With the aim of supporting capacity building and talent development for banking professionals, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has been working together with the banking industry to introduce an industry-wide competency framework - “Enhanced Competency Framework (ECF) for Banking Practitioners” in Hong Kong.
The Enhanced Competency Framework on Operational Risk Management (hereinafter referred to as “ECF-ORM”) is a non-statutory framework which sets out the common and core competences required of operational risk management practitioners in the Hong Kong’s banking industry. The objectives of the ECF-ORM are twofold:
1. to develop a sustainable talent pool of operational risk management practitioners for the banking industry; and
2. to raise the professional competence of existing operational risk management practitioners in the banking industry
Although the ECF-ORM is not a mandatory licensing regime, AIs are encouraged to adopt it for purposes including but not limited to:
1. using the ECF-ORM as a benchmark to determine the level of competence required and assess the ongoing competence of relevant employees;
2. supporting relevant employees to attend training programmes and examinations that meet the ECF-ORM benchmark;
3. supporting the continuing professional development (CPD) of relevant employees; AND
4. promoting the ECF-ORM as an industry-recognised qualification, including for recruitment purposes
Please refer to the HKMA Circular on “Enhanced Competency Framework on Operational Risk Management” for details.
The ECF-ORM is intended to apply to “Relevant Practitioners” (RPs) whose primary responsibilities are performing operational risk governance, operational risk identification and assessment, operational risk monitoring and reporting, operational risk control and mitigation, and business resiliency and continuity planning within an AI. The ECF-ORM is aimed at RPs located in the Hong Kong office of an AI performing the operational risk management and business control risk and control functions:
Role 1 - Operational Risk Management (i.e. staff in charge of managing operational risks in the second line of defence) and
Role 2 - Business Function Risk and Control (i.e. staff working at the business units to manage operational risks in the first line of defence)
The competency standards of the ECF-ORM are set at two levels:
1. Core level – applicable to entry-level and junior-level staff in the operational risk management and business function risk and control with 0-5 years of experience.
2. Professional level – applicable to staff taking up middle-level or senior positions in the operational risk management and business function risk and control with more than 5 years of experience.
RPs may apply to the HKIB for certification as an Associate Operational Risk Management Professional (AORP) or a Certified Operational Risk Management Professional (CORP) upon completing the above qualifications and fulfilling the minimum relevant work experience requirement.
AORP – (1) successfully completed all the 3 core level training modules (Modules 1 to 3) and obtained a pass in the relevant examination of each module or (2) grandfathered pursuant to the criteria specified in the Grandfathering section below.
CORP – (1) successfully completed the professional level training module (Module 4) and obtained a pass in the relevant examination of the module on top of the Core Level qualification plus at least 5 years’ relevant work experience in operational risk management, business function risk and control, and/or internal audit (related to operational risk management and controls within an AI) or (2) grandfathered pursuant to the criteria specified in the Grandfathering section below.
Core Level
The Core level training programme of the ECF-ORM consists of 3 modules. A core level training award "Advanced Certificate for ECF on Operational Risk Management (ORM)" will be given to candidates who have successfully completed all the 3 core level training modules (Module 1 to 3) and obtained a pass at the relevant examination of each module.
Entry Requirement For Core Level
The Programme is open to members and non-members of the HKIB. Candidates must fulfil the stipulated minimum entry requirements:
Mature applicants (aged 21 or above) who do not possess the above academic qualifications but with relevant banking experience and recommendation from their employers will be considered on individual merit.
Training Duration and Training Fee
Module |
Training Duration* |
Training Fee# |
1 |
15 Hours |
HKD3,750 |
2 |
15 Hours |
HKD3,750 |
3 |
15 Hours |
HKD3,750 |
*The training duration stated above is set as the standard training duration for each module. If you have any special request and situation for a different training duration, please contact HKIB staff for details.
#For Module 1 & Module 2, a digital version of training material (i.e. Study Guide and PPT Slides) will be provided before the training commencement. Printed version will only be available at an additional cost of HKD500 (including delivery fee) on request by learners.
#For Module 3, only a digital version of PPT Slides will be provided before the training commencement. Printed version will only be available at an additional cost of HKD500 (including delivery fee) on request by learners. In addition, learners have to purchase two reference books by their own as a part of the essential readings.
Examination Format
Module |
1 - 2 |
3 |
Examination Mode |
Paper-based Examination |
|
Examination Duration |
1.5 Hours per Module |
2.5 Hours per Module |
Question Type |
Multiple-choice Type Questions (MCQs) |
|
No. of Questions |
50-60 MCQs per Module |
80-90 MCQs per Module |
Pass Mark |
70% |
|
Examination Fee |
HKD 530 |
HKD 1,060 |
Professional Level
The Professional level training programme of the ECF-ORM consists of 1 module. A professional level training award “Professional Certificate for ECF on Operational Risk Management (ORM)” will be given to candidates who have successfully completed the professional level training module (Module 4) and obtained a pass at the relevant examination of the module on top of the Core Level qualification.
Entry Requirement For Professional Level
The Programme is open to members and non-members of the HKIB. Candidates must fulfil the stipulated minimum entry requirements:
Training Duration and Training Fee
Module |
Training Duration* |
Training Fee# |
4 |
21 Hours |
HKD6,060 |
*The training duration stated above is set as the standard training duration for each module. If you have any special request and situation for a different training duration, please contact HKIB staff for details.
#For Module 4, only a digital version of PPT Slides will be provided before the training commencement. Printed version will only be available at an additional cost of HKD500 (including delivery fee) on request by learners. In addition, learners have to purchase two reference books by their own as a part of the essential readings.
Examination Format
Module |
4 |
Examination Mode |
Paper-based Examination |
Examination Duration |
3 Hours |
Question Type |
Multiple-choice Type Questions (MCQs) & Essay Type Questions |
No. of Questions |
40-50 MCQs with 2-3 essay type questions |
Pass Mark |
60% |
Examination Fee |
HKD 1,300 |
Please refer to the Programme Handbook and Programme Brochure for more details.
Training and Examination Enrolment
Applicant should complete and sign the application form together with the appropriate training and/or examination fee, and return by email, or by hand to HKIB Office on or before the corresponding enrolment deadline.
Late entries for training programmes are accepted up to seven days after the stipulated application deadlines. An additional late entry fee of HKD200 applies.
Late entries for examinations are accepted up to 14 days after the stipulated application deadlines. An additional late entry fee of HKD200 applies.
Eligible candidates may apply for exemption from completing individual training module. Detailed information of the training programmes and examinations will be available in due course.
RP who has passed the following related training programme(s) is eligible to apply for exemption on Module 1 and / or Module 3 of the ECF-Operational Risk Management Core Level training programme:
Module 1
Module 3
A RP may be grandfathered on a one-off basis (i.e. within the grandfathering application period) based on his or her years of qualifying work experience and/or professional qualification. Such work experience need not be continuous. The detailed grandfathering requirements are as follows:
1. Core Level via Path (i) or Path (ii):
Path (i):
Possessing at least 3 years of relevant work experience in operational risk management, business function risk and control, and/or internal audit (related to operational risk management and controls within an AI); AND
Employed by an AI at the time of application
OR
Path (ii):
Completion of one of the following training programmes:
- Operational Risk Manager Certificate of the PRMIA; or
- Professional Risk Manager of the PRMIA; or
- Certificate in Operational Risk Management of the IOR, which is now a part of the IRM Group;
Possessing at least 2 years of relevant work experience in operational risk management, business function risk and control gained from AIs and/or non-bank financial institutions, and/or internal audit (related to operational risk management and controls within an AI); AND
Employed by an AI at the time of application.
2. Professional Level via Path (i) or Path (ii):
Path (i):
Possessing at least 8 years of relevant work experience in operational risk management, business function risk and control, and/or internal audit (related to operational risk management and controls within an AI), of which at least 3 years must be gained from Professional Level job roles within an AI; AND
Employed by an AI at the time of application
OR
Path (ii):
Completion of HKIB’s Postgraduate Diploma for Certified Banker (Operations Management Stream); AND
Possessing at least 5 years of relevant work experience in operational risk management, business function risk and control, and/or internal audit (related to operational risk management and controls within an AI); AND
Employed by an AI at the time of application
ECF on ORM Grandfathering - Application extended to 30 September 2022
The deadline of the one-off grandfathering arrangement is now extended from 30 Jun 2022 to 30 Sep 2022, while the working experience accumulation of the relevant practitioners (RP) will be counted until 30 Jun 2022. A one-off grandfathering fee will apply.
Certification of AORP and CORP is subject to annual renewal by HKIB. AORP and CORP holders are required to meet the annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements and pay an annual certification fee to renew their ECF-ORM certification. For details, please refer to the CPD Requirements section below.
For both AORP and CORP holders, a minimum of 12 CPD hours is required for each calendar year, of which at least 6 hours should be on topics related to compliance, legal and regulatory requirements, risk management and ethics.
Any excess CPD hours accumulated within a particular year cannot be carried forward to the following year.
Activities that qualify for CPD include:
1. Attending seminars or courses provided by AIs, financial services regulators, professional bodies, academic and training institutions, and the HKIB;
2. Taking professional examinations;
3. Attending e-learning; and
4. Delivering training and speeches.
CPD training topics should be related to banking and finance or the job function. Examples of appropriate training topics include:
1. Compliance, code of conduct, professional ethics or risk management (e.g. topics related to jurisdiction, structure, collateral and regulatory changes)
2. Banking and financial knowledge
3. Economics
4. Accounting
5. Legal principles
6. Business and people management
7. Language and information technology
8. Subject areas covered in the HKIB’s professional examinations
The CPD requirements will be waived for the first calendar year (ending 31 December) of certification and grandfathering.
|
Hotline |
|
Programme |
(852) 2153 7800 |
ecf@hkib.org |
Training and Examination |
(852) 2153 7800 |
application@hkib.org |