Career prospects
Front-office operator in banks
Function in a work context
The front-office operator maintains relations with customers entering the bank's branch. Its activities vary considerably depending on the size of the branch and the organisational model of the individual bank. In general, compared to the past, it can operate with a large degree of autonomy.
The front-office operator listens to the customer, responds to their requests and pays attention to both operational safety and customer satisfaction. It can refer the client to specialised colleagues when the request is outside its competence.
He works mostly alone in contact with the customer. However, he/she has to liaise not only with the branch manager, but also with other specialist colleagues working in the branch and colleagues working at the bank's head office.
Skills associated with the function
In order to perform the profession of front-office operator, knowledge related to the regulation of financial intermediaries is required, with particular reference to financial instruments and the logic and rules of operation of the financial system. Ultimately, the front-office operator must be well acquainted with the commonly used products/services offered by the bank; the procedures in use; the operational security rules, in particular the rules governing cheques, transfers, account closures; the organisation of the bank and the main roles involved in its operations. The front-office operator must be able to communicate with the customer, and in particular must be able to listen to the customer's needs, even non-manifest needs, and requests. It must also be able to provide correct and timely information that enables the client to operate well and to know the effects of its operations; relate dynamically to the highly competitive environment in which it operates.
Career outlets
Career outlets may be represented by the possibility of carrying out this activity within a financial intermediary as an employee. The front-office operator is the stepping stone for almost all professions in the bank and also outside the bank. It should be seen as an important moment of professional growth that allows one to get to know the banking world closely in order to better orientate oneself in future professional choices. In some banks, the entry paths are differentiated and include career paths already outlined at the selection stage.
Financial advisor
Function in a working context
The financial advisor is a professional who studies the financial markets and, above all, the needs expressed by savers in order to propose the best investment alternatives, taking care to explain to the client the costs, yield, risk and liquidity of each alternative. The financial advisor may be employed or independent. In the first case, he is a professional salaried by the company that hired him (bank, SIM, etc.); in the second case (independent financial advisor), he is a new professional figure on the national scene, regulated by the European Mifid directive and transposed in Italy in November 2007, who is remunerated solely on a fee basis.
Skills associated with the function
The task of the financial advisor is to fully understand the client's needs in order to be able to choose the financial instruments that are most likely to achieve the client's objectives within the constraints of return, risk and cost. In particular, the advisory activity is characterised by the existence of a bilateral and personalised relationship between the advisor and the client, based on knowledge of the client's investment objectives and financial situation, so that the advice is tailored to the individual situation of the specific investor.
Career outlets
Career outlets can be represented by the possibility of carrying out this activity independently (independent financial adviser) or within a financial intermediary as an employee (salaried financial adviser).
Marketing Manager
Function in a work context
The marketing manager is responsible for managing the relationship between the company and the market. The activity carried out by the marketing manager of a company has both strategic and operational content and is oriented towards the management of the different stages underlying the formulation of a strategic marketing plan. The marketing manager has to analyse the signals coming from the macro-environment, process and interpret them in order to translate them into opportunities to develop new products and new markets. Its activity has a strategic content since it starts from the analysis of consumer needs and the analysis of the competitive environment in which the company operates and results in decisions on segmentation, targeting and strategic positioning of new products. Strategic decisions find an operational dimension in marketing-mix management, which deals with all decisions related to product, pricing, choice of distribution channels and communication. Strategic and operational decisions in the area of marketing and new product development are taken autonomously, but the marketing manager has the task of bringing the market system into dialogue with the R&D function and, more generally, establishes a strong interchange and coordination with the design, production, purchasing and finance function.
Competences associated with the function
The marketing manager has to acquire knowledge related to different subject areas: economics, business, law and quantity. In particular, he/she must have acquired all the necessary skills to apply marketing concepts and models to segmentation, targeting and positioning decisions. To do so, they must be aware of changes in the macro demographic, social, cultural, technological and legislative environment and must be able to turn potential threats into opportunities to develop new products and new markets. They must also be able to follow all stages of the new product development process, from idea generation and selection to business analysis, from project development to the new product launch plan. Finally, he must be able to communicate with all company functions and must perform coordination and integration activities between the different functions involved in the new product development project.
Career possibilities
The marketing manager can work in industrial companies and modern commercial enterprises, in the consumer goods and non-food sectors, in Business to Consumer and Business to Business. The skills acquired also enable them to work in research and consultancy companies.
Competition analyst
Function in a work context
The competition analyst is responsible for analysing the behaviour of competitors in the target market of the company in question. The work carried out by the head of competition analysis is mainly strategic in content, passing on information on the behaviour of competing companies (and the state) to the operational managers and managers of the company. His task is differentiated: a) he must be able to follow and interpret the macroeconomic (monetary and fiscal) policies dictated by the state, and their consequences for the conduct of the enterprise: in this task, he must also analyse the behaviour of the main foreign states insofar as competing firms are located there, and of the European Central Bank, insofar as the latter is deputed to deal with monetary policy and exchange rate policy; b) he must be able to follow and interpret microeconomic policies (in particular industrial policies and competition policies) dictated by the state, as well as those of the main foreign states insofar as competing firms are located there, and of the European Union, and the consequences arising therefrom on the conduct of the firm; c) must be able to follow and interpret the conduct of the main competing enterprises, both on the product market (with particular reference, where appropriate, to the results of tenders) and in location strategies and, finally, on the financial markets, to assess their impact on their profit and loss accounts and operating results, and to selectively transmit this information to the enterprises' managers.
In this way, the competition analyst conveys some key information on the behaviour of competing firms and, more generally, of the external environment to the firms' decision-making centres, with an ability to select and filter out the genuinely most important information on which the firm's strategy depends, in no small way.
Skills associated with the function
The competition analyst must acquire knowledge related to several disciplinary areas: macro- and microeconomics, business, finance, market, legal, quantitative, historical. In particular, it must have acquired all the skills necessary to apply the concepts and models of competition analysis to the characteristics and conduct of the enterprise within which it operates, being alert to potential threats and able to perceive and thus begin to develop potential opportunities; but also the effects of the macro- and micro-economic activity carried out by the state in which the enterprise is located and by the others in which its competitors operate. The differences between the required competences make a differentiated but high level of basic competence necessary. Relevant competence in languages is important.
Career possibilities
The competition analyst can work in modern industrial and commercial enterprises, including family-owned and family-controlled, in both the consumer and capital goods sectors, also open to foreign competition. The skills acquired also enable them to work in financial, investment fund, research and consulting companies. Further study is also highly recommended.
Accounting Expert
Function in a work context
The Accounting Expert is a professional who provides advice on accounting, tax and corporate matters. More specifically, the Accounting Expert's task is to provide assistance to natural persons, individual entrepreneurs, partnerships and joint-stock companies in the management of accounts, in the drafting of financial statements and consolidated financial statements (where applicable), in the correct execution of tax obligations required by law, in the implementation of extraordinary management operations, in the setting up of corporate governance and, more generally, in the management of administrative obligations weighing on business activities, in support of the entrepreneur or the administrative office. The Expert Accountant also advises on management control and financial planning where necessary and required.
The preceding activities are carried out in compliance with the limits set by the National Council of Chartered Accountants with respect to the figure of the Chartered Accountant.
Skills associated with the function
The Expert Accountant is a highly qualified professional. For this reason, the Expert Accountant, in order to obtain the qualification, must complete an 18-month traineeship following the completion of the three-year degree, and then take a State Examination, the passing of which guarantees registration in the Register of Chartered Accountants and Accounting Experts, Section B - Accounting Experts.
The state examination is designed to ascertain a thorough theoretical and practical knowledge of business, tax and legal subjects. Currently, the state examination consists of three written tests and an oral test. Obtaining a degree within the Economics and Management course, Business Economics curriculum, allows you to be exempt from the first of the 3 written tests in question.
Professional outlets
Professional outlets can be either self-employment as an expert accountant or employment in associated firms, consulting firms, administrative offices of industrial and commercial enterprises or tax offices of large companies or groups of companies.
Internal Auditor
Function in a work context
The Internal Auditor is required to have expertise in the internal control systems used by companies. In particular, internal auditing is that corporate function that monitors and verifies the formal and substantive correctness of internal procedures, ensuring that all corporate operators act in accordance with the procedures.
Skills associated with the function
The skills provided to perform the activity of internal auditor are managerial analysis skills, able to interpret organisational and management processes.
In particular, the internal auditor must acquire skills that allow him/her to
- interpreting the results of company management;
- ascertaining the consistency between available resources and the activities carried out;
- verifying the presence of and compliance with rules protecting minorities and other company stakeholders;
- verifying the completeness, reliability and timeliness of information pertaining to management and relevant decisions.
Career opportunities
They are increasingly in demand by both private companies and the third sector, given the high technical skills and business developments in increasingly complex environments.
Administrative Officer Function in a work context
Profiles in this field are responsible for supporting the proper performance of administrative and accounting functions; they assist companies in the performance of management, administration, planning and control functions, as well as preparing and submitting official reporting documents on the company's economic performance. The main activities involving the Administrative Operator may therefore concern
- the preparation of the company's administrative, accounting and tax procedures;
- the measurement and evaluation of management efficiency and effectiveness and the achievement of objectives;
- the coordination in the management of customers and suppliers as well as relations with banks;
- the procurement and optimal use of financial resources through the best composition of financing sources;
- the preparation of the annual and consolidated financial statements and the compilation of interim financial statements, if necessary.
Competences associated with the function
The professional figures trained by the course in this field have an economic-business and legal background in order to deal with the fields of business economics with an interdisciplinary and integrated vision; some examples are
- general and analytical accounting clerk;
- management control clerk;
- financial analyst;
- payroll clerk.
Career possibilities
The administrative clerk can find employment in medium-sized and large companies.
Controller
Function in a working context
The controller is responsible for management control and performs the functions relating to the planning and control of business activities with specific reference to the short term. In particular, the objective of the Controller's activity is to provide interpretations and evaluations of the company's activities through periodic reports that examine and inform on the health of the company from an economic, financial and management point of view.
Competences associated with the function
The competences associated with the controller job are as follows:
- drafting of the company budget with reference to specific functions (commercial, financial, production, personnel and so on);
- measurement of results through the use of general accounting and analytical accounting tools;
- comparison between planned and actual data with a view to analysing any deviations;
- drafting of the management report, which serves to support decision-making processes.
Career opportunities
The controller can find employment in all corporate contexts, medium-sized or large.
Employment consultant Function in a work context The employment consultant is a professional who performs his or her functions by facilitating the development of economic-business processes and the management of human resources. The activity of the labour consultant is therefore centrally located between business, public institutions and workers. In particular, the Employment Consultant supports the company in the definition and evolution of an employment relationship, in the management of all the accounting, economic, legal, insurance, social security and social aspects that it entails, in out-of-court disputes (conciliations and arbitrations) arising from employment and self-employment relationships. He assists and represents the company in disputes with Social Security, Insurance and Labour Inspection Institutes.
Skills associated with the function
For the type of work he is called upon to do, the labour consultant is a highly qualified professional. For this reason, the Employment Consultant must carry out an 18-month traineeship in the professional office of an Employment Consultant or one of the professionals identified by Art. 1 of Law 12/1979. After the apprenticeship, it is necessary to pass a state examination, which includes written and oral tests, to qualify for professional practice. The state examination is designed to ascertain a thorough knowledge, both theoretical and practical, mainly of business and legal subjects.
Career outlets
Career outlets can be either the self-employed pursuit of the profession of labour consultant or employment in associated firms, consultancy companies, personnel offices of small, medium and large companies.
Expert in digital economy
Function in a work context
The expert in digital economy and new technologies can occupy positions of responsibility in companies belonging to the various sectors of the economy and can work in various business functions, can find employment in the liberal professions, can hold operational roles in international and non-governmental organisations. The specialised knowledge gained during the course of studies can also foster career paths up to management positions.
Skills associated with the function
Recent advances in technology are creating new business opportunities. New information and communication technologies (ICT) are progressing fast; however, organisations and their competencies are changing slowly. The training in this area is characterised by the typical topics of the economy of new digital technologies, such as the ability to innovate, to develop new business models and new business and sector organisations, the competence in the use of new marketing approaches based on digital media made possible by the digital economy, the ability to process large databases (big data) and new banking models.
Professional outlets
Examples of professional outlets are: operational and managerial roles in service, import-export, multinational or international organisations; operational and managerial roles in research institutes, consulting firms and advertising agencies.