ACT STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2015
The ACT Student of the Year 2015 award is given each year to one stand-out individual from the MCT Advanced Diploma, the ultimate treasury qualification.
Adam Richford, Group Treasurer of Shanks PLC was proud to receive this prestigious award at the ACT’s Ones to Watch event over the summer. We caught up with him for a few words about the nature of the course and how it’s enhanced his career already.
What does your current role entail?
At Shanks, I am responsible for treasury functions, including RCF, retail bonds, PFI finance, performance bonds & guarantees, hedging of rates, FX and commodities, amongst other things.
How did you end up in a career in treasury?
I qualified as a chartered accountant first and then gravitated towards treasury. I was exposed to some of the most interesting aspects of finance, which continues to interest me and gives me a seat at the table when it comes to strategising major activities that occur in the company.
What skills do you think are important to a treasury role?
Having a strong analytical insight is vital, as is the ability to interpret treasury requirements. Having the skill to communicate this effectively to others though is of great importance. I place a lot of value on the ability to communicate complex ideas.
Why did you take on an ACT qualification? What was your main objective?
Taking the MCT was all about supporting my next career move, and enhancing my peer network. It’s brought about results on both counts so far. Since completing MCT I've started a new job in a new industry, which has been helped by the qualification, and during my studies, I was learning with and from other treasury experts in businesses of diverse size and industry, which provided new perspectives and great networking opportunities.
Which specific areas of your job role will this qualification support?
The MCT has given me a clearer focus on the organisational context of treasury, and the implications for corporate finance and risk management. It also helped me understand the context of different organisations when we looked at the case studies which cover a breadth of industries. Make no mistake though, committing 10-15 hours a week for 18 months was a big ask, but the MCT has changed the way I think and improved my corporate finance understanding, so was worth the effort.
What are the benefits of having this professional qualification to add to your CV/résumé?
The MCT demonstrates I am a recognised treasury expert and shows the congruence between my experience and qualifications. This is the top level treasury qualification and globally renowned, so I’m delighted to have the letters FCT at the end of my name.