It is ultimately responsible for the stewardship and strategic direction of the ACT and accountable to the members. Day-to-day management is delegated to the Chief Executive and, through the Chief Executive, to the Executive team.
Council consists of four Officers (President, Deputy President, Vice President and Immediate Past President) and up to five other elected members, as well as the Chief Executive and up to four co-opted members. i.e. a maximum of 14 Council members. In any year the term for Officers and elected members commences on 1 May.
Further information about Council, panels and other groups is set out in the council terms of reference.
Group Treasurer, Shawbrook Bank
I have worked in treasury-related areas of financial services throughout my career, but that has given a lot of scope for variety. It has included being part of the restructuring negotiations for Lloyds of London in the mid-90s and restructuring ABN Treasury for RBS in the late 00’s; working in Group Risk at Abbey; securitisation for Egg; leading an investment banking team at Bank of America; and being European Treasurer for both the global derivatives broker Newedge and the Brazilian bank Itau BBA. I am now Group Treasurer for Shawbrook.
What do you like about working in treasury?
There are a lot of things that I like about working in treasury, but I will name just a couple. The Board set the aspirations and vision of a company, but treasury is where dreams meet the hard reality of the external market, where the rubber hits the road. I love working in the area where you need to make theory and facts mesh together into something that works, where there is no room for pretence. I also like that fact that the people in treasury are smart and rewarding to work with.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
The ACT is a great organisation. It really sets the standard for treasury education. I want to do my bit to ensure that those standards are maintained. I also believe that for the ACT to thrive it has to ensure that employers recognise the value of recruiting treasury-qualified staff. I will add my voice on Council to try to make sure that is high on the agenda.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
It is your association, why would you not want to be involved? The ACT has an important voice on lots of topics, but it is only as strong as the collective voices of its members. The Policy & Technical team draws on the support of members to deliver its twin objectives of influencing decision makers and informing treasurers.
What 3 words best describe you?
Intelligent, determined, good-humoured.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
If you want a job for life, make sure that you have skills that people need.
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I am a second Dan black belt in Karate. All bankers have to learn self-defence these days!
Senior Manager, Sage
I started my career at British American Tobacco as a Finance trainee within their graduate programme. I discovered Treasury during my traineeship, and joined their Treasury Front Office team after the programme. I then spent several years in Risk Management / Front Office roles within several multinational companies, as well as a few years within PwC's Finance Consulting team.
What do you like about working in treasury?
Having worked primarily in risk management roles, I obviously enjoy understanding financial market dynamics and assessing their impact on the organisation now and in the future. But the business partnering aspect of my roles is the most rewarding, as I can effectively support the business achieve its strategic objectives through advice and guidance on how to best manage its risk. Last but not least, I greatly enjoy the variety in stakeholder interaction, within the business and externally.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
Being involved with the ACT - volunteering to support ACT initiatives or just attending events - is a great way to network and find out what your peers are doing, how they may be approaching similar challenges within their organisation. The world of treasury changes constantly - organisations themselves, technology, products, regulations - and having a good network within the ACT's varied membership is an excellent way to stay on top of these changes.
What three words describe you?
Dedicated, dependable, optimistic.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
I received this piece of advice during my consulting days, but I think it also greatly applies to the world of a corporate treasurer (and anyone within the workplace for that matter). "Tell your audience a story. When you have a message to convey (work presentation, pitch, report etc), make sure to check that your objectives are clear, and your arguments are concise and well-articulated, so that your audience comes on a journey with you."
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
Instead of committing to New Year’s Resolutions, I give myself a few challenges every year, with the mantra “do more of what makes you happy”. I have been a keen runner for about 10 years now, and to keep myself motivated, I have set myself the challenge to run 1,000 miles before the end of this year.
Managing Director, Head of Treasury Advisory UK & Ireland, Redbridge Debt and Treasury Advisory
Having completed my degree in Economics from Cambridge University, I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Financial Services Audit of Deloitte in London. I then moved to Cyprus as an Audit and Advisory partner in a local firm. Most of my advisory work was in Finance and Treasury so in 2004 I qualified with the ACT which has broadened my horizons. In 2007 I returned to London and have since been advising FTSE 350 and global corporates in key areas of treasury as well as performing numerous secondments in senior treasury roles.
What do you like about working with treasurers?
Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of a treasury function which in my view is the life-blood of the organisation.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
Provide a fresh perspective in promoting and supporting our profession and the ACT to the recognition they deserve.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
To become an integral part of a community of like-minded individuals who can support each other in developing their careers and promoting the profession.
What 3 words best describe you?
Personable, principled and driven.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Sleep well at night so that you glow during the day.
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I am a professionally trained coffee barista and roaster!
Group Treasurer, Grosvenor Group
I have recently moved to the real estate sector after spending most of my career in natural resources. I joined Shell as a finance graduate, qualified as CIMA and MCT and then specialised in Treasury, including roles in treasury operations, M&A, pension fund management, and corporate finance. I then had a stint as VP Corporate Finance in BHP, the global mining company, and I am now Group Treasurer at Grosvenor, the international property company, where I have responsibility for all aspects of treasury including financing, financial risk management, cash and liquidity management.
What do you like about working in treasury?
Treasury is the best bit of finance by far – it’s forward-looking and externally focused.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
Getting involved with the ACT helps you with your skills, your career and your network.
What three words describe you?
Professional, approachable and pragmatic.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Enjoy the job you are doing, and the rewards will come with it.
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
I once skied with only a red nose on to raise money for Red Nose Day.
I started my career as a Chartered Accountant at Price Waterhouse in the early 80s before moving into the corporate world. Several planning and financial control roles later I arrived in treasury at Unipart and completed the MCT Diploma in 1993, fully intending to get back into a mainstream finance role within two years. You should always have a plan, but never expect to carry it out! As Eisenhower said, “Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”
My treasury experience is almost entirely in the LBO sector. I was the CFO at Ineos, the petrochemical conglomerate, where I arranged the initial buyout finance and subsequently worked on several major acquisitions including Lucite International, the European Vinyls Corporation and Degussa’s (now Evonik) Phenolchemie business.
I hold a Postgraduate Certificate of Education – I flirted with the idea of teaching mathematics - and have been involved with the MCT Diploma for over 10 years, authoring some of the material and delivering all the classroom sessions.
What do you like about working in treasury?
I like to be at the heart of things. Strategic planning, M&A and treasury are all great places to work.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
I would like the ACT to promote treasurers as potential CFOs, rather than to focus on treasury as a career in its own right. As an MCT tutor for over 10 years, I know there is some great talent within our membership. Sadly those responsible for filling CFO positions – both boards and recruitment consultants – haven’t really recognised this.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
For the same reason you should be involved in all aspects of life. It is not enough to be a spectator and talk about them as if they are not part of what you can influence. One of my favourite quotations is, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
What 3 words best describe you?
I always think this question is a little trite, but I quite like Illegitimi non carborundum.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
“Always plan for 30% free time.” Tony Mourgue, the Group Finance Director at Unipart, advising me that was the best way to get on. If you’re indispensable, you can’t work on anything else.
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I love mountain trekking – ideally anywhere you can only walk, climb or fly. The views, the air, the isolation are to die for. A few years ago I walked the GR20 (16 stages/180km) along Corsica’s watershed and more recently schlepped around the Picos de Europa in Northern Spain. At one point we had to climb down a waterfall to avoid some ice, and my son memorably advised me, “Don’t come down this way. It’s a bit dodge.” Risk management at its most basic. I’m hoping to have a crack at the AV1 in the Italian Dolomites next year.
I started my career as a finance graduate at The BOC Group plc, gaining my CIMA qualification and then moving into Treasury. From there, I went on to very different Treasury functions in some different organisations. I joined Centrica plc in 2008, just in time to work on funding a major investment program through the financial crisis period, and in 2012 was promoted to Group Treasurer where I got to manage a number of new financings as well as liquidity and credit ratings during challenging periods of commodity price volatility and government interventions
What do you like about working in treasury?
I love the combination of technical challenge and applying the expertise to the business and financial environment you’re working in.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
We can face a huge variety of change and challenge in Treasury and I have seen that in my career. I want to ensure that the ACT can help provide all its members with the tools and expertise they may need for any sort of financial requirement their organisation may face.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
As Treasurers, we’re a relatively small community and we occupy a specialist position in our organisations so there is a huge amount to be gained from sharing experiences with each other. If we do it right, supporting the ACT means supporting our own professional performance and careers.
What three words describe you?
Determined, intelligent, direct
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Don’t let yourself get upset by the things you can’t do anything about. At the time, I was a graduate struggling with a printer that wouldn’t work, but I often have to remind myself of this when I want to change the world!
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
I used to be a tennis official. I’ve been a line judge at 16 Wimbledon tournaments including 5 singles finals.
Group Treasurer, Logicor
I started my Treasury career when I moved to London from Washington, DC in summer 2009 and began working at a consulting firm as a Tax & Treasury Analyst. Following this, I joined a privately owned international industrial commodities group as a Treasury Manager. In 2015, keen to get experience in a larger, public company, I joined Capita’s Treasury team as the Treasury Integration Manager and co-head of Middle Office. However, when the opportunity was presented to join Logicor as Assistant Treasurer in 2016, I accepted the offer knowing it would be an extremely challenging but rewarding role to build the function from the ground up, and in 2018, I was promoted to Group Treasurer.
What do you like about working in treasury?
Treasury provides a dynamic, stimulating and fast paced environment which suits my personality well. With constantly changing markets, regulations and technology, Treasurers have the opportunity to continually acquire new knowledge for their Treasury arsenal, making each day interesting. We also have the benefit of working with various internal and external stakeholders which brings a commercial and human element to the job – it’s not all about the numbers.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
Throughout my involvement with the ACT and the Future Leaders in Treasury working group, I’ve always enjoyed creating and implementing events and programmes for members and students. With my new role on Council, I would like to take a more strategic role and work together to shape the future of the ACT. The strategies that are implemented now will affect how the organisation functions and how our members are supported in years to come. During my tenure on council I would like to help the ACT achieve significantly increased engagement across all levels of our membership.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
It’s important to get involved with the ACT as you truly get out what you put in. The more involvement we have from Treasury professionals, the stronger the organisation will be in all facets. Our collective knowledge and collaboration of our members enables positive change within the profession. As members of the Association we all benefit from the ACT’s strength and continued development.
What 3 words best describe you?
Dedicated, Adaptable, Fun.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Don’t give up what you want most in your career for what you want now. Work hard, play the long game and focus on your ultimate goal.
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
Before I entered the world of Treasury, I was an Archaeologist and Classicist!
Non-executive director, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe
Like many ACT members my first professional qualification was as a Chartered Accountant. I trained and qualified at Price Waterhouse (as it was then) in London, and after a few years post-qualification experience at PW, decided to become more closely involved in the practical side of running a business. I held several finance roles in banking and financial services and was then fortunate enough to be appointed to run a combined tax and treasury team at Standard Chartered. I now have a portfolio career, my main role being as non-executive director and Audit Committee chair at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe.
What do you like about working in treasury?
In my experience, treasury involves the most complex and interesting aspects of finance, and it’s also central to the health of the business.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
I am keen to promote more dialogue with members on current economic challenges, and help the ACT develop its existing global links and its recognition as a leading professional body.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
To enjoy the camaraderie of a professional body where many of the members work in corporates, so you can share ideas and solutions to the challenges faced by your business.
What 3 words best describe you.
I try to be professional, conscientious and considerate to others – you would have to ask them whether I succeed!
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Well, I’ve had lots of good advice, but the advice of a highly valued colleague to get more involved in the ACT has worked out very well for me!
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I work with young musicians, chairing an experimental opera company called Second Movement.
Partner, Deloitte
After my studies in Belgium, I joined BT Plc on their finance graduate management scheme. After a short stint in management accounting, and qualifying with CIMA, I rotated to their treasury function where I carried out various roles as cash manager, FX dealer and European treasury manager. I then joined Deloitte’s treasury advisory practice which I now lead in the UK, and co-lead for our European practice
What do you like about working in treasury?
Many factors. To name just a few: being the forward-looking arm of finance, intellectually stimulating topics with a healthy amount of financial modelling, matching your companies’ internal requirements with external solutions offered by the markets, and the fact that treasury never stands still.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
Generally, support the international growth of the ACT and specifically add new perspectives on how to engage members in our activities.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
Because it’s the best forum to learn and network, and therefore benefit both your organisation and your career.
What 3 words best describe you?
Pragmatic, direct, dedicated.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
When upset or concerned about something, avoid an over-reaction and sleep on it instead.
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
I was a synchronised swimmer in my younger and more flexible days.
Partner, Headland Communications
Before joining Headland Communications I was a Partner at Brunswick, the critical issues and communications firm. I led the global Campaign Planning offer; building long term reputation campaigns for companies across markets and sectors.
I worked for over 20 years in advertising as a Planner, responsible for creating brand and communications strategies. I have worked at TBWA/ London, part of Omnicom, on brands such as Apple, Mars, News International, Strongbow, and Thomas Cook as well as on the 2001 General Election campaign for the Labour party. I joined WPP’s J Walter Thompson in 2004, working as the lead global planner on a series of WPP’s multinational corporate clients: Vodafone, Nokia, Shell and HSBC.
I was co-opted to Council in 2015, to provide a different perspective and skills-set, most notably in branding and communication.
What do you like about working in treasury or with treasurers?
I don’t work with treasurers or treasury – but find that I can provide a different viewpoint and set of skills to Council and the ACT.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
The ACT is run by committed, expert staff for the benefit of treasurers and treasury. As an underappreciated but increasingly important profession, treasurers can benefit themselves and their profession by getting involved.
What 3 words best describe you?
Impatient. Creative. Foody.
I started my business life as an accountant in practice. I had a long career with BAe Systems and predecessor companies, the last 20 years as Group Treasurer until I retired in March 2015. Subsequently NED and Chairman of the Green Deal Finance Company, ultimately overseeing the sale of the company to a private sector consortium. Currently a Trustee of a small charity.
What do you like about working in treasury?
Working in treasury you are at the sharp end of the majority of key aspects of a business whether it is ensuring the business is financed appropriately, managing risk in its widest sense or financing sales. Very rarely is one day the same as another.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
Members should get involved with the ACT as it is their chance to shape the future direction of the Association, it represents an excellent networking opportunity and allows for ideas and problems to be discussed with like minded individuals in confidence.
What three words describe you?
Unassuming, commercial and an achiever.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Before embarking on a course of action, think it through one more time, bounce it off a trusted “ friend “ and consider how it is likely to be received by the counter-party(s).
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
Interested in most sports throughout my life but on retiring decided to relearn and compete as a Bridge player having not played the game since school days! Early days but can now play at a reasonable club level.
Dean, Henry Grunfeld Professor of Banking, The London Institute of Banking & Finance
After more than twenty years in a range of banking activities, lastly as the Senior Corporate Finance Officer for the UK at Citigroup, my curiosity led me to complete a PhD in finance. It seemed like teaching would come next, but the financial crisis drew me into bank regulation first at the UK Financial Services Authority and then the Bank of England. Add on a number of years involved in investment management and then finally full-time as a professor and dean. How many ways can a person think about finance? I am now enjoying thinking of the treasurer’s point of view. Learning and staying on top of finance have been a lifelong project for me.
What do you like about working with treasurers?
As a banker, I enjoyed building trusted relationships with treasurers. Relationships take time to build, but then can be more than business. Sharing ideas to get better deals was a great feeling. I made some great friends and we worked as partners for a long time. I’ve kept in touch with a few former treasurers long after I left banking and they left treasury. A few deal mementos still grace my academics desk and bring back cherished memories of shared success.
What would you like to achieve during your time on Council?
I would like to see the ACT thrive and hope to help it remain central for treasurers’ knowledge and advancement. I’d also like to see treasury roles gain more recognition in the wider financial education world.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
Treasury, like many key or core corporate skills, is often overlooked while its professional requirements increase. Working together through the ACT, treasurers can improve the sharing of best practice and raise their own visibility.
What three words best describe you?
Curious, reflective and optimistic.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
‘Speak up if you have something to say’ was the advice from an early boss after a meeting with company senior managers where I didn’t know how to participate. He added that they wouldn’t know how brilliant (a large exaggeration) I was if I didn’t contribute and, more importantly, they probably wouldn’t invite me to another meeting if I wasn’t contributing. To me, this was a critical point in building my self-confidence, realising that I was an accepted part of the team and the realisation that my skills were valued.
