FNB Eswatini continues to raise the standard for developing human capital.
The bank is now an accredited South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) training office, a major milestone in strengthening local professional capacity and addressing critical skills shortages in the country’s financial sector.
SAICA is South Africa’s premier accountancy body, a globally recognized institute, and an Insights-Driven Organization. The Institute sets rigorous benchmarks for education, training, and professional conduct, ensuring that its members meet internationally recognized standards across finance, auditing, governance, and risk management.
SAICA accreditation enables training offices to develop professionals whose qualifications are recognized regionally and internationally, thereby enhancing professional mobility and sector credibility.
Speaking at the recent FNB Press Play engagement, FNB Eswatini’s Chief People Officer, Veronica Ntshalintshali, described the accreditation as a strategic investment in people, sustainability, and the future of the Kingdom’s financial services sector.
Chartered Accountants (CAs) remain among the most scarce and highly sought-after professionals in Eswatini, particularly in banking, risk management, finance, treasury, and credit. FNB Eswatini acknowledged that competition for these skills has intensified, with qualified professionals quickly absorbed by both local and regional markets.
By attaining registered training office status, the bank will be able to expand its talent pipeline, reduce reliance on external markets, and ensure continuity and institutional knowledge within the organization.
“This certification allows us to directly help close the country’s skills gap by developing professionals trained to global standards while remaining grounded in the local market,” said Ntshalintshali.
This development also complements FNB Eswatini’s recent recognition as a Top Employer in Eswatini and Africa, certified by the Netherlands-based Top Employers Institute, which evaluates organizations on human capital strategy, learning and development, recruitment practices, and employee experience.
The Chief People Officer noted that creating a supportive, high-performance work environment is essential to ensuring employees are equipped to deliver exceptional customer service.
Beyond professional certification, FNB Eswatini’s people strategy is deliberately aligned with employment creation, skills transfer, and long-term capacity building in the local market, particularly for young people. One of the key interventions highlighted by Ntshalintshali was the bank’s partnership with government-led empowerment programmes, through which graduates are integrated into the bank’s operations to gain hands-on corporate experience.
Through this initiative, graduates are exposed to real-world work environments, professional systems, and industry expectations, equipping them with practical skills that remain valuable beyond their time at the bank.
In addition, FNB Eswatini runs its own two-year structured graduate development programme designed to fast-track high-potential talent into future leadership roles. Participants are carefully selected for strong academic credentials and developed in line with the bank’s strategic capability needs.
The programme includes cross-functional exposure locally and regionally, with participants receiving induction and training in South Africa, enabling them to gain continental exposure and build professional networks beyond Eswatini’s borders. Upon completion, graduates are positioned to assume roles earlier in their careers.
The bank also maintains formal partnerships with the University of Eswatini and Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, providing internship opportunities for students in the Faculties of Commerce and Computer Science. These placements help students meet academic requirements while gaining practical experience that enhances their employability.