The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) has launched a competency framework for insurance and personal finance professionals.

This new framework exists in different editions for personal finance and insurance workers.

This is to reflect the need for specific technical expertise in the respective sectors.

The framework is known as the ‘professional map’ and looks to enable professionals to self-assess their existence competencies and prepare for appraisals.

It also incorporates both current skills and those identified as increasingly important for future careers. That includes those identified by the financial services skills commission in its recent future skills framework.

As for employers, the professional map should help them develop and retain talent. The framework enables them to develop standardised job specifications, design competency-based interviews and evaluation and prioritise organisational skills development plans.

CII chief executive Alan Vallance says: “Forces throughout the economy, automation and changing consumer needs are remaking roles across the insurance and personal finance profession.

“The launch of the professional map demonstrates the CII’s commitment to helping insurance and personal finance professionals develop their skills and knowledge at every stage of their career so that they can achieve their career ambitions and raise public trust in the profession.

“The professional map will become the ‘golden thread’ in what the CII offers – providing a common set of competencies that will enable alignment between professional standards and lifelong learning – delivered through world-class learning content, qualifications and membership.”

The professional map was developed with the input of more than 200 technical and regulatory experts and practitioners, learning and development specialists plus human resources professionals.

The CII also used feedback received from insurance and personal finance professionals via the Shaping the future together consultation to shape the competency framework.

CII president and Aston Lark chief executive officer Peter Blanc says: “At Aston Lark we are making plans to embed the new framework into our existing learning and development structures.

“It is so helpful to be able to describe core functions and competencies in such a professional framework so that staff can plan their career progression with confidence.

“Aligning our career development plans for staff with a professional map will help to bring opportunities for progression to life.”