New SAF Advanced qualification launched today

A new SAF Advanced qualification has been launched today to help motor finance professionals to further enhance their skills.

Designed as the next step for dealership staff who have already passed the existing online SAF test, the Certificate for Automotive Finance Specialists (CertAutoFS) has been developed in partnership by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) and ifs University College to help students understand the legal and regulatory framework governing the automotive finance market.

Commenting on the new qualification, Adrian Dally, Head of Motor Finance at the FLA, said:

“At a time when firms are still getting to grips with the Financial Conduct Authority’s consumer credit regime, the development of SAF Advanced shows the industry’s commitment to invest in its staff.

“Awareness of the regulatory framework is vital for anyone working in motor finance, and the focus on customer service makes this qualification a great contribution to firms’ own training programmes.”

 Note to editors:

1. CertAutoFS is launched today by ifs University College, the university college for financial education
2. Specialist Automotive Finance (SAF) test – is the FLA’s online competency test introduced in 2007 to raise standards, levels of knowledge and improve consumer confidence in motor finance
3. In 2014, FLA members provided £100 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £74 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK last year. £32.7 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including over three-quarters of private new car registrations.