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
Junior Treasury Role in a Smaller Company
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Daily cash management, bank reconciliations, basic payment processing, getting familiar with a TMS or ERP.
You're ready to move on when
- You're already independently managing a set of daily treasury tasks.
- You can confidently perform bank reconciliations without constant supervision.
- You've handled various payment types and understand the importance of controls.
- You can articulate the daily cash position and any immediate challenges.
- 2
Financial Analyst (with Treasury exposure)
3-4 yearsSkills to master
- Strong Excel modelling, general ledger understanding, exposure to financial reporting, and some involvement in cash flow forecasting or liquidity analysis.
You're ready to move on when
- You're comfortable with large financial datasets and can spot anomalies.
- You've contributed to cash flow forecasts, even if it was just gathering data.
- You have a solid understanding of accounting principles and how they interact with cash.
- You're keen to specialise in treasury and understand its daily operational demands.
- 3
Operations Role in a Bank (Cash Management/Payments)
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Deep understanding of payment systems, bank operations, client service, and regulatory compliance from the bank's perspective.
You're ready to move on when
- You understand how payments flow through the banking system and common failure points.
- You're used to dealing with bank portals and various payment technologies.
- You can communicate effectively with corporate clients about their cash management needs.
- You're looking to move to the 'client side' and apply your banking knowledge internally.