Intermediate Treasurer Certification — Tier 1 to Tier 2

Status: v1.0 draft. £25 paid course (scholarship-eligible). The gating qualification for progression from Tier 1 (Community Builder, probationary, max 3 Circles) to Tier 2 (Community Organiser). Open to Tier 1 Treasurers who have served at least 9 months with no upheld conduct findings and clean Standing.

Course at a glance

| Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Fee | £25 (or jurisdictional equivalent); scholarship-eligible | | Format | Self-paced; ~16 hours total study | | Modules | Eight | | Assessment | 50-question multiple-choice + one case-study response | | Pass mark | 42 / 50 MCQs (84%) AND case-study graded "satisfactory" or above | | Time limit | 90 minutes for MCQ; 30 minutes for case-study | | Retake policy | After 30 days; £15 retake fee; max 3 attempts within 12 months | | Open book | No — assessment is closed-book | | Certification valid for | 36 months; refresh by 36-month re-examination | | Prerequisite | Foundation Certification passed + 9 months as Tier 1 Treasurer + clean Standing |

Why this course exists

Tier 1 is probationary — capped at three Circles, with mandatory mentor pairing — because the practical work of running a Circle through difficult cycles is learned in the doing. The 9-month minimum at Tier 1 ensures the Treasurer has lived through at least one full cycle, ideally two, and has experienced what it feels like when a Member misses a contribution, when there is a dispute, when a Treasurer needs to defend a difficult decision.

The Intermediate Certification tests what the Treasurer has learned. It does not test theoretical knowledge alone — Modules 4–7 are practitioner modules built on case studies. The case-study response in the assessment requires the Treasurer to demonstrate judgment, not just recall.

Passing unlocks Tier 2 (Community Organiser), which removes the 3-Circle cap and introduces the Multi-Circle Coordination protocol.

Module 1 — The Custody Framework in operation

Learning outcomes. After Module 1, the Treasurer can:

• Operate Category A custody under either the Member-to-member or escrow-held model.
• Recognise when a Circle's Member-vote should be re-opened (jurisdiction change, scale, Member preferences).
• Open and operate a Category B escrow account (loans + CPR) at a regulated bank or credit union.
• Identify the cross-border triggers that move a Circle into Category C (and the escrow-only requirement).

Topics covered. Operationalising the Custody Framework. Bank-account opening procedures for Member-to-member Category A. Multi-signature operations for Category B. The KYC-on-bank-relationship requirements. Reconciliation discipline. The reporting cadence to the Member body. What to do when banking fails (account closure, KYC dispute, currency restriction). Working with a custody co-operative service provider.

Module 2 — The Treasurer Code of Conduct in practice

Learning outcomes. After Module 2, the Treasurer can:

• State and apply the six Pillars (fiduciary care, custodianship of trust, communication isolation, cultural humility, mediation as first response, transparency).
• Recognise breaches and near-breaches of each Pillar in their own practice.
• Engage the Treasurer Council process for routine compliance review.
• Identify when a matter should be escalated to the Selection Committee.

Topics covered. Walkthrough of the six Pillars with case studies. Communication-isolation enforcement (the platform's gated walls between Circle messages, mediation messages, dispute proceedings, public Pulse). The cultural-humility commitment in mixed-tradition Circles. When to mediate vs. when to adjudicate. How transparency works without violating mediation privilege. The Treasurer's own record-keeping discipline.

Module 3 — The TEP fee mechanism

Learning outcomes. After Module 3, the Treasurer can:

• Distinguish the four TEP components (Activation Bonus, Residual Earnings, Retention Bonus, Health Bonus) and what each rewards.
• Generate, send, and reconcile their own Treasurer-issued invoices.
• Understand the platform-economy positioning — Treasurer fees are paid by Circlworld for services rendered, not extracted from Member contributions.
• Apply the certification-deduction option for paying course fees from accrued TEP fees.

Topics covered. The TEP Methodology v1.0 + v2 Amendment Rider. The four compensation components in detail. The §4.1 invoice procedure. The relationship between tier progression and TEP eligibility. The contractor framing (Uber-protective) — what it means for the Treasurer in practice (autonomy, no employment classification, business-expense treatment of certification fees, scholarship eligibility for fees that disproportionately affect their jurisdiction).

Module 4 — Handling difficult cycles (practitioner)

Learning outcomes. After Module 4, the Treasurer can:

• Manage a missed contribution with care: private outreach, mediation offer, escalation criteria.
• Manage Member departure (Bylaws Category A — voluntary; Category B — for cause; Category C — exceptional) per Bylaws.
• Apply the Circle Protection Reserve (CPR) when appropriate; recognise when CPR is not the answer.
• Document a difficult cycle so the Member Activity Record reflects what happened.

Topics covered. Case-study walkthrough of three difficult cycles: (i) a missed contribution by a Member experiencing hardship, (ii) a Member who wishes to depart voluntarily mid-cycle, (iii) a Member whose conduct merits removal. The CPR mechanism in detail (v1.1 architecture). The Bylaws categories of departure (A/B/C). Member Activity Record event recording.

Module 5 — The Member Activity Record

Learning outcomes. After Module 5, the Treasurer can:

• Understand the audit-trail architecture (Trust Passport / Credibility Report / Member Activity Record).
• Recognise the four-layer custody for Member records.
• Generate appropriate event records for Circle activity.
• Recognise the Hardship waiver and Legal Proceedings discount pathways.

Topics covered. The Member Activity Record Methodology v1.0. The verifiability-backbone architecture. SHA-256 signing. The Member's right to dispute their own record. The Treasurer's responsibility to ensure records are accurate.

Module 6 — Treasurer Council, Selection Committee, and the Scholarship Pool

Learning outcomes. After Module 6, the Treasurer can:

• Understand the Treasurer Council's mandate, election procedure, term lengths.
• Engage the Treasurer Council for routine compliance review or to propose a Code of Conduct amendment.
• Understand when the Selection Committee is constituted (material tier promotions, demotions, removals, material conduct breach).
• Identify Scholarship Pool eligibility for themselves or a Treasurer they mentor.

Topics covered. The Treasurer Council Charter v1.0. The Selection Committee Charter v1.0 (constitution per proceeding; procedural protections). The Scholarship Pool Operating Procedure v1.0. How peer governance differs from staff governance. The procedural rights the Treasurer is entitled to under a Selection Committee proceeding.

Module 7 — Cross-Circle coordination (Tier 2 preview)

Learning outcomes. After Module 7, the Treasurer can:

• Manage multiple concurrent Circles (preparing for the Tier 2 release of the 3-Circle cap).
• Apply the Multi-Circle Coordination protocol (de-conflicting cycles, managing personal capacity, recognising burnout signals).
• Recognise when to refer a Member to the Wellbeing Centre's Care Concierge.

Topics covered. Capacity-management techniques. The Wellbeing Centre Charter (focus on Care Concierge surface). The Help Office routing. Co-Treasurer arrangements. Mentor-mentee pairing in the Treasurer Council mentor scheme.

Module 8 — The constitutional architecture for Treasurers

Learning outcomes. After Module 8, the Treasurer can:

• Read and apply the seven Treasurer-architecture documents (Custody Framework, Code of Conduct, TEP v2 rider, Treasurer Agreement v2, Council, Selection Committee, Scholarship Pool).
• Understand the Uber v Aslam contractor-classification position and why the architecture is designed the way it is.
• Recognise the right of appeal pathway (Selection Committee → DSC).

Topics covered. Reading-order guide to the seven Treasurer-architecture documents. The Autoclenz substance test. The contractor reality: invoices, autonomy, certification-as-business-expense, peer governance. The relationship to the Dispute Settlement Centre.

Assessment — sample MCQ bank

Below are 20 sample questions of the type that appear on the live assessment. The live exam draws 50 MCQs from a larger bank with the same difficulty distribution. The case-study response is set separately.

Q1. A Tier 1 Treasurer's Circle votes for Category A Member-to-member custody under §4 of the Bylaws. Six months in, two new Members are added — one of whom is a resident in another EU country. What changes?

A. Nothing. The Member-to-member vote stands. B. The Circle now triggers Category C (cross-border) and must move to escrow-only custody; a new Member vote is required to confirm the Bylaws update. C. Only the new Members' contributions go to escrow; the rest stay Member-to-member. D. The Treasurer must move all funds to escrow within 7 days.

Correct: B. Rationale: The cross-border trigger is "Members in more than one jurisdiction." Once triggered, Category C requires escrow-only custody for all subsequent contributions. The Bylaws must be updated to reflect the change and a Member vote (75% supermajority for mid-life custody change) is required.

Q2. A Treasurer notices a Member has missed two contributions. The Member has not responded to two private messages. Which of the following is the Treasurer's appropriate next step under Pillar 5 (mediation as first response)?

A. Open a DSC Adjudication proceeding. B. Strike the Member from the Circle Bylaws. C. Offer a Mediation session through the DSC and inform the Member that mediation is private and without prejudice. D. Notify the other Members of the missed contributions.

Correct: C. Rationale: Mediation is structured. It is not "more private outreach" — it is engaging the DSC's Mediation room, which is privileged. The Treasurer should not breach the Member's privacy by broadcasting the missed contributions to the rest of the Circle.

Q3. A Treasurer wants to deduct the £150 Advanced Certification fee from their accrued TEP fees. Under TEP v2 §7.1(g), this is:

A. Not permitted — the certification fee must be paid by external transfer. B. Permitted — the Treasurer can elect to have the platform deduct the fee from their next TEP fee accrual. C. Permitted but requires Treasurer Council approval. D. Permitted but only for Treasurers in Tier 3 or above.

Correct: B. Rationale: The TEP-deduction option is an honest, friction-reducing answer to the business-expense framing. It is available at any tier — the Treasurer can elect to have certification fees deducted from accrued TEP fees.

Q4. A Treasurer received a Selection Committee notice indicating that a material Code of Conduct violation is being assessed. The Treasurer's procedural rights include all but which one of the following?

A. Written notice of the allegation in advance of the hearing. B. Full access to all evidence the Committee will consider. C. A representative of their choosing (peer-Treasurer, Member, or external counsel) at the hearing. D. The right to refuse to provide a written response.

Correct: D. Rationale: Procedural rights include written notice, full evidence access, representation, witness rights, cross-examination, and reasoned decision. The Treasurer is entitled (and expected) to provide a written response — refusing is procedurally legitimate but practically harmful; "the right to refuse" is not framed as a procedural right but as an option.

Q5. The platform-economy positioning of TEP fees is that they are paid by:

A. Members of the Circle, deducted from their contributions. B. Circlworld, in return for the Treasurer's services as an independent contractor. C. The Circle's CPR. D. A combination of the above, depending on the cycle.

Correct: B. Rationale: TEP fees are platform fees. They are paid by Circlworld for services rendered. They are never sourced from Member contributions — that would breach the non-custodial principle.

Q6. A Circle has 8 Members. A Member proposes a mid-cycle custody-model change (from escrow-held to Member-to-member). What threshold is required?

A. 4 votes (simple majority). B. 5 votes (62%). C. 6 votes (75% supermajority). D. 8 votes (unanimous).

Correct: C. Rationale: Custody Framework §6.2 requires 75% supermajority for mid-life custody change. 75% of 8 is 6.

Q7. The Treasurer Council's election method is:

A. Plurality voting (first-past-the-post). B. Approval voting. C. Single Transferable Vote (STV) with geographic and tier balance overrides. D. Appointment by Circlworld staff.

Correct: C. Rationale: The Council Charter §3.4 specifies STV with balance overrides for geography and tier.

Q8. The CPR's standard contribution rate is 10% — applied to:

A. The Treasurer's TEP fee. B. Each Member's regular contribution. C. Profit on lending pool activity. D. The platform's revenue.

Correct: B. Rationale: CPR v1.1 specifies 10% of each Member's contribution flows to CPR. Catastrophic pathway is 25%.

Q9. A Member chooses to depart a Circle voluntarily and notifies the Treasurer per Bylaws Category A. The Member has not yet received their cycle. What is the Treasurer's responsibility?

A. Refuse — Members cannot depart voluntarily. B. Coordinate the departure per Bylaws Category A: refund contributions less any cycle activity, update the Bylaws, ensure the Member Activity Record reflects the departure cleanly. C. Demote the Member's Standing. D. Apply the CPR to compensate the Member.

Correct: B. Rationale: Bylaws Category A is voluntary departure. The Member is entitled to their contribution position. The CPR is for catastrophic events, not voluntary departures.

Q10. The Member Activity Record is generated at the time of:

A. Each cycle's completion. B. Each material Circle event (cycle, dispute, departure, KYC change, governance vote outcome). C. Annually. D. Only on Member request.

Correct: B. Rationale: The Methodology specifies event-level generation. The Member can request a Trust Passport snapshot at any time.

Q11. A Treasurer is paired with a mentor through the Treasurer Council mentor scheme. The mentor's relationship is:

A. Authoritative — the mentor can direct the Treasurer. B. Advisory and confidential — the mentor offers guidance, the Treasurer remains accountable. C. Disciplinary — the mentor reports to the Selection Committee. D. Employer-like — the mentor manages the Treasurer.

Correct: B. Rationale: Mentor relationships are confidential and advisory. The Treasurer remains independently accountable.

Q12. A Member's Circle has the Member-to-member custody model (Category A by vote). The Treasurer becomes seriously ill mid-cycle. What is the Circle's recourse?

A. The cycle is suspended and the Member contributions are returned. B. The Treasurer's bank account is frozen by Circlworld. C. The Treasurer Council nominates a substitute Treasurer; if appointed by Circle vote, the substitute Treasurer assumes Member-to-member custody under the Circle's existing Bylaws (substitute Treasurer is a personally-vouched-for individual in the same jurisdiction). D. The Circle is dissolved.

Correct: C. Rationale: The Treasurer Council Charter §6.3 establishes the substitute-Treasurer nomination procedure. The Circle's vote confirms the substitute. The custody model continues unless the Circle votes to change it.

Q13. The Cultural Architecture Policy v2.0 directs that disputes involving tradition-specific context should be:

A. Decided by Cultural Advisors who have authority over the matter. B. Handled case-by-case in the Dispute Settlement Centre, with the Circle's Bylaws and Members' direct testimony as the authoritative sources. C. Referred to outside ethnographers. D. Resolved exclusively by majority vote of the Circle.

Correct: B. Rationale: Policy v2.0 retired the Cultural Advisor authority layer. Cultural context is preserved by Bylaws and Member-led process, not by an external authority.

Q14. A Member at Tier 1 has completed 9 months and is now eligible to apply for Tier 2. The first requirement is:

A. The Treasurer Council's approval. B. Successful completion of the Intermediate Treasurer Certification. C. A vote by the Member's existing Circles. D. A £150 promotion fee.

Correct: B. Rationale: The Intermediate Certification is the gating qualification. Council review and clean Standing are also prerequisites — but the Certification is the first requirement.

Q15. The Treasurer's role in mediation is to:

A. Decide the outcome of the dispute. B. Facilitate communication between Members and offer cultural / contextual framing while preserving mediation privilege; not to decide. C. Defer entirely to the DSC. D. Force a settlement.

Correct: B. Rationale: Treasurer mediation role is facilitative. Decisions are not the Treasurer's to make. Mediation outcomes are recorded as agreed by the parties or escalated.

Q16. A Tier 1 Treasurer is approached by a Member of a Circle to "advance" some of the Circle's funds for a personal emergency. The Treasurer's correct response is:

A. Advance the funds and document it. B. Decline. Circle funds are not the Treasurer's to advance. The Member can apply to the Help Office for the Hardship Waiver Pathway and, if eligible, to a Lending Center pool. C. Take a vote of the Circle. D. Notify the Selection Committee.

Correct: B. Rationale: The Treasurer is a custodian of trust, not of discretionary funds. Advance loans from Circle funds breach the fiduciary duty. Direct the Member to the proper channels.

Q17. The Treasurer-issued invoice for TEP fees is sent to:

A. The Members of the Circle. B. The Treasurer's bank. C. Circlworld (the platform), for the services rendered to the platform during the invoiced period. D. HM Revenue & Customs.

Correct: C. Rationale: TEP fees are platform-paid. The invoice is from the Treasurer (independent contractor) to the platform.

Q18. A Member's repeated late contributions reduce their Standing tier. The Treasurer's response should be:

A. Correct the Standing tier manually. B. Accept the Standing as computed — the Standing system is mechanical, not Treasurer-discretionary — and engage the Member privately about whether a Mediation or Hardship application is appropriate. C. Demote the Member from the Circle. D. Allow the Member to apologise publicly and restore the Standing.

Correct: B. Rationale: Standing is computed, not assigned. The Treasurer's role is care + private engagement, not Standing modification.

Q19. The Scholarship Pool is funded from all but which one of the following?

A. 5% of Tier 4 certification fees. B. Optional Member donations through a Storefront SKU. C. A £10,000/year platform commitment. D. Forfeitures from removed Treasurers.

Correct: D. Rationale: The three funding sources are the Tier 4 fees, Member donations, and the platform commitment. Forfeitures from removals do not fund the Scholarship Pool.

Q20. The right of appeal from a Selection Committee decision is to the:

A. Treasurer Council. B. Town Hall. C. Dispute Settlement Centre. D. Circlworld's CEO.

Correct: C. Rationale: Selection Committee Charter §13.1 and DSC Charter establish the appellate pathway.

Case-study assessment

In addition to the 50 MCQs, the assessment includes a 30-minute case-study response. The Treasurer is given a scenario such as:

"You are a Tier 1 Treasurer of a 6-Member Pardna circle in Birmingham. Member X (Cycle 2 recipient) has missed two consecutive contributions. They have responded to one private message saying they are 'going through some things.' Members Y and Z are starting to ask questions. The Circle's Bylaws have a 10% CPR contribution rate. The cycle is at month 4 of 6. Walk through what you would do, citing the relevant constitutional documents. Aim for 400–600 words."

A grader (a Selection Committee-eligible senior Treasurer) scores the response on:

• Recognition of Pillar 5 (mediation as first response).
• Recognition of Member X's privacy and the need for private outreach.
• Recognition of when (if at all) to inform the rest of the Circle.
• Recognition of the CPR's role + limitations.
• Recognition of the Hardship Waiver pathway.
• Recognition of when to involve the DSC's Mediation room formally.
• Communication discipline — what is shared with whom, on what surface.
• Clarity of reasoning + citation of the relevant documents.

Grades: Satisfactory / Strong / Excellent. "Below satisfactory" fails the case-study; the overall course fails.

Assessment policy

Pass mark and grading

42 / 50 MCQs (84%) + Satisfactory or above on case-study. Both required.

Time limit

90 minutes for the 50 MCQs. 30 minutes for the case-study. The MCQ section closes at the timer; the case-study response is editable until submission.

Retake policy

A failed first attempt may be retaken after 30 days. The retake fee is £15 (£5 for case-study only retake if MCQs were passed). Maximum 3 attempts within a rolling 12-month window. A 4th attempt requires Treasurer Council recommendation.

Identity verification

The Member must be at KYC Level 2 or above for the Intermediate Certification. KYC re-confirmation may be triggered before the assessment.

Open vs. closed book

The MCQ section is closed-book. The case-study section is closed-book as to AI assistance, but the Treasurer may reference the seven Treasurer-architecture documents.

Continuing development

Intermediate Certification is valid for 36 months. Refresh requires re-examination — passing the assessment again, with a fresh question bank. Continuing-development credits for participating in Council activities, mentoring a Tier 1, or serving on a Selection Committee panel can shorten or replace the 36-month re-examination requirement (subject to Pedagogy Council guidelines).

Scholarship Pool

A Treasurer in a jurisdiction where the £25 fee meets the 5% disparity threshold and has otherwise clean standing may apply to the Scholarship Pool for fee coverage. See the Scholarship Pool Operating Procedure for application details.

Recognition

Members who pass receive:

• The Intermediate Treasurer Certification badge in their Standing surface (Layer 2 + Layer 3 visibility).
• A verifiable certification entry visible on their public Treasurer Profile and on Treasurer applications to new Circles.
• Eligibility to apply for promotion to Tier 2 (Community Organiser).
• A SHA-256-signed certification record verifiable at /verify/cert/[id].

Cross-references

• Custody Framework Charter v1.0
• Treasurer Code of Conduct v1.0
• TEP Methodology v1.0 + v2 Amendment Rider
• Treasurer Partner Agreement v1.0 + v2 Amendment Rider
• Treasurer Council Charter v1.0
• Selection Committee Charter v1.0
• Certification Scholarship Pool Operating Procedure v1.0
• Member Activity Record Methodology v1.0
• CPR v1.1 Architecture
• Bylaws Categories of Departure (Exit & Reserve Policy)

— End of the Intermediate Treasurer Certification —

Version history

| Version | Date | Change | Process | |---|---|---|---| | v1.0 | 2026-06-03 | Initial draft | Drafted 2026-06-03; counsel + Pedagogy Council review required before publication |

Plain-language one-line summary

The £25 Intermediate Certification — eight modules, 50 MCQs + case-study — is the gating qualification from Tier 1 (Community Builder, max 3 Circles) to Tier 2 (Community Organiser, multi-Circle); requires 9 months at Tier 1 and clean Standing, valid for 36 months, scholarship-eligible.