Episode 283: Treasury Can Be More than a Support Function with Kurt Smith

In this episode of Treasury Leaders, host Philip Costa Hibberd, Co-founder of Automation Boutique, talks with Ben Poole, a journalist, editor, and interviewer specialising in corporate treasury and finance. They discuss the treasury's increasingly strategic role, the practical realities of AI adoption, real-time information, communication, and how treasurers can make better-informed decisions.

In this episode of Treasury Leaders, host Philip Costa Hibberd, Co-founder of Automation Boutique, talks with Jennifer Pearson, Founder & Treasury Consultant of TreasuryEdge, about building treasury functions in startups and scale-ups, bringing corporate treasury expertise into fast-growing businesses, and creating a successful career in treasury. Jennifer shares her journey from starting in finance at 18 through treasury roles at major organisations, including Procter & Gamble and Johnson Matthey, before moving into the startup world and launching TreasuryEdge. She explains why treasury is often overlooked in growing businesses, how poor treasury management can directly impact profitability, and why modern finance leaders need to take a more proactive approach to cash, FX, banking relationships, and risk management. The conversation explores the differences between treasury in large corporations and startups, the role of treasury technology, cash forecasting, banking strategy, treasury policies, and how young professionals can build successful careers in treasury by developing ownership, curiosity, and strong networks. Whether you're a treasury professional, CFO, founder, or someone considering a career in treasury, this episode offers practical insights into building resilient treasury operations and creating long-term business value. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why Treasury Matters Earlier Than Most Businesses Think. The Difference Between Corporate and Startup Treasury How to Build Strong Treasury Foundations Treasury Technology and Automation for Growing Businesses Building a Successful Treasury Career

In this episode of Treasury Leaders, host Jan-Willem Attevelt, Co-founder of Automation Boutique, talks with Tracey Knight, Principal at Real Treasury, about the evolution of corporate treasury, the growing role of technology and AI, and how treasury teams can make smarter decisions through automation. Tracey reflects on her 30-year treasury career, from manually collecting bank balances by phone to helping organisations navigate modern treasury technology. She shares practical insights on when companies should invest in treasury systems, the balance between buying and building technology, and how AI is changing forecasting, cash visibility, and treasury operations. The conversation also explores treasury technology selection, the rise of new treasury platforms, stablecoins, differences between US and European treasury practices, and the skills treasury professionals need to succeed in an increasingly digital future. Whether you're a treasury practitioner evaluating technology, a finance leader considering automation, or someone starting a career in treasury, this episode offers valuable perspectives on where treasury is today and where it's heading next.

In this episode of Treasury Leaders, host Jan-Willem Attevelt, Co-founder of Automation Boutique, talks with Nikos Polymenakos, Director of Treasury at Delta Foods SA, about the evolving role of treasury in modern business, the lessons learned from Greece’s financial crisis, and why treasury teams must move beyond operational tasks to become strategic business partners. Nikos shares how his unconventional path into finance shaped his perspective on treasury as a discipline rooted in business understanding, relationships, and creativity rather than pure mathematics. Drawing from his experience leading treasury and finance responsibilities across a decentralised FMCG group, he explains why cash flow visibility, liquidity management, and strategic forecasting are essential for sustainable growth. Whether you are focused on liquidity management, treasury transformation, forecasting, or the future of digital finance, this episode offers practical insights into how treasury leaders can create long-term strategic value for their organisations. What You’ll Learn in This Episode

In this episode of Treasury Leaders, host Philip Costa Hibberd, Founder of Automation Boutique, speaks with Matthias Depoorter, Group Treasury Manager at Euroports, about the realities of bringing treasury control into a highly decentralised organisation. Matthias shares how he is transforming treasury at Euroports by focusing on three key pillars: visibility, centralisation, and optimisation. With more than 100 entities, 180+ bank accounts, joint ventures, local banking relationships, and financing structure constraints, Matthias explains why traditional treasury models do not always fit real-world organisations. The conversation dives deep into practical treasury architecture, including overlay cash management structures, notional pooling, MT940 and MT101 messaging, local bank relationships, API connectivity, and the role of AI in cash forecasting and treasury analytics. Matthias also shares lessons learned from implementing a global treasury visibility project while balancing operational realities and change management. Whether you are building treasury infrastructure, improving cash visibility, or navigating decentralised banking environments, this episode provides practical insights into designing treasury structures that work in the real world. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Treasury Visibility First: Why daily cash visibility is the foundation for better treasury decisions. Centralisation in Decentralised Organisations: How to improve liquidity management without disrupting local banking relationships. Overlay Treasury Structures: How notional pooling and overlay banking can solve intercompany constraints. Treasury Technology & APIs: The practical realities of APIs, MT messaging, and treasury connectivity. AI in Treasury: How AI can support cash forecasting, bank fee analysis, and transaction insights. Treasury Change Management: Why treasury transformation requires balancing operational needs with strategic goals.