You’re after a career change into a new part of the finance sector in Singapore, or you want to discover upcoming vacancies at your dream employer.
Either way, you will need to expand your network of contacts in the city state and get to know more people who might end up hiring you.
Fortunately, Singapore frequently plays host to financial conferences which provide perfect opportunities for networking. Here’s a selection of upcoming events:
SME Banking Summit 2016
What: Senior speakers (including Standard Chartered’s country head of SME banking) brief bankers about controlling risk, maximising profit margins and boosting client relationships.
Why network here: Corporate banks in Singapore are clamouring for more bankers to serve the SME sector, so hiring managers may well take advantage of the chance to mingle with potential candidates.
When: 17 to 20 May 2016.
6th Annual International Conference on Accounting and Finance
What: An academic get-together to present and discuss the latest research on accounting practices.
Why network here: Meet global experts in your field to get a technical edge over rival accounting candidates when you go for your next job.
When: 30 to 31 May 2016.
Compliance Summit Southeast Asia
What: Compliance professionals and lawyers discuss how best to implement local and global regulations to win the “fight against corruption” in finance.
Why network here: Sit back and wait for the business cards to fly in? Well, not quite – but this conference features “300 legal and compliance heads”, so make the most of the opportunity.
When: 15 June 2016.
Digital Wealth Asia
What: Get the latest updates about the mobile, digital, social and cloud technologies currently shaking up wealth management – from client acquisition to portfolio monitoring.
Why network here: Discuss upcoming trends in digital wealth management and prevent your job being taken by a robo-advisor in the future.
When: 16 June 2016.
FT Asia Banking Forum
What: One of the most important generalist banking events in Singapore, speakers include Lisa Robins, vice chair of Deutsche’s corporate and investment bank in Asia Pacific. Hear about the “opportunities and challenges banks are presented with in the current volatile macroeconomic environment”.
Why network here: A good event if you’re aiming to network your way into a career change – attendees come from “all corners of the banking ecosystem”, including “C-suite executives, strategists, heads of technology, risk, compliance”.
When: 22 June 2016.
Fixed Income Leader’s Summit
What: This event features senior speakers from AXA to Tata, all working in buy-side fixed income.
Why network here: Thinking of moving to the buy-side? This conference gives you potential networking access to “200-plus of the most influential heads of fixed income trading and portfolio management from the top Asia buy-side firms”.
When: 6 to 8 September 2016.
Financial Crime 360
What: Hear updates and opinions from the world of “AML, KYC, CDD, sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption and more”. Chad Olsen, head of Asia Pacific fraud and information security at Societe Generale, was among last year’s speakers.
Why network here: If you work in risk or compliance and want to break into the hot financial-crime function, this is your chance to hobnob with experts from other banks and law enforcement agencies.
When: 21 to 22 September 2016.
Symbol, The Fintech Show
What: Two days of fintech seminars split into four streams (corporate banking, consumer, lending, and ‘start-up university’), with an exhibition hall of start-ups peddling their wares.
Why network here: There are now more job opportunities opening up in fintech in Asia, but they’re spread across hundreds of tiny firms – this event brings several players under one roof for you to meet.
When: 28 to 30 November 2016.
Private Banking Asia
What: A large gathering of the great and the good in Asian wealth management, now in its 13th year. Past speakers have included Christophe Aba, regional head of investments for South East Asia at J.P. Morgan.
Why network here: It won’t just be people from the big private banks in attendance – if you’re planning to move to a family office, that industry will also be well represented.
When: 28 February 2017 to 2 March 2017.
Related articles:
You’ve been axed in Asia. Here’s how to cope with awkward interview questions about your layoffIf you’re exiting a bank that's been cutting in Asia, here's how to overcome the stigma of unemployment and explain your layoff at your next job interview.
This Hong Kong investment banker can help you get your next jobMost investment bankers are focused on career advancement – their own. But Sherjan Husainie, a Hong Kong-based Canadian banker, takes a different approach.
Eight of the most in-demand candidates in Asian banking this quarterThese candidates are still sought after in Singapore and Hong Kong as we head into the second quarter.
Image credit: Rawpixel Ltd, iStock, Thinkstock