When Alice Fehling, director of Group Operations at TEAM Marketing AG, announced on LinkedIn that she’d passed the ACT’s Certificate in Treasury Fundamentals, she described it as having “sprouted a new branch”. After all, she’s not a traditional finance person, on paper at least.
“I come from a very different track,” Fehling explains. “I started my career at BBC Worldwide in the Sales and Distribution department selling shows like Top Gear and the rights to various sports rights, from darts to horse racing. I then moved to Switzerland to join TEAM, UEFA’s global marketing agency for the men’s club competitions, and managed the global tender process on the commercial side.”
Over the years, her role evolved from media rights to managing the partnership management team and more recently into the corporate functions of IT and finance. “I was asked to bring a new pair of eyes to these parts of the organisation. Stepping into IT and finance was like entering two new industries at once.”
To prepare for the challenge, Fehling immersed herself in learning. She completed the ‘Chief Digital Officer’ programme at Kellogg School of Management to support on the IT side, as well as LSE’s Managerial Finance course. But Fehling wanted more. “The LSE course was great as a general course. However, I realised I needed more depth, especially to work alongside two very experienced accountants on my team. I didn’t want to just manage; I wanted to add real value.”
The course came at the perfect time and equips me with the right set of tools to address these new challenges
It was a conversation at a family wedding that changed everything. “My sister-in-law’s father, who had held global client sales roles at Citi's Treasury and Trade Solutions business, recommended the ACT to me. That’s when I first heard about the Certificate in Treasury Fundamentals.”
Fehling began the course in January and sat her exam six months later. “It was intense, especially with two small children and a full-time job, but I’m someone who thrives on learning.” She found the material rigorous and relevant. “It was so satisfying to immediately apply what I was learning, there were so many relevant topics, from hedging to risk management or currency policy. It helped me address business needs in a very targeted way.
“And I’m about to present our currency policy to our CEO. As we move to a multi-client agency, our business is growing in complexity. The course came at the perfect time and equips me with the right set of tools to address these new challenges.”
And what about the maths, often a concern for non-financial professionals? “Yes, that was certainly a concern when I started, but I soon realised it would be manageable. I just took it step by step.”
Now, she’s already eyeing her next step: the ACT’s new MicroCredentials. “I’ve got my eye on the risk module. It aligns perfectly with the work I’m doing now and it’s affordable, flexible and doesn’t require a big exam commitment.”
I’m aiming for a COO role one day
Fehling’s advice for others considering the qualification is simple: “Really understand the content and how it will apply to your work. If it’s relevant, go for it, even if you’re not a finance person. These are strategic, transferable skills.” She adds that TEAM’s firm commitment to growing and developing its staff proved invaluable and a great support.
Though she’s not planning a move into a formal treasury role, she sees clear value in the knowledge. “I’m aiming for a COO role one day. Understanding treasury is helping me get there and be a better business partner.”
Find out more about the ACT’s Certificate in Treasury Fundamentals, the new MicroCredentials modules and other learning opportunities.
Philip Smith is editor of The Treasurer