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.
The full list of Council members for 1 May 2020 - 30 April 2021 is shown below.
Further information about Council, panels and other groups is set out in the council terms of reference.
Caroline Stockmann has been Chief Executive of the Association of Corporate Treasurers since February 2017.
Prior to that Caroline held the position of Chief Financial Officer at The British Council, the UK’s largest charity, and before that at Save the Children International. She has 25 years’ experience in senior finance, commercial and strategic posts at a number of commercial organisations including Novartis Pharmaceuticals (Switzerland), Cadbury Schweppes, Granada plc and Unilever/ Bestfoods (Thailand, Netherlands and UK). Much of her working life has been spent overseas.
Caroline trained with KPMG and is a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW). She has an ICAEW Diploma in Charity Accounting and has filled numerous roles on boards over the years, some current roles including being a member of the Finance and Investment Committee of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Deputy Chair of the European Association of Corporate Treasurers and the International Group of Treasury Associations, as well as President of the National Association of Corporate Treasurers (US). Caroline is a linguist, musician, trained coach and passionate bell ringer, and is married with two children. Check out her weekly podcasts at www.treasurers.org/strategic-insights-podcasts
Treasury Director, 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.
I am a keen amateur of fine wines and have passed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) qualifications, levels 2 and 3, in the last few years. Doing the WSET qualifications has been a fantastic way to learn about all aspects of wine-making and wine-tasting, but has also allowed me to meet some other wine fanatics who are now great friends.
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 a Big 4 accountancy firm 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 in order to broaden 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!
Non-executive director and Audit Committee Chair, Sumitomo Mitsui Bank 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, and forward-looking. So as a treasurer you get to be involved in everything that’s important going on.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
I am keen to promote more dialogue with members on how markets are adapting to current economic challenges, and also to help the ACT develop its 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 common experience, which often helps to identifies new solutions and opportunities for your own 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 musicians involved in contemporary classical music, as a trustee of the London Sinfonietta orchestra, and chairing an experimental opera company called Second Movement.
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!
Group Treasurer, Page Group
Please provide a brief description of your career
I am a treasury professional with 20 years’ experience across various sectors including multi-nationals, NFP and large government departments both here in the UK and Australia. As Group Treasurer for PageGroup plc. currently I manage not only the treasury function but also the insurance and sanctions programmes across 36 countries. I co-share investor relations and have recently taken on the responsibility of sustainability.
What do you like about working in treasury?
In treasury, I like the fact no one day is ever the same and I meet a great variety of internal and external stakeholders. Furthermore, as a Treasurer, I can add tangible value to the entire company.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
I plan to use my experience to support the Chief Executive and wider leadership team to continue guiding the treasury profession, not only for today but for future generations. Each organisation is as unique as the individuals it employs and we must equip treasury professionals to be equally as diverse and agile.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
The ACT is an invaluable resource for treasury professionals at every stage of their career. It provides an excellence in industry training, helping members to develop their skills, their career and their networks.
What three words describe you?
Tenacious, passionate and dedicated
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given.
Listen to the words that are not being spoken.
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
