The ACT’s new logo is being launched in December. With a fresh new look and style with which we describe ourselves – “Treasury, Risk and Finance Professionals” – we are stressing the wide role of the ACT and its members within a broad spectrum of financial disciplines. As we plan for 2007 and beyond we will be delivering activities and member services that are relevant to those working in different sectors of the economy, in line with the way our membership now extends substantially beyond those working in corporate roles. Whilst we emphasise this broad approach we will continue to focus our policy and technical output on the interests of the users of financial services.
The CAST (Corporate Action on STandards) initiative is gathering pace under the EACT’s direction and we continue to support this actively. CAST is in effect focused on taking paper out of the financial supply chain through agreement on standardisation and process automation in communications. We and the EACT believe that this has the potential to make a real contribution towards working capital management. In order to raise awareness within the UK of the initiative we are in contact with the 100 Group of Finance Directors and are hopeful that this will stimulate interest across the wider finance function. The benefits for UK companies will be achieved through participation in and eventual influence on the recommendations made for standards.
We have a number of events planned for the first few months of 2007, one of which is the next talkingtreasury thought leadership conference. This follows the Prague event in 2006 and we will be together again in Amsterdam on January 16 in cooperation with the Dutch treasury association. We already have good pan-European attendance and I would encourage any readers interested in joining us to make an application soon.
In this newsletter you will see the details on special delegate rates for our major annual conference (in May 2007) – or you can go directly to www.treasurersconference.com Our guest speakers this year include Sir Digby Jones, former Director General of the CBI and Vicky Pryce, who is the DTI’s Chief Economic Adviser.
You will be aware that we have launched the new MCT Advanced Diploma qualification, with its innovative delivery mechanism, flexible study and tutor support. The study materials include a guide, course resources and on-line communications. We have the first pilot candidates already working on the qualification. Visit www.treasurers.org/mct for more information and I would encourage you or colleagues to sign up soon as we are seeing considerable interest in the new qualification.
After ten years in Ocean House the ACT’s offices are moving to 51 Moorgate, London, EC2R 6BH, and we will open for business there on 11 December. Our move will take place over the preceding weekend. This will entail our website www.treasurers.org being off-line and emails not being accessed on Friday 8 December. Please bear with us during this short period of disruption.
Finally, I would like to wish all readers seasonal greetings and a happy and peaceful 2007.
