The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Treasury Analyst (L2) Internally Promoted
2-3 years at L2Skills to master
- Consistently delivering accurate daily cash positions, independently executing routine FX trades, taking ownership of a regional cash forecast, and demonstrating initiative in identifying process improvements.
You're ready to move on when
- You're the go-to person for junior analysts' questions.
- You've successfully led a small project (e.g., new bank account setup).
- Your manager trusts you to handle complex operational issues independently.
- You've actively contributed to improving at least one treasury process.
- 2
Financial Analyst from a Large Corporate
5-7 years in a finance/accounting roleSkills to master
- A strong grasp of corporate finance principles, excellent Excel modelling skills, an understanding of financial statements, and a keen interest in cash management and risk.
You're ready to move on when
- You've managed cash flow forecasting or liquidity reporting in a previous role.
- You're comfortable with financial systems and large datasets.
- You've demonstrated a proactive approach to learning new financial concepts.
- You can articulate why you want to specialise in treasury.
- 3
Operations Specialist from a Bank or Financial Institution
5-8 years in a banking operations role (e.g., payments, cash management)Skills to master
- Deep knowledge of payment systems, bank connectivity, and reconciliation processes. An understanding of bank products and services, and strong operational risk awareness.
You're ready to move on when
- You've managed client relationships for cash management services.
- You've troubleshot complex payment issues.
- You understand the back-office mechanics of financial transactions.
- You're looking to apply your operational expertise on the corporate side.