Etihad Airways welcomes Emirati finance trainees to graduate programme

The programme, launched in partnership with Phoenix Financial Training, a leading world class training provider, will aim at developing and preparing UAE nationals for a rewarding career in financial accounting in the aviation industry. 

Spanning a period of two years, the programme will consist of classroom and on-the-job training  leading to a professional qualification from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the global body for professional accountants. The ACCA boasts around 162,000 members and 428,000 students in 173 countries and ACCA qualifications are recognised by key regulatory and education authorities around the world. The qualification will consist of exams, practical experience and a number of ethics modules. 

James Rigney, chief financial officer, said: “As part of our mandate to develop and empower UAE nationals to take on roles in all aspects of the airline industry, we are excited to offer world class training and a globally recognised accreditation in finance and accounting. 

“As the need for seasoned finance professionals in the aviation industry arises, our new financial accounting management program will provide our top Emirati talent with the knowledge and skills required to undertake various finance roles across Etihad Airways’ expanding global network.” 

Marwa Al Maskari, one of the new trainees in the programme, said: “I feel very privileged to be part of this program and to be offered the opportunity to acquire one of the finance world’s most recognised certifications. I can’t wait to apply the knowledge and skills I will learn as I build my career in Etihad Airways’ finance division.”   

The Etihad Airways UAE national development programme was launched in 2007 and continues to grow with an increasing number of Emiratis working in various roles at the airline’s home base in Abu Dhabi and across its global network. 

The programme now offers a wide range of training opportunities for UAE nationals, including cadet pilot, technical engineering, and contact centre schemes and a graduate management development programme in a number of specialised disciplines including finance, sales, airport operations and revenue management. 

Etihad Airways’ chief people and performance officer, Ray Gammell, said: “We are pleased to offer this specialised finance programme as part of our UAE National Development scheme. 

“Our programmes have evolved over the years and now offer individual schemes specifically tailored to suit the various business needs while at the same time preparing a cadre of talented UAE Nationals for exciting careers in the aviation industry.“