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 Operations Associate (L1)
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Daily cash positioning, basic payment processing, bank statement reconciliation, adherence to controls, learning treasury systems.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently accurate daily cash reports with minimal supervision.
- Zero critical errors in payment processing over 6 months.
- Proactive identification of minor operational issues.
- Demonstrated understanding of core treasury processes and terminology.
- 2
Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Understanding payment cycles, managing vendor/customer relationships, reconciliation of sub-ledgers, working with ERP systems.
You're ready to move on when
- Strong track record of accurate and timely payment processing or cash application.
- Experience resolving payment discrepancies with banks or internal teams.
- Familiarity with financial controls and month-end close processes.
- Expressed interest in broadening financial operational knowledge to cash management.
- 3
Junior Finance Assistant / Bookkeeper
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- General ledger postings, bank reconciliations, basic financial reporting, understanding of financial controls.
You're ready to move on when
- Proficiency in daily bookkeeping and reconciliation tasks.
- Solid understanding of double-entry accounting and financial statements.
- Demonstrated ability to work accurately with financial data and meet deadlines.
- A clear desire to specialise in cash and liquidity management.