When Treasury Chooses You: Insights from a Recent LinkedIn Poll

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:

  • By accident: 56%
  • Clear career choice: 28%
  • A friend/colleague referred me: 13%
  • Other (please comment): 3%

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.

  • Possible Reason (Based on Industry Observations): There is a general industry consensus that Treasury is not commonly taught as a dedicated career path in many universities or business schools. Instead, finance programs often focus on broader areas (accounting, corporate finance, investment banking) without deeply emphasizing the operational intricacies of Treasury (like cash management, corporate funding, liquidity strategy). As a result, graduates may enter different finance roles, only to encounter Treasury later on and transition into it.
  • What We Do Know: Employers often recruit internally from other finance functions, or they look for specific skill sets (e.g., cash flow forecasting, risk management) that can be transferred from other finance or accounting departments. That process can lead to a Treasury role—somewhat unexpectedly—for professionals who show aptitude in these areas.

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.

  • What’s Behind This: Some higher education programs (particularly advanced finance or MBA programs) are gradually offering more specific courses in Treasury management. These specialized tracks can cultivate a stronger pipeline of individuals who know they want to focus on Treasury. Professional certifications (e.g., the Certified Treasury Professional, or CTP) can also signal a focused interest.
  • What We Don’t Know: The poll doesn’t specify how these individuals discovered Treasury so early on. Some may have had mentors in Treasury or come across corporate finance case studies that piqued their interest.

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.

  • Industry Context: Treasury roles can be quite niche. Often, hiring managers rely on trusted referrals because the function demands a mix of technical finance skills, risk acumen, and solid communication. If your friend or colleague vouches for your ability to handle such responsibilities, that endorsement can carry weight in the hiring process.
  • What We Don’t Know: The poll doesn’t break down how these referrals occurred—whether it was a formal referral through a corporate program or an informal introduction. Similarly, it doesn’t specify the extent to which these referrals involve specialized skills (such as currency risk management or corporate bond issuance), or if they are based more on trust and interpersonal chemistry.

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.

  • What We Do Know: Sometimes, large corporations rotate early-career finance professionals across multiple functions (controllership, FP&A, Treasury, etc.) as part of a leadership development program. A small subset might begin this rotation for reasons unrelated to the poll’s main categories, thus landing them in “other.”
  • What We Don’t Know: Without additional comments from those who chose “other,” the specifics remain unclear.

Why These Results Matter

  1. Awareness and Education: If the majority of professionals say they “fell” into Treasury, it raises questions about how visible Treasury career paths really are. Universities, professional associations, and employers might benefit from clarifying the role and impact of Treasury to encourage a more deliberate pursuit.
  2. Recruitment Strategies: For organizations that want a strong Treasury function, knowing that many candidates find their way there “accidentally” might warrant more proactive efforts—like targeted internships, clear job postings that define Treasury responsibilities, and internal mentorship programs.
  3. Professional Development: Those who enter Treasury without prior knowledge can face a steep learning curve. This underscores the need for robust onboarding, specialized training, and ongoing professional development (e.g., certifications like the CTP) to ensure they can quickly build the core treasury skills required.
  4. Networking: The fact that 13% landed in Treasury through referrals highlights the continued importance of professional networks. For those looking to break into the field, developing relationships at treasury-related conferences, workshops, or in professional associations may open unexpected doors.

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.

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