As we return to work at the beginning of 2006 we have a number of initiatives in education that will merit watching with the New Year getting underway. We will see the first candidates being examined in both of our two new certificates, Risk Management for Pensions and Financial Mathematics and Modelling. Similarly, the first set of candidates will be completing the new modular syllabus for the AMCT qualification, the redevelopment of which has been a major plank of the ACT’s spending on education over the last three years.
The investment we have been making in our education programme has been on a scale significantly more ambitious than anything the ACT has previously undertaken. We have made the investment against a background conviction that the scope of what ‘treasury’ means to our members and potential members continues to widen and that it is therefore vital we reflect this in the routes we offer to qualification. To learn more about the new AMCT syllabus visit http://www.treasurers.org/qualifying/amct.cfm
We are committed to maintaining the learning materials for our qualifications up-to-date and nowhere is this more evident than in the case of the Risk Management for Pensions certificate. It will not surprise you that we are already considering supplementary material for CertRMP to note the decisions of the Pension Protection Fund in connection with the levy, the consultation paper from the Pensions Regulator on scheme funding and the Regulator’s impact on M & A structuring such as has been seen with the Marconi and P&O bid proposals.
Several ACT members are involved with housing associations, either directly as working treasurers or indirectly as non executive directors and audit committee members. We have been discussing this and are interested to see whether there is support for an informal grouping under the aegis of the ACT to encourage sharing of issues and experience in working on the treasury issues that arise in the social housing field. If anyone would like to be part of such a group could they please contact me directly here.
The ACT has excellent relationships with a number of search firms and recruitment agencies. There are however occasions when I am approached directly to provide names of people who might be right for particular opportunities in the market. Very often the need is for someone at short notice and in many cases for an interim rather than permanent role. I would therefore encourage members who might be interested in new opportunities to let me know about their circumstances. In addition to holding a CV on my files I can of course also reciprocate with the names of people to be in touch with in the search and recruitment firms; these can provide the professional assistance that falls outside the networking the ACT can offer.
Finally, we have an extensive programme of events and training lined up for 2006. Amongst all of this I must highlight The Treasurers’ Conference, which we will be holding from 17 – 19 May at The Celtic Manor Resort. I believe we have an outstanding programme and would encourage you to join us in May. Full details are on: http://www.treasurersconference.com
