The Role of Corporate Treasury
Treasury is responsible for ensuring a company has the cash, funding, and risk management strategies in place to operate smoothly and grow sustainably. A treasurer’s primary duty is to make sure the company can meet all its financial obligations to suppliers, employees, tax authorities, shareholders, banks, and investors in the right place, at the right time, and in the right currency.
Treasury Career Path
from Graduate to Corporate Treasury
Handles daily treasury ops, cash reports, bank accounts; typical entry point into treasury.
Overview
The Treasury Analyst is often the entry point into a treasury career. Analysts execute daily treasury operations, support cash management, and prepare reports that feed into higher-level decision-making.
Key responsibilities
- Manage daily bank reporting and cash positioning
- Support cash management, borrowing, and investments
- Assist with account structures and banking documentation
- Contribute to cash forecasts and liquidity reports
- Support risk analysis and compliance checks
Skills required
- Attention to detail
- Strong Excel and reporting ability
- Eagerness to learn financial systems and processes
- Time management and adaptability
Career path
A Corporate Treasurer's Career Path
A career in treasury is both technical and strategic. Many professionals begin as analysts and can progress through management to Group Treasurer and ultimately to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) roles. Along the way, they gain skills in cash management, risk analysis, leadership, and financial strategy that are highly valued across industries.
Stage 1Graduate / Junior Treasury AnalystTreasury Analyst / Cash Analyst / Junior Risk Analyst
Key focus and responsibilities
Daily cash management, bank reconciliations, liquidity reporting, learn treasury systems, spot FX
Accelerators and tips
- Rotate across treasury sub-functions
- Build strong Excel / data skills
- Shadow dealers / treasury team
Stage 2Senior Analyst / Treasury DealerSenior Treasury Analyst / Treasury Dealer / Assistant Manager
Key focus and responsibilities
Execute FX, MM, derivatives (under supervision); manage intercompany loans, cash pooling; controls and documentation
Certifications
Accelerators and tips
- Lead small projects (e.g. automation, process improvement)
- Take on responsibility for bank relationships
- Contribute to forecasting & policy design
Stage 3Treasury Manager / Risk ManagerTreasury Manager / Regional Cash Manager / Risk Manager
Key focus and responsibilities
Oversee regional liquidity, hedging strategy, funding, team supervision, integration with finance
Certifications
Accelerators and tips
- Lead cross-border pooling or in-house bank setups
- Negotiate debt/facility terms
- Mentor juniors
- Embed treasury within strategic decisions
Stage 4Head of Treasury / Deputy Group TreasurerHead of Treasury (subsidiary) / Deputy Group Treasurer
Key focus and responsibilities
Global liquidity oversight; capital markets negotiation; treasury policy; system architecture; bank & investor relationships
Accelerators and tips
- Represent treasury at exec level
- Lead debt issuances, crisis liquidity plans
- Build external profile (conferences, publications)
Stage 5Group TreasurerGroup Treasurer
Key focus and responsibilities
Strategic leadership: funding, investor / bank relations, global risk, capital structure, policy, board interface
Accelerators and tips
- Develop reputation at board / investor level
- Lead large M&A funding deals, crisis management, strategic financing
Key Takeaways
ACT Route: Progressive UK/Europe pathway, ending in Chartered Treasurer (MCT/FCT). Strongly recognised in Europe and multinationals.
AFP Route: CTP is the gold standard globally, especially in the US and Asia. Highly portable.
Dual Approach: Some senior treasurers hold both AMCT/MCT + CTP for maximum global recognition.