Manitoba's Top Employers

6 ACCESS CREDIT UNION www.accesscu.ca dream. build. live. right here. we're excited to be one of Manitoba's Top Employers for the 6th consecutive year! life is short work somewhere awesome An unwavering commitment to its membership and their communities continues to drive the success of Access Credit Union, a full-service financial institution based in southern Manitoba. Access's 255 employees serve members through 18 branches in 17 different communities across the region. Overall, the credit union addresses the financial needs of more than 54,000 members and manages over $3.1 billion in assets. Attracting, and retaining, quality staff in a competitive field is an ongoing priority, and Access's efforts have certainly resonated with employees, leading to the organization's inclusion on the list of Manitoba's Top Employers for the sixth consecutive year. "We view our employees as brand ambassadors, so our employee referral program gives job applicants a good sense of what our organization is all about," says president and CEO, Larry Davey. "Our employee survey shows that employees recommend Access Credit Union as a good place to work." Davey says Access offers competitive salaries and benefits, designed to "engage, motivate and support" employees. Among the unique benefits offered to Access team members are flexible hours and locations, a bonus program, matched pension plans, company- paid group life insurance, preferred loan and deposit rates and generous vacation allotments. Access Credit Union also positions itself as an organization where employees are encouraged and supported in building their careers. The organization provides paid education and training to help staff members grow their skills and knowledge to excel in the financial services industry, while also enhancing service to its members. Potential career paths at Access can be as diverse as information technology, marketing, human resource management or financial planning. Davey says Access also actively promotes its organizational core values — integrity, community support, focus on members and employees, proactive approach — in addition to encouraging innovation and making a difference in the world, to attract like-minded job candidates. "A key piece of our identity is living our core values," he says. "To do this, we need employees who believe in what we do as a credit union and as a community supporter. This mindset contributes to a workplace culture where employees feel empowered and supported." Building relationships, not only with its members, but also inside and outside of the organization, has been a key to Access Credit Union's success, says Davey, reflecting a shared philosophy that extends into the communities they are proud to serve. "The three pillars of our community strategy are community investment, volunteerism and financial literacy," says Davey. "Our certified financial literacy trainers have conducted 47 workshops this year, reaching a total of 683 participants. We have invested over $625,000 into our communities thus far, and over the past couple of years, we have had over 90 per cent of our employees volunteer eight hours or more of their own time to support community events and initiatives." Continually striving to be an employer of choice, Access Credit Union is evolving in tune with the financial industry and the needs of a modern workforce. "We know there are a lot of choices for job seekers nowadays, so we are continually refining the Access employee experience to make us an attractive choice to the talent and skill that we know resides throughout Manitoba," says Davey. "The financial industry is always changing, and our focus is on keeping pace with that change. Our corporate commitment to personal development encourages employees to continue their post-secondary education. We continue to invest in technology that eliminates low-value work and allows employees to focus on the work they find meaningful, whether that is providing advice, building relationships or increasing our internal capacity to accomplish amazing things." For more information on careers with Access Credit Union, go to accesscu.ca. SUCCEEDING AS AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE Technology has changed the way people conduct their financial affairs, but providing quality service and building strong working relationships often requires a more personal approach.

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