Recent Graduates Earn Certification in Treasury Management
JONESBORO – Two Arkansas State University graduates recently learned they passed the certified treasury professional (CTP) examination. Laci Solis and Joseph Stark, both of Jonesboro, passed the test.
The CTP certification, one of the premier certifications in finance, requires those sitting for the exams to demonstrate mastery of knowledge domains pertinent to corporate treasury management.
Solis and Stark both graduated from the College of Business in May 2017 with degrees in corporate financial management. Solis is a business analyst for Eco-Tint in Las Vegas, and Stark is a financial analyst for Bear State Bank. Both took a course in treasury management under Dr. Matthew Hill, assistant professor of finance and director of the Center for Treasury and Financial Analytics.
“The CTP examination is a difficult test and the questions are written by subject matter experts with decades of experience,” said Hill. “So, for both Laci and Joseph to pass the CTP exam without work experience in the treasury profession is a testament to their work ethic and their overall ability level. They are both exceptional students and are positioned to have successful careers.”
The Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) administers the CTP examination. The AFP is a professional society of over 16,000 treasury and finance professionals around the world that is committed to advancing the success of its members and their organizations.
Around 2,500 individuals register for the exam annually. The rigorous computer-based exam consists of 170 multiple-choice questions, and is given worldwide during two annual testing windows. The historical passage rate for the CTP examination is approximately 50 percent.
Since A-State is a member of the AFP’s university-based corporate treasury management program, Solis and Stark received a discounted textbook and were able to sit for the CTP exam at a reduced rate. Dr. Jim Washam, associate dean of undergraduate programs and associate professor of finance, led the effort to affiliate A-State with the AFP back in 1996.
“Passing the CTP gave me a great sense of achievement and has increased my self-confidence,” said Solis. “I am very excited with what the future will hold with the certification behind me and the optimism to know that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.”
Stark added, “It is gratifying to achieve the global standard in treasury excellence. Treasury management is crucial to the longevity of any business, and I am excited about the opportunities that will arise from possessing this designation.
“I am extremely grateful for the time, resources and leadership provided by Dr. Washam, Dr. Hill and the Center for Treasury and Financial Analytics in the College of Business. Furthermore, without the university’s long-standing relationship with the Association for Financial Professionals, I would never have been exposed to this certification.”
For more information about the A-State treasury management program and its recent graduates, contact Dr. Hill at 870.680.8046 or mdhill@astate.edu.
