Eligibility criteria set for CFOs, CTOs, company secretaries

The Bangladesh Bank has introduced qualification and eligibility criteria for appointing chief financial officers (CFOs), chief technology officers (CTOs) and company secretaries at banks and financial institutions, tightening requirements for three key senior management positions.
The central bank issued a directive on Thursday, instructing all banks and financial institutions to follow the prescribed standards when making appointments.
Under the guidelines, candidates will be assessed based on professional experience, academic qualifications, expertise, personal integrity and financial standing.
Individuals convicted of criminal offences, penalised for violating regulatory laws or regulations, or dismissed from employment for money laundering, corruption, fraud or moral turpitude will be ineligible.
Those involved in illegal activities while working at banks or financial institutions, declared bankrupt or loan defaulters by a court, or having business relationships that create conflicts of interest with the appointing institution will also be disqualified.
The directive, sent to managing directors and chief executive officers of all banks and financial institutions, follows earlier measures establishing eligibility and suitability criteria for board members, managing directors, chief executives, advisers and consultants.
CFO: Experience based on loan portfolio
For CFO appointments, institutions with loans or investments exceeding Tk1,000 crore must select candidates with at least 10 years of professional experience, including three years in accounting and taxation. 
For institutions with loans or investments below Tk1,000 crore, the minimum requirement is eight years of experience, including three years in accounting and taxation.
Candidates must hold an MBA in Finance or Accounting, an MBA in Banking Management (MBM), or a postgraduate degree in Finance, Accounting or Banking from a recognised university.
Preference will be given to candidates with professional qualifications such as Chartered Accountancy (CA), Cost and Management Accountancy (CMA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
CTO: Eight years of IT experience
CTO candidates must have at least eight years of professional experience in information technology, including five years at a bank or financial institution.
They must hold at least a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in Information Technology, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Electrical and Electronic Engineering, along with higher academic qualifications as specified in the directive.
Preference will be given to candidates with professional certifications in information technology or computer science.
Company secretary: Compliance experience required
Company secretary candidates must have at least eight years of professional experience in a bank or financial institution, including four years in board secretariat or compliance functions.
Alternatively, candidates may qualify with at least three years of experience as a company secretary or in an equivalent position at a listed company.
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university and a Chartered Secretary qualification recognised by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh (ICSB).