoring, the FICO Scoring System, bankruptcy.
Lending to businesses, types of business loans, usage of loans, pricing, short term and long term loans to businesses, analyzing business loan applications, collateral and contingent liabilities.
Types of deposits offered by the financial services sector, setting interest rates, deposit related services and pricing, alternative non deposit sources of funding, liability, determining cost, risk.
Investment banking financial services, commercial and investment banking, mutual fund investment products, annuity investment products, rules and regulations surrounding investment services, trust services, types of insurance services, Capital management, types of Capital, risks associated with Capital, International Capital standards.
Investment instruments, advantages and disadvantages of investment, measuring and analyzing returns, investment risks, aspects behind choice of investment, maturity management tools and strategies, capital market investment instruments (notes and bonds).
Introduction to liquidity: demands and supply, issues faced by firms in terms of liquidity, liquidity strategies, approximating liquidity requirements, different sources of reserves, legal reserves and money position management, central bank reserve requirements internationally.
Shareholder services (Applications, Redemptions, Transfers), Trading (Principal Features, Market to Market, Margin accounts), Equities (Principle Features, Weighted Average / FIFO Cost Allocation, Realised and Unrealised Profits and Losses), Equities, Gilts/Fixed Interest Securities, Custody (Settlement Procedures, safekeeping, Corporate Actions, Income Collection, Taxation Services, Proxy Voting, Trustees), Valuations.
Asset management strategies, liability management strategies, funds management strategy, factors affecting interest rates, measuring interest rates, responding to interest rate, interest –sensitive gap management, time as an interest rate risk factor.
Derivative contracts, ways of dealing with interest rate risks: financial futures contracts, Interest rate swaps, interest rate caps, collars and floors, interest rate options, short and long hedges, the securitizing process, sales of loans to raise funds, standby credits, credit derivatives, credit default swaps (CDS), collateralized debt obligations (CDOs).
Introduction to fraud, fraudulent activity, types of fraud, (access to account, card fraud, Internet, identify theft, counterfeit identification, phishing), impact on the financial services sector, cost of fraud, consumer confidence, legalities and regulations, National Fraud Authority (NFA), fraud protection services.
Introduction to macroeconomics, understanding macroeconomics, principles of economics, how the market works, gross domestic product, international trade, open economy, Labour market, income, expenditure and the circular flow, the consumer price index, cost of taxation, employment, cost of living, the Philips Curve, national income, supply and demand for goods and services, money and inflation, the quantity theory of money, interest rates, social costs of inflation, hyperinflation, exchange rates.
Economic fluctuations, economic growth, economy in the long run, accumulation of Capital, population growth, policies to promote growth, the Solow Model, the business cycle, aggregate demand and supply, the IS-LM Model, the money market, how fiscal and monetary policies shift the LM Curve, floating and fixed exchange rates, the Mundell-Fleming Model, policy debates, investment, government policies.
Introduction to microeconomics, trade, trade offs and government policy, production and supply, elasticities, individual choice in supply and demand, production and cost analysis, competitive markets, oligopoly and monopolistic competition and strategic pricing, uncertainty.
Introduction to marketing, researching the marketplace, ethics in research and information management, segmenting and targeting the financial services marketplace, consumer segments, business segments, targeting, positioning.
Customer relationship management (CRM), customer value, loyalty programmes, customer satisfaction, relationships with stakeholders, relationship with businesses, internal marketing, relationship lifecycle.
What is a brand, developing and sustaining the brand, the digital environment, the global environment, brand equity, creating value and benefits, new product development, co-creation, service quality and delivery, affinity marketing, costs, pricing strategies, marketing communications, communication strategies.
Choice of distribution channel, contact centres and IVR’s, remote banking, mobile devices, self service banking, ATM, telephone services, Internet, the communication message, communication objectives, the marketing communication mix.
Careers in the financial services industry, job descriptions, code of conduct, employer and employee rights and responsibilities, performance appraisal, security, making decisions, management, team leadership, professional development, time management, organization.
Verbal and nonverbal communication in the workforce, common obstacles to communication, listening skills, organization communication, effective communication channels, working in a team, team roles, benefits of negotiation, dealing with conflict.
Types of customers, customer service, call centres, consistency and quality of communication, channel improvement, customer empowerment, measuring the customer experience, retaining customers.
Developing office writing skills, letters, reports, writing style, language, layout, headings and subheadings, references and bibliography, citing sources of information, copyright, defamation and confidentiality, using graphs, tables and figures, planning a presentation, choice of visual aid, public speaking, rehearsal techniques.
Introduction to financial accounting, users of financial information, key accounting models, terminology, need for financial statements, the balance sheet, balance sheet layouts, ratio and the balance sheet.
Income statement and layout, ratios, revenues and trade receivables, owners equity, cash flow measurement and documentation, inventories and cost of sales, tangible and intangible assets, liabilities, financial statements and recording transactions, preparing financial statements, analyzing and interpreting financial statements, analysis tools, auditing.
Statutory bodies and regulators, banking regulations, banking laws, regulation of other financial service institutions, aims and objectives of regulations, International laws and authorities, aspects of compliance, compliance management.
Acquisitions and mergers, the prosumer, customer experience, new technology that is transforming banking, social networking, Web 2, new payments, cash-RFID, biometrics, mobile P2P micropayments.
Introduction to international financial services, the financial service system, types of international banking, services and products provided, treasury, trade, funds, foreign exchange, risks and regulations, financial markets, challenges within the international market, market competition, international customers.
Introduction to spreadsheets, step by step instructions on using the features, functions and applications for spreadsheets, customizing the spreadsheet software, installing the spreadsheet software, security, platforms, operating system compatibility.
Three financial service case studies incorporating examples of financial marketing, communications, regulations and compliance, and market competition.
Detailed definitions of key financial services terms.
The Business Plan, Legalities, Setting Up, the Marketing Strategy, Knowing Your Competitors, Promotional Tools.
Effective communication skills, leadership styles, information gathering and interpretation, problem solving, decision making, workforce planning, conflict resolution, time management, delegation. Understanding group needs and characteristics, knowing and understanding group resources, controlling the group, counselling, setting the example, representing the group, problem-solving, evaluation, contextual leadership, sharing leadership, the project leader as a manager of learning.
Team selection, managing the team, the skills matrix, personal work styles, boundaries of responsibility, managing associated strengths and weaknesses.
Gaining and maintaining authority, supporting the team, key people in the organisation (e.g. general management, director of projects, project services manager, chief mechanical engineer, chief controls engineer, drawing office manager, the project support office (PSO), influencing and delegating, sources of power (legitimate, reward, expert, referent, coercive).
Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the four stages of team building (forming, storming, norming and performing), ways of establishing and assigning specific measurable roles to the team, ways to keep stakeholders motivated, how to build team members morale, managing virtual teams.
Company organisational culture and structures, building an effective workforce – recruitment, team selection, appointment and termination, training and appraisal, motivational strategies, competition in the workplace. Wage and salary administration, job restructuring.
Negotiation skills overview, pre-negotiation skills, information and leverage evaluation, types of negotiation, negotiation analysis, negotiation process: opening stance, tactics, concessions, resolutions, negotiation closure, documentation and follow-through.
Communicating up the hierarchy ladder, communication and attitude, effective communication with the client, effective communication with senior management, optimization of performance reporting, communicating with external stakeholders, conformity and union in decisions and contracts, avoiding misinterpretations, communicating updates in project developments, ensuring two-way communication. Accepting feedback, monitoring and adapting communication, group and individual communication, cost efficient communication, getting the right information to the right people at the right time.
The nature of business, business plans and start-ups, legalities – sole traders and partnerships, limited companies, non-profit organisations, public sector organisations. Vision and mission, objectives, planning and strategy, contingency planning, implementation, change control.
Production methods, cost, revenue and break-even analysis, quality assurance, production planning, project management.
Defining and summarising the key elements involved in project management (Project Integration, Project Scope Management, Project Time Management, Project Cost Management, Project Quality Management, Project Human Resource Management, Project Communication Management, Project Risk Management and Project Procurement Management).
What makes a project a successful one, the triangle of objectives, the implications of project failure (shortcomings in initial project plan, flaws in costing, time and quality management, inadequate communication across stakeholders, consequences related to delegation and leadership shortfalls, unrealistic aims, lack of prioritization, lack of knowledge in stakeholder interests and concerns, poorly defined expectations), why project success does not always equal success as a Project Manager.
ProjectLibre is a free open source project management software application. It is designed to manage small to medium sized projects and contains all the tools necessary to manage various types of projects including extensive reporting facilities. ProjectLibre is also compatible with Microsoft Project making transfer of projects easy and straightforward.
Introduction to ProjectLibre; Downloading & Installing the Application. The ProjectLibre screen environment: Gantt Charts, Using Network Diagrams, the Resources View, the Work Breakdown Structure Chart, the Resources Breakdown Structure Chart, the Reports Screen, the Task Usage Detail Screen, the Resource Usage Detail Screen, the Histogram Screen.
Setting up a New Project; Creating Sub Tasks, Setting Task Durations, Setting Task Dependencies, Modifying a Task, Adding Notes to a Task, Adding Resources to your Project. Work and Material Resource Types, Assigning & Modifying a Resource, Assigning Costs to a Resource, Adding Notes to a Resource. Inserting Milestones in a Project; Tracking your Project using Baselines, Creating Project Reports. Common Project Management Terms, Resources and References.
Situation Analysis, Research, Objectives, Publics, Implementation, Budgets, Timetables, Evaluation. Planning and Managing a PR Campaign
Public Relations' role in the Organisation - Internal Communication, Communicating Performance, Counselling the Organisation, Strategy. The role of the Public Relations Practitioner, both in-house and in Consultancies. Business Strategy and Operation.
Definitions and Typologies of Crises. The Crisis Management Plan and Crisis Management Team. Communicating in a Crisis. The Aftermath of a Crisis, Reputation Management.
Managing community expectations. The organisation’s impact on society. The Increasing Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility. The Ethics of CSR. CSR as an Integral Element of Overall Business Strategy. Why Organisations Engage in Community Relations, the Range of CSR Activities.
Innovation, research and new product development.
Business ethics, business and the environment. Commercial Law, Company Law, Contract Law, Employment Law, Law of Tort.
Preparation and Research, Speech Content, Subject Matter and Objectives, Speech Delivery and Variety, Body Language, Eye Contact, etc., Presentation Aids e.g. Visuals, etc., Management of Locations and Audiences, Presentation Structure.
The projects are an important part of the course. Each course participant is given 5 project briefs. Participants are asked at the end of the course to produce 5 financial services projects. This gives participants the opportunity to use the knowledge they have obtained during the course in a focused way.
Online Lecture Modules, Subject Expert Feedback Sessions after each Module, Practical Case Studies, End of Module Practical Activities etc.
Full support is available from our Subject Experts by email at the end of each module and an ongoing basis during the course.
Anyone working in the general business sector in a senior or support role which is likely to require Financial Services Skills.
Successful candidates are awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Services (PG. Dip. Fin. Serv.) at Pass, Credit or Distinction level.
On successful completion of this course you will receive a Postgraduate level qualification that is certified and awarded by the ICM (Institute of Commercial Management).
The Institute of Commercial Management was founded in 1979 and is one of the leading Professional Examination and Certification Bodies in the world today. Fitzwilliam Institute have developed and provided practical skills training courses in liaison with the Institute of Commercial Management qualifications and certifications framework for over 25 years. The Institute of Commercial Management certifications and continual professional development training awards are recognised throughout Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Asia in a total of 140 countries, by leading industries, bodies and professions.
Duration: You will have full access to online resources and subject expert support for two calendar years. However, you can complete the course in as little as 1 year, by dedicating 6-8 hours of study per week.
Course Fees: 1995.00 EUR
To secure your place on the course the full fee is required. All fees must be paid in full before the course begins. Please note, the full course fees are inclusive of all course materials and certification costs.
Enrolment intake is strictly limited on this course. Early application is advised. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis.
Fitzwilliam Institute closes on Bank Holidays and for a number of days at Christmas and New Year. Fitzwilliam Institute reserves the right to postpone, cancel or alter courses without notice or to change any of the details in this brochure. Fees are not refundable unless the course is cancelled by Fitzwilliam Institute. Distance Learning courses are provided by Fitzwilliam Institute BGLS Ltd.
Year on year, we have the pleasure of training students from top Ireland and international companies. See where our most recent students come from and find out what they have to say.