How Do I Become a Treasury Manager?

You can become a treasury manager by obtaining a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance and working for at least five years in a position that provides experience with corporate cash and credit management. Treasury management plays an important role in a corporation. Many large, multinational corporations have a senior treasury manager position that holds the dual title of senior vice president. To progress to a treasury manager level, you will typically need an advanced degree and additional experience with cash management in complex environments.

Treasury managers handle a corporation's cash reserves, manage its credit obligations, and forecast its future cash needs. The manager drives the decisions behind authorizing additional shares of stock to raise money, investing excess cash in appropriate investment vehicles, and managing risk and insurance levels to make sure the corporation has the cash flow it needs for current and future operations and is properly capitalized. To become a treasury manager, you have to be well-versed in corporate finance. An employer will expect you to have a bachelor's degree in finance or accounting to demonstrate you have a grasp of the fundamentals.

You must also have at least five years of relevant experience to become a treasury manager. Work in a corporate treasury department as an entry level assistant would qualify, but specific experience with corporate finance from a consultant prospective would likely also be sufficient. For instance, relevant outside experience could include a number of years spent working for an accounting firm or an investment bank that specializes in assisting corporations with initial public offerings. The key is hands-on experience with the way corporations raise, hold, manage, borrow, and invest cash.

There are several different levels of treasury management positions. If you want to work for a major corporation at a senior level, you will likely need an advanced degree in addition to more extensive experience. Popular advanced degrees include masters of business administration and law degrees. If you are approaching the position with a bachelor's degree in accounting, obtaining your certification as a public accountant will help your application. Continuing study and working towards promotion and other career advancement opportunities are a must to become a treasury manager at the highest level.

There are a number of treasury trade associations around the world that offer certifications and continuing education opportunities. In the US, the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) offers a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) credential after satisfying a certain number of continuing education hours and passing an exam. The Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) in the UK is a professional membership organization where obtaining each membership level represents a certain professional proficiency. Joining the association that is active in your region and obtaining their highest certification for treasury professionals will also help your candidacy.