What is a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP)?

A certified treasury professional (CTP) is a designation some financial professionals earn so they are able to help businesses manage and operate their corporate treasuries. Like other certifications, such as certified financial planner (CFP) and chartered financial advisor (CFA), if you’re an advisor or anyone else you work with has the CTP certification, it’s a sign of their expertise — and if it helps to manage corporate treasuries you want, a CTP certification would be a very nice thing for your advisor to have.

For help finding the right financial advisor for your family or business, consider using SmartAsset’s free financial advisor matching service.

What is a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP)?

The certified treasury professional is a certification granted to financial professionals who specialize in working with businesses to manage and operate their corporate treasuries. This is a credential that focuses more than anything else on cash and capital management. The CTP works to oversee the cash flow of a company, its credits and liabilities (capital out) as well as its debts and assets (capital in).

Managing a corporate treasury involves accounting but with a different emphasis than many other financial fields. Unlike financial planners, a certified treasury professional works less with the long-term financial outlook or investment strategy of a company than with its present value. Unlike accountants, a certified treasury professional does relatively little tax planning. This is not to say that the CTP doesn’t play a role in these fields, but they aren’t the profession’s emphasis. Instead, the CTP tends to focus on issues such as:

Managing the company’s cash holdings.
Assessing the value of corporate assets.
Collection of outstanding debts.
Payment of outstanding debts owed.
Reconciliation of outgoing and incoming ledgers.
Cash flow and financial forecasts.
Documenting the company’s financial position

For a small business, this role is often handled by a bookkeeper, someone with limited (if any) financial experience. This is possible when a company has relatively few or relatively small daily transactions, and when its legal obligations are minor. In a large company and, especially, in a publicly traded one the role of treasury oversight grows significantly.

Simply complying with the regulatory duties of a publicly traded company demands substantial financial documentation. Maintaining the records of a company with substantial daily transactions is a complex and demanding task — and as a result, there are people who specialize in it.

How to Become a CTP

The CTP designation is awarded by the Association of Financial Professionals. It requires the following prerequisites:

Two years relevant work experience or one-year relevant work experience and at least a master’s degree in a related field;
Take and pass the CTP exam;
Continuing education of 36 credits every three years.

The certified treasury professional exam focuses on five areas:

The function and role of a corporate treasury;
Cash and liquidity management;
Working capital management;
Capital markets and funding;
Treasury operations and controls.

The Association of Financial Professionals does offer one exception to its requirements. It waives its requirement of a masters-level degree if the candidate has at least two years of teaching experience at the college level in a related field.

However, it doesn’t waive exam fees. For members of the Association of Financial Professionals, the exam fee is $925 for early registration and $1,025 at the final deadline. Meanwhile, the corresponding $1,320 and $1,420 exam fees for non-members include a one-year membership in the AFP. Study materials can cost between $175 ($275 for non-members) for just the essentials or $860 ($960) for the more comprehensive Treasury Learning System. If you have to retake the exam, the cost is $250.

Why Become A CTP?

Earning the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) designation is a significant step for finance professionals who want to deepen their expertise and advance their careers in corporate treasury and finance. This certification, awarded by the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP), demonstrates a high level of knowledge and skills in cash management, financial risk management, corporate liquidity, and working capital management.

The CTP credential not only provides a competitive edge in the job market by setting professionals apart from their peers but also signals to employers a commitment to maintaining the highest industry standards and best practices. With the CTP, professionals gain access to a network of treasury and finance experts, continuing education opportunities, and resources that keep them abreast of evolving industry trends.

This designation can open doors to advanced career roles, increase earning potential, and establish the professional as a trusted expert within the field. Ultimately, the CTP is more than just a credential—it’s an investment in professional growth, credibility, and career progression in the treasury and finance industry.

Bottom Line

A certified treasury professional can help businesses manage and operate their corporate treasuries. It’s a job that emphasizes cash and capital management, with a CTP keeping a close eye on the company’s cash flow. As corporate treasury management grows more complex, a CTP is in ever-greater demand. Though the CTP certification may earn you a pay raise, it is more likely to offer additional job security by assuring future employers you can keep their books in line.

Tips For Your Own Treasury

Need a version of a CTP for your personal finances? An advisor can fill that role for you. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Interested in giving out smart, sound financial advice? Try checking out the career path to becoming a financial advisor to figure out if this is the right fit for you.
Don’t sit around in your job unless you love it. The CTP can be a great step forward for the right career, but finding the right market is critical. If you’re ready to advance, check out these top 10 cities for doing so.