Estefani Ashbrook, CTP

CTP Profile: No Day is the Same in Treasury

Many treasury professionals seem to just “fall into” the profession, and Estefani Ashbrook was no exception. In fact, “My hiring manager had just stumbled upon treasury and fully embraced it. He was my mentor and role model,” she said.

While covering for an operations accounting staff accountant on maternity leave, an unexpected opportunity arose when a treasury analyst resigned—and Estefani was offered the position. Today, she is the Treasury & Accounts Receivable Supervisor for Silgan Containers LLC.

When asked why she remained in the profession after stumbling upon it, Estefani said she appreciates the broad view treasury provides of both accounting and finance. “You get to collaborate with a multitude of departments and colleagues, and no day is the same,” she said.

It’s All About the Forecast

Whether it’s Estefani’s favorite tasks or the team’s greatest current challenge, forecasting is the keyword. “I really enjoy the cash forecasting side of treasury — building the forecast and using it to spot areas for improvement,” she said.

The process of building the forecast provides visibility across departments that don’t always communicate directly, which in turn creates opportunities to connect the dots and drive better decision-making. In fact, one of Estefani’s greatest career achievements thus far is the development of a detailed cash forecasting model that improves precision and makes it easier to identify and explain variances. “It’s helped us not only forecast more accurately, but also better understand the story behind the numbers,” she said.

The greatest challenge her team is currently facing is related to forecasting as well: access to information. The accuracy of their medium-term cash forecast relies on inputs from other forecasts, e.g., sales, operations and capital planning. If they don’t have full visibility into those underlying details, the forecast becomes far less valuable.

Estefani is meeting this challenge by engaging with the other departments/units, and educating them on the cash impact of certain actions. “As a result, they have become more forthcoming,” she said.

The Skills Needed — and Wanted

The knowledge needed to succeed in the field of treasury, according to Estefani, is largely transferred and self-taught. There is no one specific degree or training program for success, though she said the pursuit of the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) credential helped round out her treasury experience and knowledge.

In recent years, there has been a tremendous increase in the emphasis on soft skills in the treasury profession — and with good reason. “Treasury is a high-risk area, so critical thinking and attention to detail are pivotal skills for your day-to-day performance,” said Estefani. Being able to engage in big-picture thinking while fitting together smaller parts of the puzzle is also important.

Given the high-risk nature of the profession, it stands to reason that Estefani is focused on strengthening her skills and knowledge of risk management, compliance and regulations — giving her a stronger foundation on which to leverage her strategic-thinking skills into sound decision-making.

She Gained More Than Knowledge in Pursuit of the CTP

“However good the on-the-job training was, the treasury knowledge I gained was limited to the tasks and responsibilities of the role I was in,” said Estefani. As treasury became the sole focus of her career, she decided it was time to build on that knowledge with the CTP designation.

The first step she took in preparation for the exam was to make use of the AFP exam prep platform. “It was a great complement to the Essentials of Treasury Management book,” she said. Joining virtual study groups and participating in the exam prep bootcamps further enhanced her chances of success.

“Earning the CTP designation has increased my confidence,” said Estefani. “I’m able to present ideas more effectively, backed by the knowledge that they’re grounded in industry best practices. I also feel empowered to suggest improvements based on the new knowledge and expertise I’ve gained. Plus, now I’m connected to a network of peers with whom I can exchange ideas, ask questions and get insights on real-world challenges.”

In her final comments, Estefani said she would recommend the CTP to “anyone who wants to build a career in treasury.”

Advance your treasury career with the CTP designation. Start the application today!