It is important to remember that treasury does not compete with other financial professions such as accountancy, tax consultancy and chartered secretaries. Treasury is complementary to these professions and encapsulates many of the core financial skills required within them.
A key attraction of treasury is the breadth of topics which are relevant to the treasurer’s work. At junior level, treasury opportunities can offer a chance to get to grips with financial activities such as analysis on live data, dealing and contact with relationship banks at an earlier than usual stage. In addition, the treasury department is usually small (except in very large corporates), allowing junior staff to work closely with a treasurer who is senior in the company. These factors often result in a steep learning curve for the enthusiastic new joiner.
In more senior roles, the treasurer is now taking on an increasingly proactive and visible corporate role as excellence in financial and risk management becomes a core competence. This has meant treasurers becoming responsible for related financial issues such as insurance, investor relations and elements of shared service centres. In an increasingly challenging global business environment this can help a business to develop its sustainable competitive advantage.
