
Let’s debate the value of certifications. Some argue that traditional treasury credentials are essential for credibility, while others believe practical experience and adaptability matter more than letters after your name. So, are certifications still a must-have—or are they becoming obsolete in today’s fast-evolving treasury landscape?
Do Certifications Really Matter?
- Credibility & Confidence
- Earning a well-known designation like the CTP (Certified Treasury Professional) can lend credibility. Internal stakeholders and external partners may feel more confident in your expertise if you hold recognized qualifications.
- Structured Learning
- Preparing for exams often requires studying a robust body of knowledge, ensuring you’re familiar with best practices and the foundational theories of treasury.
- Networking Opportunities
- Many certifications come with association memberships, events, and forums for members, potentially opening doors to fresh insights, partnerships, or career opportunities.
The Case Against Certifications
- Rapidly Evolving Technology
- Treasury technology—from automation and APIs to AI-driven analytics—advances at breakneck speed. Some argue that certifications can’t keep pace, leaving credential holders behind the curve if they rely on legacy knowledge.
- Cost & Time
- Exam fees, prep courses, and the ongoing cost of recertification can add up. Plus, the time spent studying might be better invested in hands-on projects or learning new technologies.
- Practical vs. Theoretical Skills
- In a dynamic environment, real-world problem-solving often trumps textbook answers. Critics question whether the curriculum in many treasury certifications truly reflects modern challenges and opportunities.
The Hybrid Approach: Balancing Credentials & Experience
Perhaps the solution isn’t to dismiss certifications entirely but to combine them with practical skills:
- Pursue Selective Certifications: Opt for ones that emphasize current practices or integrate technology into their curriculum.
- Complement with Ongoing Education: Attend workshops, webinars, and tech demos to stay updated on cutting-edge solutions. Earning micro-credentials for new tools and software can be just as valuable.
- Prioritize Hands-On Learning: Seek roles or projects that offer exposure to various treasury tasks, from liquidity management to risk mitigation and beyond.
Discussion Starters
- Are you (or your team) investing in treasury certifications, and have they paid off?
- Which matters more in a new hire: a recognized certification or a track record with relevant, real-world accomplishments?
- How can certification programs better keep up with technological change and the evolving demands of treasury?
Share your insights in the comments below! We’ll feature thoughts from board members and treasury tech partners on whether certifications remain a key differentiator—or just another line on the resume.

Zhanna Irgaliyeva, CTP, Treasury Masterminds board member, comments:
The hybrid approach is the most effective for treasury professionals from my point of view, as certifications not only demonstrate awareness of expertise but also highlight essential soft skills such as dedication, hard work, continuous learning, a willingness to develop as a treasury professional. For newcomers to treasury or those transitioning from local markets to international treasury, certifications offer a structured understanding of treasury functions and key topics.
However, professionals should continue their development by exploring innovations, Treasury Management Systems, AI, and other emerging trends. Staying current with technological advancements, digitalization, and regulatory changes is crucial for long-term success in the treasury field, as the industry evolves towards greater automation and data-driven decision-making.

Bojan Belejkovski, Treasury Masterminds board member, comments:
While certifications in treasury are often seen as a mark of credibility, their actual value deserves scrutiny. The CTP, for example, may provide treasury practitioners with added confidence, but it does not necessarily reflect real-world expertise. The exam preparation materials often lag behind market developments, failing to keep pace with the rapid changes in treasury and finance. Relying on multiple-choice questions to assess someone’s knowledge, talent, and skills seems inadequate, especially in a field that demands adaptability and strategic thinking.
With AI and digital transformation reshaping treasury, are we really preparing professionals for the future by reinforcing outdated theories? Practical experience—problem-solving, adaptability, and direct exposure to evolving treasury challenges—matters far more than memorizing textbooks and passing an exam.
As treasury gains momentum and becomes more dynamic, leaders should shift their focus from credential-based qualifications to real-world expertise. Modern treasury demands professionals who can implement new systems, drive digital transformation, and develop strategic financial solutions. Strong analytical and technological skills are essential to staying ahead, yet certifications often fail to emphasize innovation and modernization.
Instead of treating certifications as a must-have, the industry should prioritize hands-on experience, technological fluency, and strategic problem-solving—qualities that truly define a high-performing treasury professional.

Alexander Ilkun, CGMA, Treasury Masterminds board member, comments:
I don’t think there’s such a thing as a must-have in the area of Treasury certifications, unlike, for example, Accounting, where some roles absolutely require them. What is important to understand is that if you have one and if it does open some doors, you will likely know about it and be glad you have one. For example, the hiring manager has the same qualification as you do, and they choose you over another candidate that doesn’t have one. They will probably tell you about it. Is it something you can plan for and count on? Absolutely not, since stars aligning so perfectly so as to tip that balance is quite close to luck.
Going through the learning process for the qualification is something that makes it very much worth it. If one has significant experience, they may wonder if there is any point in obtaining a qualification. I myself have a CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) CGMA qualification, which I obtained in 2018. By the time I started, I already had about 8 years of Accounting and Treasury experience, so the learning process was quite interesting for me as it allowed to structure a lot of the practical knowledge that I had. I decided to go for a Management Accounting qualification as it allowed me to learn to be a broader leader in Finance, taught me to use numbers to tell a story about the strategic direction of the company.
Importantly, most of my Treasury career I greatly benefitted from knowing Accounting as well as Treasury to connect the dots between what happens in both worlds. It helped me in countless ways from FX Risk Management Framework Transformations, influencing discussions about intercompany structures, hedge accounting, FX Gain/Loss analysis to understand hedging inefficiencies, even troubleshooting TMS/GL interface issues. I’d definitely say there is a great benefit of having Accounting experience for someone who is a Treasury professional, backed up by a Management Accounting qualification CIMA offers.
Networking opportunities should definitely be mentioned here as you do become part of a community as you get qualified. How active and large the community is depends on your location, of course, but at present many opportunities exist to be connected at the very least regionally, if not globally. For those who are more senior in their roles, the question about giving something back to the community or the younger generation may also cross your mind. Community of other members and students is a great way to do so through, for example, mentoring schemes. You may also have a possibility to participate more strategically in development of the qualification you hold by applying for roles within the Qualifying Association.
When considering whether certifications can keep pace with technological advancements such as automation, APIs, and AI-driven analytics, it certainly makes sense to research whether the qualification you’re about to obtain is adapting to the changing environment. It is not reasonable to expect that they will keep pace with every technological change immediately – updating syllabus takes time, so qualifications will not be able to keep pace. Having said that, many qualifications have adapted their syllabus to devote more space to matters that have become somewhat more noticeable in recent years – be it cybersecurity, sustainability, AI, etc. The qualifications do need to strike the balance between the old and the new though as they are the ones who ensure continuity of knowledge, so while many of them do adapt their syllabus to incorporate these new topics, it should also be acknowledged that their aim is often to introduce the topic and give you a more general overview on some of them, so you need to manage your expectations about the level of depth that you’re going to get.
Striking the right balance between academic, practical, and qualification experience is key. It’s one thing to learn to do something by repeating the steps, it’s another thing to understand why you’re performing those steps, it’s yet another level to be able to explain it to another person, and, finally, yet another one to be able to sit down and write it down in a coherent way that is tailored to the audience and then deliver it to them in a presentation, highlighting those things that really matter. It’s an art and one can only truly master it by having multiple tools in the toolkit.
I am quite convinced that qualifications are worth every cent and minute of effort that goes into them. In a position of a Treasury leader, who is developing their team strategically, I’d also try to ensure that I have diversity on the team in terms of qualifications that people have (CIMA for Accounting perspective; ACT for Treasury; GARP FRM for Risk Management; CFA if one deals with exotic instruments and needs to be able to value them properly) as long as those skillsets are fit for the current and future state and complexity of the organization that I’m in. There is no one size fits all solution, but Treasury team has a better chance to serve its company well with diverse skillset that can get the company through whatever life throws at them.
Also Read
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- Lessons from 10 Years of Failing to Sell My Dad Treasury Software
- The 12 Myths of Treasury: Debunking Misconceptions and Raising Awareness
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