Free treasury qualifications for Black and Asian candidates

The Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) launched a new initiative in September 2022 to offer free qualifications to Black and Asian students who are living in the UK and Europe. Generously supporting this are Fitch Ratings, Fitch Solutions, Fitch Learning, and Sustainable Fitch, who are funding the assessment costs of these students.

Both Fitch and the ACT are passionate about creating opportunities for those who are underrepresented in the treasury profession, and the treasury community is very supportive of our work in this area. The programme is not open to those in developing countries – this is covered by the existing bursary programme funded by the ACT’s Educational Trust, about which you can read more here.

What is on offer?

The initiative offers 40 scholarships for the ACT’s Certificate in Treasury Fundamentals (no entry requirements) and 10 scholarships for our Certificate in Treasury qualification, for which you need to be a qualified accountant through ICAS, ICAEW, ACCA and CIMA, or their reciprocal bodies. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Details of the qualifications can be found below. The ACT will provide the learning materials and student membership for free. Fitch will cover the costs of an assessment and one re-sit of that assessment, if necessary. 

The qualifications offered through this initiative are now fully booked.

If you would like to be added to the waiting list for future intakes, please register your interest below.

What are the benefits?

A range of benefits come from taking these qualifications, including:

• obtaining an internationally recognised professional qualification from the only professional treasury body with a Royal Charter
• gaining financial and cash management knowledge & skills which are invaluable to anyone, whatever their career aspirations
• taking your first step towards a career in treasury. Currently there is a shortage of treasurers, the profession is growing, and treasurers command higher salaries than their equivalents in a mainstream finance role
• establishing a rewarding career path, with the great majority of treasurers saying if doing it all again, they would be a treasurer – they love the forward- and external-looking nature of their role, where they are increasingly seen as a key strategic business partner to top management
• gaining digital credentials that you can share to demonstrate the skills, achievement and knowledge earned with your qualification.

About the ACT

The Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) is the only professional treasury body with a Royal Charter. We set the global benchmark for treasury excellence and lead the profession through our internationally recognised qualifications, by defining standards and by championing continuing professional development. We are the authentic voice of the treasury profession representing the interests of the real economy and educating, supporting and leading the treasurers of today and tomorrow. 
 

About Fitch

At Fitch Group we believe a more diverse and inclusive financial market ecosystem is a more sustainable one. We are investing alongside our customers, vendors and partners to broaden access to our market to talented individuals with a variety of backgrounds, experiences and opinions. 

Fitch Group is a global leader in financial information services with more than 4,000 employees and operations in more than 30 countries. Our key brands are: Fitch Ratings, a global leader in credit ratings and research; Fitch Solutions, a leading provider of data, research and analytics; Fitch Learning, a preeminent training and professional development firm; and Sustainable Fitch, a provider of ESG tools, data, research and insights. With dual headquarters in London and New York, Fitch Group is owned by Hearst Corporation.