Corporate treasurers act as the sentinels of a company’s financial resources. They also provide input and guidance on business operations, such as mergers & acquisitions or other transactions which require a substantial infusion of funds and knowledge of accounting policies, tax obligations and audit processes.
Corporate treasurers can be employed all over the place. Career options abound in any organisation that cares about the state of its finances, such as management consulting firms, banks, government & public sector entities, charities & non-profit organisations, educational institutions and healthcare providers.
You can find current vacancies on our Jobs page in the Banking, Finance and Accountancy sector.
Salary & benefits
Entry-level salaries for graduate corporate treasurers are between £25,000 and £40,000. Mid-level treasury personnel can earn between £40,000 and £80,000, while senior-level and experienced professionals can get salaries around £150,000 or more.
Salary levels are higher for treasury professionals working in corporate headquarters and financial hubs, usually based in cities like London.
Working hours
Working hours are generally the standard nine-to-five for treasurers, though some extra hours may be required from time to time.
Travel is frequent and extensive, often overseas for treasury professionals based in large national and international companies, banks and financial institutions.
Earning industry recognition, niche expertise and diverse work experience is a requirement for professionals looking to start their own consultancy business.
Entry
Direct entry into a corporate treasury function with only academic qualifications is rare; most employers recruit graduate trainees and provide training and rotations across all departments and business areas, in which a treasury placement may be included.
Eligibility criteria for graduates or candidates with less than two years of work experience in a different field are standard: a 2:1 or higher degree, preferably in a numerate/quantitative subject, 300 or more UCAS points and grades B and above at GCSE and A-levels.
Training & progression
On-the-job training and completion of professional qualifications administered by the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) is required to work in the treasury department.
The association offers an AMCT Diploma in Treasury: the basic qualification required for associate membership of the ACT and professional practice.
It also offers the MCT Advanced Diploma in Treasury, Risk & Corporate Finance: the equivalent of an MBA qualification and designed for professionals looking for senior management roles.
The AMCT Diploma covers four core compulsory papers:
– Business law
– Corporate taxation
– Financial management & accounting
– Economic & statistical analysis.
A typical career path in the treasury department is mapped as follows (in ascending order): Assistant, Junior Executive, Treasury Analyst, Treasury Manager (of a specific department in the treasury division), Group or Head of Treasury, Finance Director and in some cases, Chief Financial Officer (CFO).