Meet the team: Head of Finance/Treasury — Donald Scerri
Tags: Finance, Banking, Accounting, Malta, Treasury

In this series we will take some time to get to know Team Laskaris professionally and personally. Evolving into a bank that is customer centric Laskaris aims to build strong personal bonds with our clients and that starts from sharing more about ourselves.

Professional Bio

Mr Scerri comes to Laskaris with over 15 years of experience in accountancy and corporate finance.

After obtaining a Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons) focused in Accounting from University of Malta, Mr Scerri, started his early career within one of the big four, EY. In this role Donald was actively responsible for the auditing of banks, insurance firms along with retail and manufacture companies. It was this role that inspired him further to lean towards the banking sector. His next role was with the Commonwealth Bank, one of Australias’ leading banks, where he was responsible for management of accounts, MFSA compliance reporting and Australian Prudential Reporting Authority reporting.

Beyond the early days, Mr Scerri’s career has since further exposed him to a wealth of experience within corporate finance and capital markets. He has been Treasury Manager of BMW Group; A financial director of an investment service provider; an esteemed Financial Advisor at RSM as well as a CFO at Oneka Asset Management, a private equity firm. In each of these roles, Mr Scerri is renowned as the numbers guy, responsible for all financial reporting, cash flows, accounting teams as well as compliance.

Mr Scerri’s industry knowledge gives him firm footing into understanding everything a bank or financial institution needs to operate. His skills in financial reporting, financial analysis and hands on approach to compliance and running a finance department makes him a key figure within Laskaris organisation.

Mr Donald Scerri — Head of Finance/Treasury Laskaris

Getting to Know Donald…

What is your favorite thing about your career?

I’ve done so much in my career already but one of the favourite things I can attribute to my career has been the exposure and personal ambitions I obtain from the roles I’ve held.

For example, from my role as an audit manager with EY I realized how much I enjoy going for long term foreign secondments. When I worked as a Financial Controller in various companies such as a Bank, an investment institution, head of Treasury of Multinational company, private equity and construction, I realized my own ambitions and after advising many customers on various feasibility studies and loan proposals I also executed my own construction project.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

It’s related to sports. I was so happy as a young teenager playing for Mosta FC as a captain and with the Maltese national team.

What’s your favorite holiday?

My favourite holiday is going outside Europe. Somewhere far where I know nothing and can get lost. I enjoyed all my trips to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Japan and USA. I also like short skiing holidays in Europe.

What is your favourite food?

My favourite food is fish in general. Not a big fan of seafood though… more into real fish…like a Pesche Di San Pietro, Gallina, Pagru, Pagell etc. I like sashimi too and so does my daughter. She can eat Sushi every day just like me.

Is your glass half full or half empty?

This is an easy one. Always half full. I am a positive person who never gives up.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

I am impressed by successful people who become legends be it in music, sports, politics, business or any other field. There are so many people who fall in these categories. I like Freddie Mercury and football players like Messi, Del Piero are a few examples.

What song would you say best sums you up?

I like the song We are the Champions… I sang this song a few times when I was a kid with my teammates and later on when I played more amateur football. The words that “it’s been no pleasure cruise” inspire me a lot as nothing in what I have achieved came easy.