The ACT is in good health in its 25th year. Treasury management, in all its breadth, is increasingly recognised as critical to the success of modern businesses. We have a world–leading education programme, an increasing membership, and a successful commercial event programme supporting the interests both of our members and those who work with them. The ACT’s activities are described by Richard Raeburn, our Chief Executive, in his statement. In the immediate future, we have two critically important opportunities.
Education is our most important activity. We are developing the AMCT qualification, reinforcing its quality and ensuring the structure supports the needs of our students around the world. MCT is already the global flagship of treasury, including corporate finance and risk management, and we will also strengthen its quality and global appeal.
Internationally, we will become more prominent, through our magazine, technical resources and education programme. Via bilateral contacts with individual country associations, and our membership of the International Group of Treasury Associations (IGTA), we will proactively offer support to other treasury associations, for our mutual professional benefit.
It is encouraging that more senior treasurers are moving into our discipline from tax, other areas of finance, and operations. Many of these are already so senior that they are unlikely to take our exams. Most subsequently move back into other parts of the business,with treasury being
increasingly seen as a building block in the CV of today’s CFO and CEO. We are exploring additional ways to help such individuals, and to encourage them to participate in the ACT.
Finally, on behalf of your Council I thank Richard Raeburn and his team for an outstanding performance in 2003/04. The team’s dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism are the principal cause of our outstanding success. I thank them sincerely.
Chris Jones
President