Treasury has always had a boom-or-bust relationship with the spotlight. In a crisis, it’s centre stage! But when things calm down, it risks fading back into the shadows.
If you’re a treasurer, you’ve probably lived through this trend. It’ll go…
- From calm, to…
- CRISIS mode!!!
- Then to semi-crisis mode
- And back to calm
How do you know where it’s at? Well, most treasurers will probably relate to this…
Before a crisis, you might only bump into the financial director in the corridor. A quick hello, maybe a nod. That’s it.
Then the crunch comes along…
Suddenly, you’re having daily meetings with the FD about liquidity. Morning coffee together, sitting down with the bank, going through the cash position line by line…
Every. Single. Day.
That’s when treasury is firmly in the spotlight. And it can be intense. But most treasurers I know thrive on that.
But eventually, things calm down…
Daily meetings became weekly, then monthly. And before long, it’s back to those quick corridor hellos.
That’s the cycle.
Personally, I can always tell where it’s at based on what I hear from my clients. For instance, when I call or email during a crisis, they’ll say:
“Mike, I’d love to talk… but I just haven’t got the time.”
Then, as things begin to settle, the same client would say:
“I still can’t meet, but I do want to know what’s going on at the moment.”
Then, once it’s calmed completely, I’m back to normal and my inbox is filled with messages saying:
“Mike, we need to recruit for this role – can you help?”
It’s in the turbulent times that everyone wants treasury front and centre…
Otherwise, the spotlight shifts back to sales, growth, and expansion, while treasury risks fading into the background.
But I’ve said it before:
Treasury professionals aren’t risk-averse, they’re risk-aware.
So, I understand why many are staying put right now. You’re waiting for the right move, not just any move.
That’s smart. But calmer markets are also when you need to be planning your next step and protecting your influence inside the business.
So, here’s what I’d be doing if I were you:
- Prove your value while times are good. Don’t wait for a crisis to remind people why you matter.
- Keep your internal network alive. If sales, tax, and FP&A forget what you do, your seat at the table gets shaky.
- Plan your next move before you need it. The best time to map your career is when you’re not under pressure.
The spotlight will swing back to treasury eventually. It always does.
But the real pros don’t just wait for a crisis to shine. They make themselves impossible to ignore and keep the spotlight on them year-round.
Best regards,
Mike
P.S. Has your visibility dipped because things feel calmer? Let me know. Maybe I can share a few ways to get you back in front of the right people.
