Finance skills in demand in Malta: What junior professionals need to progress
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Starting a career in finance is one thing. Knowing which skills will help you take on more responsibility and progress into a senior role is another.
To understand what employers value most, Konnekt analysed more than 2,000 job advertisements published on jobsinmalta.com during 2025. The findings reveal the qualifications, technical capabilities, regulatory knowledge and workplace skills that commonly appear in finance-related job descriptions in Malta.
For a broader overview of the roles, qualifications and progression opportunities available, read our complete guide to finance and accounting careers in Malta.
Key takeaways for junior finance professionals
Konnekt’s analysis pointed out four areas for junior professionals to focus on as they aim for senior finance roles:
- Qualifications: Aim for a recognised qualification that fits your career path.
- Technical skills: Build strong Excel skills, then develop expertise in accounting systems, reporting tools and emerging technologies such as AI.
- Business understanding: Be inquisitive, understand how your role contributes to the organisation’s objectives, and develop commercial awareness alongside your technical expertise.
- Continuous learning and workplace skills: Stay up to date with changes in financial regulations, industry trends and management practices, communicate effectively, take ownership and work independently.
These abilities demonstrate to employers that you can handle more complex tasks and responsibilities.
How did we identify the most in-demand finance skills in Malta?
Konnekt reviewed over 2,000 job advertisements on jobsinmalta.com from January to December 2025. This analysis included finance and accounting roles across various industries in Malta. It wasn’t limited to just the Financial Services sector.
Each advert was examined to pinpoint common requirements in four key areas:
- Education and professional qualifications
- Technical and software skills
- Regulatory knowledge
- Workplace and interpersonal skills
These findings offer a data-driven view of what employers in Malta seek and also guide junior professionals in making better career choices.
Which qualifications help junior finance professionals progress in Malta?
Our analysis of finance job advertisements shows that employers most commonly request ACCA qualifications and university degrees, followed by CPA warrants for roles with regulated responsibilities.
Rather than trying to collect as many qualifications as possible, choose the qualification that aligns with the career path you want. Review job adverts for the roles you hope to reach in the next three to five years and use them to guide your learning.
(full/part)
degree
warrant
(accounts)
legal warrant
5–6 diploma
Figure 1: Most requested professional qualifications across finance-related job advertisements in Malta, 2025.
The takeaway: Start with the role you would like to hold in three to five years. Identify the qualification and professional authority it requires, and then build your study and experience plan around that destination.
You can also use our guide to mapping your finance career path to assess where you are today and which experience you need to build next.
Which technical skills should junior finance professionals learn first?
Microsoft Excel is an excellent starting point. It is widely used in roles from entry-level accounting to senior financial controller positions. However, employers increasingly expect finance professionals to combine strong Excel skills with the effective use of AI and modern finance systems.
Junior professionals should work on becoming skilled in:
- Pivot tables
- Lookup functions
- Advanced formulas
- Data cleaning and validation
- Reconciliations
- Financial modelling
- Presenting data clearly
- Using AI tools to automate routine tasks, analyse data and improve productivity
Once you’ve developed strong Excel skills, look at the finance systems used in your target workplace. These may include cloud accounting software, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, reporting applications and AI-powered finance tools.
You don’t need to master every platform. Junior candidates can boost their appeal by demonstrating an understanding of how finance systems operate, quickly learning new tools, and using financial data to explain trends, not just record transactions.
Most in-demand software and tools by working environment
| Tool or platform | Commonly requested in | Frequency in analysed advertisements |
| Microsoft Excel, including advanced functions | Finance and accounting roles across industries | Universal or near-universal |
| Local payroll and accounting systems | Payroll and local accounting | Very high |
| Xero | SME accounting and Corporate Service Providers | High |
| Sage | Accounting and finance operations | High |
| Microsoft Dynamics or Business Central | Medium-sized and large organisations | High |
| Power BI | Financial analysis, reporting and compliance | Regularly requested in relevant roles |
| SQL | Data analysis and compliance reporting | Requested in data-focused roles |
| Salesforce or HubSpot | Commercial finance, account management and iGaming | Sector-specific |
| SAP or Oracle | Large organisations and multinational companies | Sector-specific |
Examples of platforms in the analysed advertisements include Xero, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, and Oracle.
Power BI is commonly used in financial analysis, reporting, and compliance. Employers appreciate professionals who can link financial data to clear visuals. This helps stakeholders grasp what the numbers signify.
SQL is also relevant in data analysis and compliance reporting roles. These tools aren’t essential for every junior finance job, but they can make candidates stand out for analytical or data-focused positions.
Which behaviours show that you are ready for more responsibility?
For junior professionals, soft skills aren’t just extras on a CV. They show managers you can handle complex tasks with less supervision. Konnekt’s analysis found the same workplace skills across various sectors and seniority levels.
Figure 2: Most frequently cited workplace and interpersonal skills in finance-related job advertisements in Malta, 2025.
Attention to detail was the most frequently cited skill, appearing in 94% of the relevant advertisements included in this part of the analysis. Employers also used terms such as “meticulous”, “accurate” and “keen eye for detail”.
In finance, accuracy affects reconciliations, financial reporting, tax submissions, client files, payroll and regulatory deadlines. Consistently accurate work is therefore one of the first ways a junior professional can earn trust.
Other frequently requested skills included:
- Organisational skills and time management
- The ability to work autonomously and take initiative
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Analytical thinking and problem-solving
- The ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Adaptability and resilience
To demonstrate that you are ready to progress, focus on showing that you can:
- Complete work accurately and within agreed deadlines.
- Take ownership of reconciliations, reports or client tasks from beginning to end.
- Identify potential issues early and understand their impact on the wider business, not just your own role.
- Explain financial information clearly to colleagues and clients.
- Work independently while recognising when an issue needs to be escalated.
- Adapt as systems, regulations, technologies and business priorities change.
For a closer look at how employers assess candidates, explore the qualities finance employers look for in Malta.
How do finance professionals progress into senior roles?
The analysis suggests that career progression is not just about gaining experience. Employers look for professionals who combine technical expertise with commercial awareness, ownership and the ability to support business decisions.
To position yourself for a senior finance role:
1. Build the qualifications employers value
Review job adverts for the roles you want in three to five years. Identify the qualifications that appear most often and work towards them alongside practical experience.
2. Develop expertise, not just familiarity
Master Excel, your organisation’s finance systems and AI tools before expanding into other platforms. Employers value professionals who can use technology to improve accuracy and efficiency.
3. Take ownership of outcomes
Look for opportunities to manage work from beginning to end rather than completing individual tasks. Demonstrating accountability is often what separates junior from senior professionals.
4. Communicate with confidence
Senior finance professionals explain complex financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders, helping others make better decisions.
5. Understand the business behind the numbers
Go beyond producing reports. Learn how financial information influences commercial decisions, operational performance and business strategy.
6. Keep learning
Finance is constantly evolving. Stay up to date with changes in regulations, reporting standards, technology and AI to ensure your skills remain relevant.
You can also learn from the career lessons experienced finance professionals wish they had understood earlier, including why perfectionism, working in isolation and relying only on technical expertise can limit progression.
Ready to plan your next career step?
Browse current Finance and Accounting roles to see which qualifications, technical skills and sector knowledge employers are requesting today. Even if you are not ready to change jobs, current advertisements can help you identify what to develop next.
Frequently asked questions about finance skills in Malta
ACCA was one of the most frequently requested qualifications in the analysed advertisements, alongside relevant university degrees and CPA warrants. However, the right qualification depends on the position you want. Junior professionals should review the requirements of their intended career path rather than assuming that one qualification is universally preferable.
Not necessarily. Employers frequently request experience with particular accounting systems, but junior candidates are not expected to know every platform. Strong Excel skills, experience with at least one relevant finance system and the ability to learn new software can all strengthen your application.
The most frequently cited skills in the analysed job advertisements included attention to detail, organisation, time management, the ability to work autonomously, communication and analytical thinking. Employers also expect professionals to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
Power BI is not a universal requirement for finance positions, but it appears in roles involving financial analysis, reporting and compliance. Junior professionals interested in analytical or FP&A positions may find that Power BI helps them stand out alongside strong Excel skills.
About the author: Judith Ebejer, Finance Manager at KonnektTalexio. Having built her foundation in audit before transitioning into internal finance management, Judith blends strong analytical precision with a practical approach to financial strategy and growth.
