A good ACT to follow for career flexibility. (Institute News).

After qualifying as an ACMA in July 2000, the last thing on Michelle Russell's mind was further study. But her role as an assistant treasury manager of the global exposure group at Schroders Salomon Smith Barney, where she was responsible for monthly management reporting of foreign currency investments, led her to seek a qualification with the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT).

"After CIMA I thought that was end of studying," she says. "But then I saw the exemptions that were available for CIMA people pursuing the ACT qualification and I thought it would really help me in my day-to-day job." Students who completed their CIMA exams in 1995 or later are exempt from the first four papers and need only take papers five and six to gain the AMCT qualification.

Russell qualified as an ACMT in October 2001 and moved to Toyota Financial Services (UK) as an assistant treasurer in operations. She believes that having both qualifications has been essential for her progression. "Although an accounting background was not a prerequisite for the Toyota job, the head of the treasury team here is both ACT- and CIMA-qualified and recognises that they are mutually beneficial."

Russell is now responsible for risk management and is the treasury representative for a project to bring all accounting and back-office functions in-house. "ACT and CIMA go hand in hand," she says." Having both means that I can be flexible about my future career direction."