Training Structure
Montpellier-Sète University Institute of Technology (IUT)
Language(s) of Instruction
French
Overview
The professional bachelor’s degree in Insurance, Banking, and Finance: Client Service Representative, with a specialization in Retail Sales Advisor,is a one-year apprenticeship program (at CFA DIFCAM or FORMAPOSTE, depending on the host company) that prepares students for positions as sales advisors in the banking and insurance sectors.
The bachelor’s degree program is ISO 9001:2015 certified.
The program consists of two complementary phases (440 hours) and is taught by at least 25% industry professionals:
- General training related to careers in insurance, banking, and finance.
- Training specific to the role of retail sales advisor.
Professional and regulatory certifications are awarded either during the academic year based on passing exams, or upon graduation for certain certifications: AML/CFT, International Sanctions (OFAC), LCC-Lagarde Law, DCI Directive, ACPR Insurance Level 1.
The inclusion of supplementary course modules now enables students to prepare for certification from the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF).
These various stages are combined with an internship thesis and a professional project report (120 hours), which ensure that students develop strong skills over the course of the two semesters of the professional bachelor’s degree program.
The Benefits of the Training Program
Professional certifications are awarded throughout the year, based on passing certain exams:
- AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing), retail market
- International Sanctions – OFAC,
- Consumer Credit Act – Lagarde Act
The bachelor’s degree program offers students the opportunity to earn the Voltaire certification and complete the ibellule module on email writing at the Montpellier-Sète University Institute of Technology (IUT).
Objectives
The professional bachelor's degree is designed to prepare students for immediate entry into the workforce as personal financial advisors in the banking and insurance sectors.
(ROME codes: C1201: Customer Service and Banking; C1203: Customer Relations in Banking/Finance; C1206: Banking Customer Management; C1205: Financial Wealth Management Consulting; C1102: Insurance Customer Consulting.)
Expertise and Skills
A retail sales advisor must acquire a set of skills that enable them to perform the following key activities within the context of an omnichannel customer journey:
- Manage the day-to-day operations of a branch,
- Analyze customer needs (customer discovery),
- Negotiate and sell financial products and services,
- Manage a client portfolio,
- Analyze and manage business-related risks,
- Stay abreast of industry developments and regulatory changes.
Organization
Knowledge Assessment
Assessment takes place on an ongoing basis for each course. Presentations are used to evaluate internship reports and supervised (group) projects.
The Professional Bachelor’s Degree (LP) is awarded if the overall average is higher than 10/20 across all grades, including the internship and project, and if the average for the internship and project combined is higher than 10/20 (1999 Professional Bachelor’s Degree decree and 2014 Bachelor’s, Professional Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree decrees).
Completion of the program awards 60 European credits (ECTS).
The degree is equivalent to:
- Training under the Consumer Credit Act (Lagarde Act),
- DCI Training (Mortgage Credit Directive),
- ACPR Level I,
- IAS Level I,
- IOB Level I,
- CIF Level I.
Special Features
Accommodations may be provided for students with disabilities.
Program
A 12-month work-study program, including 17 weeks at the Montpellier-Sète University Institute of Technology (IUT) (with a general work-study schedule of 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off), during which a range of subjects are studied. These subjects can be grouped as follows:
- Customer Relationship Management and Commercial Negotiation (20%)
- Banking and Insurance Products and Services (15%)
- Taxation, Property Law, and Consumer Law (15%)
- Personal Finance, Risk, and Guarantees (15%)
- Mathematics, Accounting, and Financial Analysis (8%)
- Financial Markets and Stock Market Transactions (7%)
- Preparation for the AMF (Autorité des Marchés Financiers) Exam (4%)
- Compliance (4%)
- Banking Marketing (4%)
- Business English (4%)
- Project Methodology (4%)
Admission
Target Audience
Graduates with a two-year post-secondary degree, preferably with a focus on business.
Be under 30 years of age when signing an apprenticeship contract. There is no age limit for signing a professional training contract.
Mandatory Prerequisites
Any two-year post-secondary degree qualifies a student for admission to a bachelor's degree program.
Recommended Prerequisites
A two-year post-secondary degree and/or professional experience (and/or an internship) in the banking or insurance industry is preferred.
And then
Continuing Education
The goal of the professional bachelor’s degree is to facilitate a quick transition into the workforce, rather than further academic study.
However, some students do go on to pursue professional master’s degrees—usually through a work-study program with their host company—particularly in the fields of career counseling or wealth management.
Transition Programs and Reorientation
Any other program open to students with two years of post-secondary education, or three years of post-secondary education after earning a bachelor's degree.
Employment Placement
Based on the average of the last three surveys conducted 30 months after graduation, the employment rate is 90%.
The vast majority of jobs are located in the Occitanie region and in the target sector. The average reported salary is €1,770.