Recap Webinar I Your Treasury Education Roadmap | Pieter & Haia I 03/09

Date

3 September | 14:00

Treasurer Search team members presenting

Pieter de Kiewit & Haia Aaraj

For our latest webinar, Pieter and Haia looked at how treasury professionals can make better choices about education and career development.

Treasury education comes in several forms, but the right choice depends on where someone is heading. The session covered the options available to people entering treasury, professionals preparing for their next move, and experienced treasurers thinking about broader leadership responsibilities. The focus stayed practical: what each route teaches you, what it signals to employers, and how to decide whether the time and cost make sense for your situation.

Some of the questions and topics we covered included:

💭 Why formal graduate programmes in treasury remain limited across the Benelux and DACH markets, and where professionals can look instead for structured learning?

💭 What the main qualifications cover, from the ACT Certificate in Treasury Fundamentals through to the Certificate in Treasury and Diploma in Treasury Management, and how the CTP fits into the picture?

💭 How professional qualifications differ from academic programmes, particularly when it comes to distance learning, peer interaction, practical application and academic depth?

💭 What a qualification says on a CV, including technical knowledge, commitment to treasury and familiarity with the language of the profession, and what it cannot prove on its own?

💭 Why a qualification is rarely the deciding factor in a recruitment process, but can still help signal that someone is serious about moving into treasury or progressing within it?

💭 How to weigh the cost, study time and format against work, family and other commitments, and what to do when an employer does not have a clear education budget?

💭 What AI can do to support learning, from explaining difficult subjects and creating practice questions to building a study plan, and why it cannot replace the structure and judgement that come from learning treasury properly?

💭 How the best choice changes depending on the market and career direction, particularly for professionals considering a move into UK, US or hedge fund treasury?

A key takeaway from the session was that education should match your career goal, not only your current job title. A treasury qualification can show technical knowledge and commitment, while a university programme may provide broader grounding. Someone aiming for a future CFO or business leadership role may need to look beyond treasury-specific education and consider wider finance, commercial or leadership development.

The discussion also touched on a point that is easy to overlook: progression does not always come from another exam or another book. Moving from manager to director, and beyond, often depends on personal impact, bringing people together, setting direction and leading through real situations. Those are skills you build through experience, coaching and the right projects.

Education is one part of a longer career. Whether you choose an ACT qualification, the CTP, a university programme, a shorter course or self-directed learning, the best investment is the one that supports the next move you want to make.

We will continue sharing practical guidance on treasury education, career development and recruitment. If you have questions or topics you would like us to address in a future webinar, please contact us at info@treasurersearch.com or speak to one of our consultants directly. Pieter and Haia are also available on LinkedIn if you would like to continue the conversation.