We asked two ACT members to describe their learning paths to date and how they supplement their workload through continuous learning.
As we start the new year many of us will be looking at what we may need to do to develop our skills. We usually start this by looking at what we want to achieve and then think about how to get there. The end goal can often seem unobtainable but if we break this down into smaller, more manageable steps we can see how we can get there.
Increasingly, members are looking to take control of their development and steer their learning so that they can use this to shape their career. By taking responsibility for your own learning and development you can achieve your full potential. We spoke with two members to get their perspective on how their education has shaped their career.
1. Did you learn any of the skills you use in your job while in University?
Like many people I’ve met in treasury, I did not do an accounting or finance degree at university in the States. Instead, I took up the rather interesting and slightly impractical degrees of Archaeology and Classics. But I did learn a lot of the soft skills in university that I use in my day to day role. Collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, project management and problem-solving are just as key to success in treasury as the numbers.
2. How did you approach your treasury studies? What has your path been so far?
I realised early on in my treasury career it was necessary to study treasury related qualifications. When I first started working, I split my time between the treasury and tax teams and decided to take a few day courses with the ACT to suss out if treasury or tax was right for me. Doing these initial courses helped confirm that I enjoyed treasury work more and helped to shape my career path going forward.
Once I decided I wanted to continue down the treasury path, I signed up for the AMCT qualification. After completing this, I wanted to keep learning and solidify my financial knowledge further so grappled with the decision of whether to embark on an MBA or the MCT qualification through the ACT. After some self-reflection and discussions with my peers and mentors, I decided the MCT was more appropriate for my career path at this juncture.
3. Do you think supplemental and continued learning help advance your career?
Absolutely. Continued education not only enriches your knowledge and ability to perform your job, but it looks great on a CV. When I am hiring in my team, I always consider this as a factor – does the candidate want to continue to learn and grow. It can speak volumes about work ethic. Even after my MCT is complete, I will most likely do other courses to either refresh my treasury knowledge or take on other skills – financial and otherwise!
4. What skills/qualifications were mandatory to get your job?
It depends where you are in your career. Early on, the fact that I was working towards my AMCT qualification was key but enough in job interviews. I was able to secure a Treasury Manager position once I had reached the final stages of my exams for the AMCT. Now, if I was recruiting a Senior Treasury Manager or above, I would always look to see that they had the AMCT qualification or significant experience in treasury.
5. What is your advice on managing studying and working simultaneously?
There’s sadly no easy solution here! Time management is key as well as prioritisation. Understanding the requirements of your course and planning your study to fit around peaks and troughs of your work schedule is essential. During my MCT studies, my company went through their debut bond issuance process so I was working 18 hour days and having to fit in study at the same time. The schedule that the ACT provided for the course really helped me to plan my workload appropriately. It’s also important to remember, it’s only finite! Eventually life will return to normal.
1. Did you learn any of the skills you use in your job while in University?
Indirectly I learnt many skills at university that I use in my job, for example, time management, goal/objective setting. However, there are many elements of the job I do that I had absolutely no knowledge or skills for before I was involved in banking. Nothing can prepare you for the acronyms that accompany being a banker!
2. How did you approach your treasury studies? What has your path been so far?
I have ended up in a corporate banking relationship role and understanding treasury is key to being helpful to clients. Once I found the ACT it was clear to me that working towards the qualifications would be helpful in my job. I tried to study a consistent amount throughout the course and then as the exams got closer I took some time off to study hard in preparation.
3. Do you think supplemental and continued learning help advance your career?
I have always found it beneficial to continually learn. It was not mandatory for my role but it certainly helped me feel better and perform my role better.
4. What skills/qualifications were mandatory to get your job?
There is a job description which lists a lot of requirements but I do not think there is anything that would be classified as mandatory.
5. What is your advice on managing studying and working simultaneously?
It is absolutely possible, it just requires managing your time very well and learning to set the priorities. Making sure that the people you work with are aware is also something that would help, since they are more likely to be flexible.
Courtney and Rob are members of the ACT Future Leaders in Treasury working group. To find out more about the Future Leaders visit www.treasurers.org/futureleaders
