When Treasury Chooses You: Insights from a Recent LinkedIn Poll
Careers can take unexpected turns, and for many Treasury professionals, the path into their field seems to have been anything but straightforward. A recent LinkedIn poll posed the question, “How did you get into Treasury?” and the results offer a glimpse into the varied ways professionals land in this critical area of corporate finance. Here’s what we learned: Below, we’ll explore these findings, discuss some possible reasons behind them, and acknowledge where the data itself (rather than speculation) tells the story. 1. Most People Didn’t Plan on Treasury With 56% of respondents saying they arrived in Treasury “by accident,” it’s clear that a conventional, deliberate route into Treasury is not the norm—at least among this sample. This data point suggests that many professionals discover Treasury while working in another financial role, or perhaps stumble across an opportunity they hadn’t initially sought. 2. A Smaller Percentage Made a Conscious Choice Only 28% of respondents indicated that Treasury was a clear career choice from the start. This group—just over a quarter of participants—either studied Treasury specifically (perhaps through targeted courses or specialized programs) or were aware of the role early in their careers and actively pursued it. 3. Referrals and Networking Play a Role Another 13% reported landing in Treasury via referrals from friends or colleagues. While not the largest segment, it still underscores the importance of networking and industry connections in shaping careers. 4. The “Other” Category With 3% of respondents choosing “other,” there’s a tiny but real slice of people whose paths may not fit any of the main categories. Their reasons could range from internal transfers within a company’s finance department to academic research that led to a corporate treasury internship, among countless other possibilities. Why These Results Matter Final Thoughts The poll results reveal an interesting reality: for many people, Treasury isn’t something they set out to do—yet they end up thriving in it. That speaks both to the hidden nature of the field and the transferable skill sets that make a Treasury career possible. While we can infer some reasons from broader industry norms (limited academic exposure, niche skill requirements, reliance on referrals), the poll itself doesn’t offer every detail behind these routes. Ultimately, these insights should prompt more intentional conversations about raising awareness and providing structured avenues for entering Treasury. If you’re a hiring manager, you might consider ramping up outreach or creating clearer career pathways. If you’re just starting out in finance and find yourself drawn to cash management, risk assessment, or corporate liquidity strategies, Treasury might be worth a closer look—whether by design or, as the data suggests, “by accident.” Have your own Treasury story? Feel free to share in the comments section or send them to us as a blog. Understanding how others have navigated into Treasury can help demystify the field and encourage more transparency around the various routes that lead to this vital function in business. Also Read Join our Treasury Community Treasury Mastermind is a community of professionals working in treasury management or those interested in learning more about various topics related to treasury management, including cash management, foreign exchange management, and payments. To register and connect with Treasury professionals, click [HERE] or fill out the form below to get more information. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
Franklin
Top features to look for in in-house bank software
This article is written by Nomentia Executive summary: For global businesses looking to harmonize their cash management and gain control and visibility over their payment operations, an in-house bank is an obvious choice. In this article, we answer the following questions: What are the core functionalities of in-house bank software, and how does in-house bank software centralize the control of cash management? We also cover the benefits and the most important features of an in-house bank solution and how it can help manage intercompany transactions and loans. Read on to learn more about the top features to look for in in-house bank software. In-house bank: Centralized cash management, cost efficiency, visibility, and control? As things stand, many globally operating companies are burdened by cash management and treasury operations, where each of their subsidiaries or business units manages its own banking relationships and cash management independently. The reasons for this are common, as are the results: Questions like what our consolidated cash position is, what our true foreign exchange exposures are, and even what our overall liquidity risk is are difficult, if not outright impossible, to answer. As treasurer or a cash manager, you know the risks involved. In the long run, the situation is unsustainable. Something must be done and done right. As luck would have it, I chanced a word with Nomentia’s top expert about the top features of an in-house bank: Jouni Kirjola Jouni Kirjola is the Head of Solutions and Presales at Nomentia, bringing nearly 20 years of expertise to the role. Specializing in payments, cash forecasting, in-house banking, and reconciliation, Jouni has extensive experience and deep knowledge of financial solutions, making him a key leader in delivering tailored solutions that meet clients’ needs. What is an in-house bank? An in-house bank is a centralized financial entity within a corporation that acts as an internal banking unit. It is typically established by large multinational corporations to manage and optimize the company’s financial resources more efficiently. Key features of an in-house bank In-house bank software: Can you do without one? In action, an in-house bank could operate as follows: A multinational corporation with subsidiaries in various countries might use an in-house bank to centralize all financial transactions. For instance, if a European subsidiary needs funding, the in-house bank may lend money from the cash reserves of an Asian subsidiary, avoiding the need for external loans. This set up can bring several benefits, like: But there are also challenges like: It’s up to each organization to discern if the benefits of an in-house bank outweigh the challenges. Let’s compare: Feature / Capability In-house bank software Disparate cash management and banking systems Global operations support A centralized platform simplifies global operations with a unified structure for managing payments, intercompany transactions, and cash positions. Fragmented processes across regions lead to inconsistent practices, manual interventions, and higher complexity. Cash visibility Comprehensive, real-time view of cash positions across all entities with drill-down capability to specific subsidiaries, accounts, or currencies. Limited, often delayed cash visibility; data needs to be manually consolidated from various sources. Liquidity management Consolidates financial data across ERP, banks, and TMS for full liquidity insights and optimized cash pooling and cash concentration. Decentralized cash management: It is challenging to allocate and pool funds across subsidiaries, often increasing borrowing costs. Payment processing Centralized and automated payment hub; reduces errors, delays, and manual processing with templates and workflows for consistency. Multiple manual payment systems; increased risk of errors, inconsistencies, and delays in payment processing. Intercompany financing & settlement Automated intercompany loan management and netting reduce the need for external borrowing and simplify internal settlements. Complex, time-consuming intercompany settlements require extensive reconciliation, often incurring extra costs. Cash flow forecasting Automated, accurate forecasts incorporating historical trends, seasonality, and real-time data, allowing precise planning and analysis. Limited forecasting capabilities; manual data consolidation reduces accuracy and delays in forecasting. Currency management Multi-currency support with automated FX handling for global cash positions, reducing currency risk. Inefficient currency management often requires external hedging, adding cost and exposure to FX risks. Fraud prevention & compliance Role-based security, fraud detection, approval workflows, and sanctions screening ensure secure transactions and regulatory compliance. Inconsistent security protocols: higher risk of fraud and compliance issues due to lack of standardized control measures. Scalability Easily scales to support additional subsidiaries, transactions, and currencies as the organization grows. Difficult to scale; disparate systems need reconfiguration or replacements to handle increased transaction volume or new entities. Reporting & analytics Centralized, customizable dashboards with real-time reporting for monitoring, insights, and strategic alignment across the organization. Limited reporting: data consolidation is time-intensive, making it challenging to generate actionable insights. Operational efficiency Streamlined operations with automated workflows, reducing dependency on manual work, cutting operational costs, and improving speed. Higher operational costs due to redundancy, manual interventions, and inefficiencies across regions. Cost of implementation The initial investment may be higher, but it reduces long-term costs through increased efficiency, fewer errors, and centralized operations. Lower upfront costs but ongoing high costs due to inefficiencies, lack of centralization, and potential need for external services. Core features of in-house bank software: What to look for? Best Nomentia tools to set up an in-house bank Cash visibility, cash flow data consolidation and harmonization According to Jouni, companies should be asking: “What is our current cash position globally and by subsidiary? Or by currency? Are we accurately reconciling and clearing accounts on a daily basis?” Centralized cash visibility allows companies to manage liquidity, monitor bank relationships, and analyze cash movements on a global scale. By consolidating data into one view, the treasury can quickly assess cash positions and make informed decisions about liquidity allocation, funding needs, and investment opportunities. Payment hub for payment process standardization “What is the most efficient way to track and control our cash outflows? How do we ensure consistent and compliant payment processes across subsidiaries?” A centralized payment hub standardizes payment processes across subsidiaries, reducing manual intervention and enabling more effective cash and working capital management. Collection hub for collection-on-behalf-of (COBO) processes “How can we decrease banking fees and dependency on multiple bank accounts?” “Can we centralize payment processes to reduce…