What Is a Certified Treasury Professi𝔉onal (CTP)?

The term certified treasury professional (CTP) refers to a financial designation awarded to individuals experienced in 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:cash management and who pass an exam demonstrating their expertise by the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP). Successful applicants earn the right to use the CTP designation with their names for three years, which can improve job opportunities, professional reputation, and pay. CTPs work in a variety of different fields including treasury management, finance, and accounting.

Understanding a Certif🌊ied Treasury Professional (CTP)

As mentioned above, the certified treasury professional (CTP) designation is given to financial professionals who meet certain criteria by the Association for Financial Professionals. Individuals must have between one to two years of work experience in cash or treasury management or 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:corporate finance if they wish to take the exam. Those who don't have relevant work experience must either have a graduate degree in business, finance, or 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:accounting🃏, or relevant teaching experience at the college o🥃r university level.

Applicants must submit proof of their eligibility before they can take the exam to become a CTP. Records of their work experience and academic qualifications must be submitted to the AFP prior to taking the exam. The 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:certification committee within the association reviews and determines whether or not an applicant is qualified to take the exam.

The CTP exam is closed-book and consists of 170 multiple-choice questions that can be completed on a computer. Applicants are given four houℱrs to complete the test. The exam is divided into five categories:🐠

• Treasury operations and controls: 21 to 24 questions
• Working capital management: 32 to 35 questions
• Cash and 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:liquidity management: 37 to 42 questions
• 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Capital markets and funding: 22 to 24 questions
• Corporate treasury function: 30 to 35 questions

AFP members pay a fee of $925 for the exam if they register early. The cost jumps by an extra $100 if they register during the final deadline period. Non-members may also apply for the exam but the fees are higher—$1,320 for early registration and $1,420 by the final deadline.

The CTP designation is considered a benchmark in the financial profession. CTPs can earn more money than their peers—as much as 15% more than those who aren't certified as CTPs. They also have greater job security and are better able to market themselves in the industry. Successful CTPs generally have a background in finance and/or accounting, and become experts in treasury management. They should understand revenue collection, obligation payment, cash processing, 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:reconciliation, managing current accounts, maintaining documentation, monitoring transactions, forecasting, and monitoring 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:cash flow, receiving and processing wire transfers, analyzing 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:financial statements, and more.

Special Considerations

Some universities offer training programs to prepare would-be applicants for the exam. The curriculum may aim to teach the candidates 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:working capital strategies for managing 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:liabilities and assets, how to optimize capital structure, and how to maintain an organization’s liquidity to meet their future obligations. They might also learn how to monitor and control a company’s exposure to potential financial and operational risks. Su♔ch classes may include real-life case study scenarios for students t📖o apply their developing knowledge.

The CTP designation is used as a sign of credibility among corporate treasurers and other professionals in the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:financial sector. The designation is good for three years, after which the individual must recertify. In order to keep the CTP designation, individuals must complete 36 hours of 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:continuing education called recertification credits and pay a fee to continue using the designation. Candidates don't need to wait until their designation expires in order to recertify—the 36 hours can be completed and reported at any time.

The Bottom Line

The certified treasury professional (CTP) designation indicates expertise in managing the assets of a large corporation or organization. CTP candidates must study the different types of assets and investments that are available for corporate treasuries, as well as the laws and accounting principles surrounding them. Although it is not obligatory, a CTP designation can be used to demonstrate one's knowledge of treasury management principles to prospective employers.