Case study profile: Frances Hinden

Frances Hinden
Treasurer, Holding & Treasury Companies
Shell International Ltd.

Background

I worked at Shell for 16 years, working in financial modelling and operational research, management information, structured finance and group strategic planning before joining treasury in 2006. I spent three years as the central treasury strategy manager, advising Shell’s operating companies on Group policy in areas such as guarantees and leasing.

What do you do?

In my current role as treasurer of the Group's Holding and Treasury Companies I run a team responsible for managing intra-group debt, equity, dividends and guarantees as well as acting as treasurers for the central holding and treasury companies.

Experience of ACT qualifications – AMCT to MCT

Having come into treasury (and indeed finance) somewhat late and by an indirect route I was initially encouraged by Shell to study for the AMCT and qualified in 2007. I enjoyed these, and started the MCT the following year to provide both more depth and a more integrated approach to treasury issues.

Moving directly to the MCT from the AMCT was good preparation as I had no chance to forget some of the more technical parts of the syllabus (such as accounting for derivatives). I found the study programme easiest in the areas which were most directly related to my job and prior experience – treasury organisation, controls and policies, project appraisal and corporate valuation and structuring.

One of the most interesting parts of the MCT compared to the AMCT was the nature of the online interactions – being able to read contributions from the other students describing their experiences of treasury issues. The MCT also helped me gain a number of additional skills over the AMCT alone. For example, the discipline of writing assignments to a fixed length is an important skill for good business communication, particularly when trying to make clear and succinct recommendations to address a complex problem. The marked assignment and project elements of the MCT helped me to develop this skill.

In addition, the MCT has given me the confidence when working with others, particularly outside my immediate colleagues, that I have demonstrated that I am a well-qualified treasury professional.

Advice

I would recommend MCT to anyone already in a treasury job who wants a wider appreciation of the function and is looking to move towards a senior treasury role. Having a well-respected professional qualification, such as the MCT, becomes particularly important when looking to move jobs, as it helps you stand out immediately from other candidates. The advantage is not just that it is proof of your professional expertise, but also that you are interested enough in your job to want to spend significant spare time working on your treasury skills.