It's been a turbulent few years for the financial sector, but it feels as though the time is right to look to the future.

To do that, it needs the best talent; the future stars with the right skills, knowledge, and attitude to make the Scottish financial services sector the envy of the world.

Financial organisations need to adapt and innovate, revisiting business models, meeting changing customers demands, all the while against a backdrop of evolving and stringent financial regulations.

The Deloitte Young Banker of the Year competition, in association with the Chartered Banker Institute, aims to showcase tomorrow's leaders in UK banking. We are looking for young bankers who have the commitment and drive to generate new ideas, drive innovation and growth, and enhance confidence and trust in the industry.

Are you up for the challenge? Here's one question which could shape the entire future of the sector:

What idea would you implement in your own organisation to improve outcomes for some or all of the following groups: customers, colleagues, counterparties, communities, and the organisation you work for?

We are looking for inventive thinking in all proposals submitted, which can apply to any area of banking.

The winner gains industry-wide recognition for their potential as well as an overseas holiday for two. There are also prizes to be won by the runners-up.

Last year, Hanna McCloskey of the Royal Bank of Scotland scooped the acclaimed award after making her presentation along with the three other finalists at a dinner held at the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh on 19 September.

Here's what she said recently about the impact of that win on her career:

"The competition was an opportunity to develop an idea I believed in, test it with an external and objective audience, and use the platform the award gave me to drive internal change. It was a hugely positive experience – it's not every day you get to share your thoughts with an audience of 130 senior finance professionals and have a chance to inform their thinking."

For this year's competition, the ability to think creatively, strategically and on a large scale are also crucial. Think about how you would like to shape the future of the industry. What would you do? How would you do it? Why does it need to be done?

If you think you have what it takes to win the YBOTY title, then get in touch or submit your nomination online at http://www.charteredbanker.com/youngbanker. The submission deadline is Monday 28 April 2014.

Before you do though, be sure to check our eligibility requirements.

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