ACTSA Newsletter & Festive Greetings

Dear Artemis
At the beginning of every year the ACTSA team walk into their beautiful offices overlooking Parktown and Westcliff and think about what lies ahead for the Association. And after a strong cup of coffee or two, we enthusiastically write up our to-do list and draft our calendar for the year. This year the calendar filled up fast and before we knew it we were already in the throes of our first event in February! The pace never stopped, but in between the hustle and bustle of what has been a busy year for us, we have had to deal with some harsh blows in the South African landscape with breaking news happening almost daily, which changed the mood of the country.

But looking beyond the frenetic news cycle ACTSA continued with is mission to provide both its members and potential members with ongoing networking opportunities, exposure to international treasury practices and creating a forum for the discussion of industry-specific issues. Upskilling remains one of our top priorities and this year we launched the Careers Page in an effort to target Treasury specific job vacancies. This was met with real positivity from our members, non-members and recruitment agencies which we hope will grow over the years and become a leading site to source treasury specific job vacancies.

As the year wraps up, and the festive season kicks in we are already looking at the 2020 calendar with great excitement. We look forward to sharing new events and what it will have to offer you. But first let’s first enjoy the holidays. We wish you all a wonderful festive period and a happy new year.

2019 Events

This year we had a busy year with many highlights including:

·         Digital Revolution in Banking and Treasury Conference

·         Breakfast Presentation: As the global business cycle ends, what does this mean for the ZAR?

·         Breakfast Presentation: Fintech frenzy – fad or financial transformer?

·         Johannesburg Breakfast & Cape Town Luncheon: OTC Derivatives Regulations

·         Cash Management Workshop

·         FX Global Code Breakfast and Panel Discussion

·         LIBOR Transition: What is it and how does it impact Corporate Treasury?

·         Separating Imperial Holdings into Imperial Logistics & Motus: The challenges faced from a treasurers perspective.

Careers Portal

ACTSA launched a treasury focused careers page on the website this year in August. After reviewing the feedback from our survey amongst our members it became clear that ACTSA is poised to provide the perfect platform for a treasury focused careers page, in the quest to continuously uplift and professionalise the treasury environment. The careers page is twofold. It allows job seekers, both members and non-members, interested in a career in treasury the opportunity to seek Treasury specific jobs posted on this page. And secondly, companies seeking the right person with the right skills, the platform will enable ACTSA Members the opportunity to post vacancies whereby the treasury skills required for the vacancy would be crystallised, to better understand the ultimate requirements of a true treasurer.

ACTSA sees its role as a means to raise the profile of our profession, providing a portal to education specifically designed for our field and an environment to share learning and experience. We would like to encourage our members to come forward and add to the organisation.

SA Treasurers Journal

The 2019 edition of the South African Treasurers Journal was entitled “Futureproofing Treasury”. This year ACTSA reduced its carbon footprint by printing less journals and offering it electronically for its members only. If you missed the email please click here to read this year’s journal.

The journal is published in association with Treasury Management International (TMI) who are based in the UK, and is circulated to our members here in South Africa and it is available online as well as being distributed as a supplement together with their publication.

FX Committee

ACTSA, through our representation on the South African Foreign Exchange Committee (SAFXC) was requested by the South African Reserve Bank to ask our members to participate in a survey project undertaken by the Global Foreign Exchange Committee (GFXC).

ACTSA fully endorses this Code as it is in the interest of conforming to International Best Practice in the FX market. We ask that you familiarise the Code and endeavour to align your activities within it.

Education

ACTSA is in continued discussions with the University of the Orange Free State Business School to advance our Treasury Learning initiatives, modernising its delivery to a more accessible on-line platform-based system. During the course of the coming year, we expect to be able to provide our members with this.

IGTA

General Manager Artemis Galatis attended this year’s IGTA conference held in New York, jointly held with the National Association of Corporate Treasurer NACT) of the US. One of the highlights of the conference was the Treasurers Talking to Treasurers Forum. It was an open forum, closed-door exchange of views on key issues facing corporate treasurers. We anticipate hosting a similar event in Johannesburg in the 2020 whereby we encourage corporate treasures to engage with each other, share ideas and scenarios. If you havent already read the IGTA e-Journal please click here.

Upcoming Events for the first quarter in 2020

·         Hedge Accounting Breakfast Event

·         ACTSA Annual Conference

·         Breakfast Event: The anatomy of a loan agreement and what borrowers should look out for.

·         Treasurers talking to treasurers forum – real issues and solutions