Wednesday 24 / April / 2024
Bank Muscat is a dream employer for many job seekers in the Sultanate, particularly those who are interested in the banking and financial services sector. One of the main reasons for the bank’s enduring success over the last 40 years has been the bank’s recognition that employees are partners in success and the main reason for its many accomplishments over the decades. The bank has been investing in developing its employees from the very beginning in a bid to enable them to contribute to the development of the bank and the country. Today, Mr. Said Salim Al Aufi, General Manager – Human Resources & Administration, will be discussing more about the bank’s role and achievements over the last four decades.
Qn.1. As the leading financial services provider in Oman, Bank Muscat has played a major role in Oman’s growth and development over the last 40 years. What is the role of human resources in the bank’s achievements.
As you rightly said, Bank Muscat is Oman’s leading financial services provider and is well known for having a strategy, which is closely aligned to Oman Vision 2040. Our HR strategy recognises that competent, well trained and hardworking employees are the bedrock on which the Bank bases its success and achievements. Hence, the bank constantly invests resources and time to further develop employee skills and help them reach their peak potential. From the moment of joining the bank, suitable training and development opportunities are provided to make employees skilled with work-related processes and procedures such that they can perform to the best of their abilities. Bank Muscat focusses on enhancing satisfaction and morale of its employees.
It is responsive to employee feedback and strives to ensure a professional work environment that is based on fair and equal opportunities to all employees, cutting-edge technology and global best practices. With over 3,800 employees based at the Head Office and 174 branches across Oman, Bank Muscat is a dream employer for Omani youth, particularly those who are interested in the financial services sector. Needless to say our proactive HR strategy is also helping retain talent within the bank.
Qn. 2. Please explain a bit more about what the bank is doing to increase its pool of talented Omani employees.
Very early on its history, the bank established a strategic plan for developing Omani human resources so as to develop capabilities across different specialties and disciplines. The bank works in close partnership with many government organisations and higher education institutions as part of this strategy and also ensures that the bank is one of the best places to work. In this regard, the bank participates annually in various career fairs organized in Sultan Qaboos University, College of Banking and Financial Studies and other institutions to give the youth a closer look into the jobs and training opportunities it provides, the benefits employees enjoy and the innovative and dynamic work environment. Thus Bank Muscat enjoys an excellent Omanisation ratio of about 95%. In fact, I am happy to share that this year 195 Omanis have already joined the bank as part of its efforts to boost the career path of talented national human resources.
Qn. 3. Can you please share some information about training and development of employees?
Bank Muscat has a full-fledged Learning and Development department – the bank’s Jadara Academy is affiliated to the Global Association of Corporate Universities and Academics. The Academy is responsible for delivering over 15,000 training seats to employees every year as part of its continuous and ongoing training programmes for all staff. It also organises a variety of professional certification courses as well as training programmes that help build a pipeline of leaders at all levels.
Qn. 4. What about upskilling and gaining of fresh qualifications by staff. Does Bank Muscat encourage this?
I am glad that you asked this very important question because Bank Muscat does its very best to ensure constant upskilling and gaining of higher qualifications that will help both its employees and the bank itself to perform better. The bank encourages its employees to grow in their careers by having the right qualifications and tools for them. Amongst its most successful measures are scholarships for both higher education and technical qualifications. For e.g., in 2022, the bank gave external scholarships to 13 employees to complete their post-graduate studies abroad while 68 internal scholarship were given to employees to study in Oman.
As of 2022, 582 employees have completed their studies in Oman while 158 employees are currently enrolled in different higher education programmes. As of date, 72 overseas scholarships have been granted by the bank. Meanwhile 818 employees have completed their professional certifications and another 496 employees are currently enrolled.
All said and done, the bank has been greatly encouraged by the results of its continuous investment in Omani human resources. It is a matter of pride for Bank Muscat that most of its senior and middle management have been promoted from within the bank’s ranks.
Qn. 5. That is very interesting and brings me to another important topic. I remember seeing news recently about sign language training for bank employees. How does this help Bank Muscat?
Financial inclusion is an important aspect of the growth and development of economies around the world. Hence, in line with its commitment to Oman Vision 2040 and to deliver long-term benefits to Omani society and the nation, Bank Muscat has always extended strong support to initiatives that promote the welfare and financial inclusion of disabled persons.
The bank has trained a number of its employees at different branches across the Sultanate in Arabic Sign Language so as to improve service delivery and facilitate their inclusion into mainstream economic activities. In collaboration with the Omani Association for the Hearing-impaired, the bank has been identifying branches, which serve the maximum number of hearing-impaired and speech-impaired persons, and accordingly training a number of employees in Sign Language over the past few years. Over 210 bank employees have undergone Sign Language training in order to better serve customers with hearing disabilities. But that is not all.
I am also happy to share the news that the Bank has identified 11 conventional bank branches, one in each Governorate of the Sultanate as well as 9 branches of Meethaq, which will be fully equipped and prepared to provide banking services to people with different types of disabilities in the coming months. Already the bank’s Al Ghubra branch has been suitably equipped as part of a pilot programme and we are very confident that this will lead to much greater customer and employee satisfaction in the long term as the bank will be able to address the needs of its different customer segments successfully.
Qn. 6. Any other words of advice you would like to give to employees and to the youth who aspire to work at Bank Muscat?
As we celebrate Bank Muscat’s successful 40 years journey, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the bank’s employees for their sincere work and dedication. They are a very important pillar that helped the bank develop and grow, and helped in enhancing its pioneering role in the financial sector across the region . We assure that the bank will continue to keenly invest in its human resources and implement programmes and initiatives aimed at achieving its goals. I would like to assure as well that job opportunities are available for those who wish to join Bank Muscat’s family and start their career with the leading financial institution in the Sultanate.
