It’s always interesting when I speak to a candidate – not one I’ve placed, but someone who’s accepted a role through another recruiter.
There’s this particular moment I recognise now. It’s not even a sound. It’s the pause.
That long, heavy silence when I ask, “So, how’s it going?”
Honestly, you could make a cup of tea in the time it takes them to answer.
One candidate replied to me recently, “Mike… it’s mayhem.”
- Payroll problems across 60 countries
- 100+ bank accounts, no reconciliation
- Late payments every day
- And every morning, a new fire to put out somewhere in the business
She’d been sold a role that was supposedly settled, but it was anything but.
And I’ve heard this story many times before.
You’re promised calm waters…
The interview panel says, “We just need a bit of optimisation”…
Then by week three, you’re firefighting, wondering what you’ve walked into.
My take?
I’ve been asked before, “Mike, what if you get it wrong?”
Here’s the truth: I try very hard to give a realistic picture.
So, when someone asks, “What’s the role like?”, I don’t say, “It’s brilliant – everyone’s lovely and the sun shines every day.”
No. I’ll say, “It’s tough. The first three months will be character-building.”
Because there will be challenges. There will be messy bank structures, broken processes, and long hours.
But I also say this:
You can make a real difference from day one.
By six months, you’ll start to get control. By nine to twelve months, you’ll have the treasury under proper management.
That’s the honest picture.
And yes, sometimes people say, “Thanks, Mike, not for me.”
That’s fine.
I’d rather someone say no before joining than ring me a month later saying, “What have I done?”
More often though, I hear the opposite.
A few months in, someone calls and says, “You know what? It’s been tough, but I knew what to expect, and we’re turning it around.”
That’s when you know you’ve matched the right person to the right challenge.
But what do you do when reality doesn’t match the brochure?
You’ve got two tracks:
Track A: Try to fix it.
You’re being paid to do a job, so do it. But on your terms.
- Write a 90-day rescue plan.
- Prioritise visibility, cash control, payroll stability.
- Coach upwards (nicely): “Here’s the risk, here’s the quick win, here’s what success looks like in two weeks.
- Track every outcome – those achievements will help you in your next interview, even if you move on.
Track B: Assess your options.
You don’t need to quit on Friday. But you can quietly test the market.
- Take exploratory calls.
- Benchmark your worth.
- Stay open, but not desperate.
As I’ve said many times:
“The best time to look for a job was yesterday. The second-best time is today.”
Sometimes it gets better. Sometimes it doesn’t.
But the smartest treasury professionals I know always have options and an exit plan if needed.
Because loyalty is great… just don’t let it turn into self-destruction.
Best regards,
Mike
