In this episode of the Treasury Career Corner podcast, I’m joined by Catherine Porter, the former EMEA Treasury Director at CBRE. Catherine shares stories from past roles and the struggles of returning to work after maternity leave. Catherine also offers some great career advice for treasurers and anyone who is thinking about pursuing a career in finance.

With broader and deeper capabilities than any other company, CBRE is the leading full-service real estate services and investment organisation in the world. CBRE Group, Inc. is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with 2019 revenues of $23.9 billion and more than 100,000 employees (excluding affiliate offices).

CBRE has been included on the Fortune 500 since 2008, ranking #128 in 2020. It has also been voted the industry’s top brand by the Lipsey Company for 19 consecutive years and has been named one of Fortune’s “Most Admired Companies” for eight years in a row, including being ranked number one in the real estate sector in 2020, for the second consecutive year.

CBRE offers a broad range of integrated services, including facilities, transaction and project management, property management, investment management, appraisal and valuation, property leasing, strategic consulting, property sales, mortgage services and development services.

Catherine started out in audit and after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant moved into broad finance roles and also worked in continental Europe for several years, mostly in Germany. She 'discovered' treasury when she stopped for a career break and is now a Fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT). Catherine currently chairs the Membership Advisory Panel at the ACT.  

On the podcast we discussed…

• Catherine's early career
• Why it’s important to take some ‘edgier opportunities’ when you’re young
• Essential skills that every treasurer needs to be successful
• The struggles of being a returning mother trying to find a new role in treasury
• Why Catherine considers her role as Head of Treasury at Cancer Research UK to be her big break
• Important exams and courses to help build your treasury career
• How to improve your communication skills
• Catherine discusses where she sees her career going next
• Why you need to complete your education and continue to work hard

Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn.

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