An excellent communicator who is adaptive to change, while being resourceful and thinking critically. This is the profile in demand today at corporate treasuries, according to 250 executives in a survey by Refinitiv (the former financial and risk business of Thomson Reuters).
Big ones heavy on liquidity
Some competences appear consistently sought-after when corporations staff their treasury teams. According to the survey, cash and liquidity management is seen as a key skill at the largest corporations, those with a turnover of more than $10 billion.
In businesses of all sizes, the treasurer is also expected to be handy with capital structuring, reporting, investment management and some tax-planning. And at businesses of all sizes, the ability to assess risks critically is now considered among the most important skills.
The role has evolved
“In the aftermath of the financial crisis, corporate treasury teams were thrust into the spotlight when businesses prioritized cash flow as banks’ appetites to lend waned,” says Ritu Singh, Refinitiv’s European market development lead for corporate treasury.
“Since 2008, the role of the corporate treasurer has evolved from that of a diligent back-office function, to increasingly become more of a strategic advisor to the board.”