As the treasury function becomes more strategic and complex, the demands placed on treasury professionals are evolving rapidly. According to recruitment consultants Eliot Bates, Fiona Wallace and Jessica Timelin, qualifications and technological fluency are increasingly essential for standing out in the market.
“Qualifications are always one of the main things that get asked for, I would say,” said Eliot Bates of Brewer Morris (pictured above, left). “Quite a lot of hiring managers now are wanting some form of qualification. It doesn’t have to be dual-qualified, so accounting and ACT, but they want to have one or the other at least, generally.”
You do the treasury job, but you can also communicate with finance people, and that can be really helpful
Fiona Wallace (pictured above, centre) from Pure Search agreed, noting that employers look for commitment to ongoing professional development. “Has someone committed to the qualification? And if they haven’t got both, are they willing to do the other one?” she asked. “If someone comes from an accounting background, it depends on which route they’re going on in treasury.”
Wallace also highlighted the breadth of roles and how the right qualification helps define the path: “If you’re going down the treasury accounting reporting route, that’s a very different skill set versus others.”
For Jessica Timelin (pictured above, right) of Michael Page, dual qualifications can be a real asset – especially in larger teams. “They’re say ‘Wow, you can speak to the accountants as well!’ You do the treasury job, but you can also communicate with finance people, and that can be really helpful,” she said.
Technology skills are also rising fast in importance. “Technology has really ramped up,” said Timelin. “Having a curious mind about digital innovation and the use of treasury management systems is becoming so important, right from analyst through to deputy treasurer.”
She stressed that technological fluency is no longer just a ‘nice-to-have’. “Whether it’s to streamline processes, simplification or automation, that’s definitely something that’s come through more and more in interviews,” she explained. “Trying to understand a candidate’s aptitude and engagement with it.”
Clients are saying, ‘I want someone who’s curious, who asks questions, who challenges, who thinks commercially’
Wallace expanded on this by pointing to the growing complexity of global operations. “It’s risk management, it is equally international cash management experience, people that understand complex regions but are able to roll up their sleeves to get into the detail as well.”
As treasury evolves, the profile of the ideal candidate is shifting. Bates noted that organisations are less interested in ‘steady-state’ thinkers and more in change-makers. “Clients are saying, ‘I want someone who’s curious, who asks questions, who challenges, who thinks commercially.’ That’s the mindset they’re after.”
Ultimately, the message from recruiters is clear: treasurers who can combine technical skills with curiosity, adaptability, and a strong commitment to professional growth will be best placed to lead in the years ahead. As Wallace concluded: “It’s person by person, but also organisation by organisation… an ACT qualification gives you that foundation.”
Philip Smith is editor of The Treasurer. Eliot Bates (Brewer Morris), Fiona Wallace (Pure Search) and Jessica Timelin (Michael Page) were speaking at this year’s ACT Annual Conference, held in May 2025.