Program Paves the way

to Financial Careers

By Paul Sloggett

Billions of dollars flow through Canada’s financial institutions everyday, and for Irina Bazanova the prospect of playing a part in these transactions is the ultimate career goal.

Not too long ago, Irina worked as a loans officer for a financial institution in Russia. It’s a job she loved and one she eagerly wanted to continue when she moved to Canada a few years ago.

Having earned her degree back home, the 30-year-old started looking for a program that would allow her to earn the credentials she needed in a reasonable amount of time.

Her search led her to Seneca’s Financial Services Underwriting program – an eight-month graduate certificate that equips students with the skills and knowledge needed for a career with a financial institution.

“When I came to Canada I didn’t know anything about the financial industry in this country,” says Irina, who is just months away from graduating. “Now I have a wealth of knowledge about financing, mortgages, lending and underwriting all thanks to this program.”

Seneca’s Financial Services Underwriting program has long put graduates on the fast-track to careers with Canadian mortgage, trust and banking institutions.

Over the years, students have branched out to works as loans officers, mortgage brokers, mortgage underwriters and mortgage broker agents.

“There really is a world of career paths available out there,” says Program Co-ordinator Paul Sloggett. “This program ultimately gives students the building blocks to establish the career they want in the financial services industry.”

John Pierce, who graduated from the program last year, is a perfect example.

He used the training he received at Seneca to start his own business, called Ontario Preferred Mortgage and Finance.

Based out of Toronto, the company offers a variety of financial services to clients including mortgages, commercial loans, debt consolidation and re-financing.

“Coming into the program my goal was always to start my own business,” says John. “I enrolled for that very reason and in short order I achieved my objective.”

Irina, who graduates from the program this May, is confident she will achieve her goal too.

“Without a doubt, I know I will,” she says. “I’ll either be working as a loans officer or underwriter. You can take that to the bank.”

Students interested in applying to the Financial Services Underwriting program must have a degree or diploma from a recognized college/university or three to five years of work experience in a related field.

The program is divided into two semesters, the first oriented toward introductory subjects in mortgage brokering and financing and the other focuses on areas such as debtor/creditor remedies, organizing and operating an underwriting business, ethics, mortgage broker legislation and commercial mortgage underwriting.

As part of their training, students complete two work placements and when they graduate they can apply for their Mortgage Agent or Broker license through the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO).

Students can also apply for scholarships and receive awards from the Mortgage industry. Each year, Genworth Financial Canada and the Real Estate Institute of Canada recognize students for high academic achievement within the program.

For more information, visit http://www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime/FSU.html

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