We have been delighted to launch a fast track route to AMCT for ICAS members. As qualified accountants exemption from the Foundation papers for AMCT has always been available to ICAS members but they can now also take advantage of the shortened paper in Corporate Finance and Funding.
This structure is based on an assessment of the completeness of the coverage of our material that is included within the ICAS qualification. As with the arrangements we have with CIMA and ACCA, we will monitor the operation of the fast track and any syllabus changes to ensure that there is no dilution in the coverage expected of a qualified AMCT candidate. The confirmation of the fast track with ICAS is a further step in the excellent relations that the ACT has always enjoyed with this leading accountancy body. ICAS do of course already work extensively with us through the provision of the Foundation papers for AMCT.
All members and candidates for our qualifications, together with subscribers to The Treasurer, will in the next few weeks be receiving The Treasurers’ Guide to Investing Corporate Cash, which has been published by HSBC Investments in collaboration with the ACT. This is an excellent reference book with its provision of a good understanding of how corporate cash can be managed and invested in 52 countries around the world. I am pleased that the collaboration with HSBC allows members and others to benefit from this publication and I am keen to see us working to extend further the benefits we can offer through similar initiatives.
As evidence of the extent of the international reach of the ACT and in particular its qualifications you may be interested to know that in the next round of examinations we will have candidates sitting in no less than 57 countries around the world. This is a record for us and one that – whilst it brings its own operational complexity – is entirely to be welcomed as a reflection of the global appeal of the ACT.
We have just run residential schools for the Cert ICM qualification in Hong Kong, the US and the UK. The group of students in Hong Kong was the largest we have yet welcomed. In the US the school ran in collaboration with Pepperdine University for the first time. In the UK school we had an international mix of candidates with individuals coming from as far away as New Zealand, China and Kazakhstan.
At all these schools we know that the inclusion of practitioner presentations is particularly appreciated. We are always keen to extend the list of members and others who might be interested in talking about their approach to cash management in one of our Cert ICM schools – do get in touch if this is something that you feel you could do. In the meantime if you have colleagues that might benefit from Cert ICM – or indeed any of our qualifications – bear in mind that the enrolment deadlines are approaching once again!
I am writing this amongst all the signs that the summer is over. We have been busy at the ACT working on our plans for the autumn, and indeed through the winter and into 2007. We will soon be releasing details and I look forward to seeing many of you at our various events
