Embracing technology to deliver value from treasury

| 16-08-2019 | TIS |

Join Giancarlo Laudini, SVP Global Sales & Marketing Operations, TIS and Ernie Humphrey, CEO, 360 Thought Leadership Consulting to discover what fuels career success in treasury in today’s world. We will discuss the evolving role of technology in treasury success, how to leverage technology it your advantage, and how to embrace business partnering to impact decisions across the enterprise.

 

Register here!

Date: 11th September 2019

Timing: 5 PM CET

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Bouke decided to explore the World of Treasury

| 15-08-2019 | by treasuryXL | Kendra Keydeniers

 

Bouke Weijmans graduated as Register Treasurer (RT) in 2014. Bouke has a strong interest in process optimization and building treasury departments from the start. He currently works at Aalberts Industries as a Cash and Treasury Manager.

Aalberts Industries is a Dutch manufacturer that engineers mission-critical technologies for ground-breaking industries and everyday life.

We asked him 7 questions about the RT program:

 

  1. What was your main reason to start a career in treasury?

    Actually I rolled into the field of treasury when working at Flow Traders. During my study business administration at the VU I always believed I would develop my self in the field of process optimization. About 6 months after I joined Flow Traders the person in charge of treasury left the company and I was asked to pick up the role.

  2. Why did you start with the RT program?

    Eager to learn more about my new role in treasury I started looking for opportunities to develop myself. As a former VU student I found following classes of the RT program was the best way for me to do this.

  3. What are key words that you would use to describe the program?

    The program is small scaled and interactive, which allows active discussion between teachers and students touching issues treasurers run in during their day to day work.

  4. Which topics covered were most interesting?

    I was still a little green in the world of treasury when I started. Therefore, the topics about treasury, cash management and corporate finance where really useful.

  5. What surprising elements did the program hold that you did not expect?

    I liked the fact you also get schooled in the field of fiscal law. It gave me a better understanding how transfer pricing works and what implications this can have for a company.

  6. Are you still in touch with your peers?

    I’m not in active WhatsApp groups, however the world of treasury is quite small and you run into each other from time to time. It’s always nice to catch up at such occasions.

  7. Did following the program influence your relation with your family, friends and/or colleagues?

    Following and preparing classes takes some time and planning which means sometimes you have to say no to social events. This can be difficult from time to time but no permanent harm has been done.

We have more RT stories to share with you. Read the RT story of Michel, Jarno, Mathieu and Richard and/or read more info about the RT program here.

The post-graduate Executive Treasury Management & Corporate Finance programme combines two finance disciplines: Treasury Management and Corporate Finance. These disciplines largely overlap and are inextricably connected.

After a successful completion of all required modules, the title of Registered Treasurer (RT) is conferred by the Registered Treasurer foundation.

As of last year the Register Treasurer (RT) program at the University of Amsterdam is taught in English. This is an important change as the program used to be in Dutch.

The course will start on 1 September 2019. Why wait? Apply today!

 

 

The Role of Netting in Cash Management

|13-8-2019 | treasuryXL | BELLIN

Increased cash flow efficiency, faster cash allocation and optimized FX management

Cash management is every company’s bread and butter. Considerably fewer companies make use of netting, despite its many advantages for cash management.

 

 

 



Netting supports companies in making their cash management more efficient and less costly by:

  • Boosting cash flow efficiency,
  • Consolidating invoices and enabling faster cash allocation,
  • Allowing companies to better calculate their FX exposure and hedge it strategically.

Cash management

Through cash management, companies ensure they can always meet their financial obligations. It allows them to allocate the required liquidity to the right entity, at the right time, in the right currency. For treasury to achieve that, all incoming and outgoing payments as well as account balances and forecasts must be visible. With access to complete and up-to-date information, treasury can monitor processes, plan liquidity based on forecasts and strategically manage cash in different currencies.

Netting

Companies that have implemented netting offset cash flow obligations between two parties and consolidate them to a net payment. Most companies use netting for balancing intercompany trade flows. However, it is also possible to integrate other parties as netting participants. Using internally-agreed conversion rates, companies can engage in cross-currency netting.

More information on netting: Netting: An Immersive Guide to Global Reconciliation

Videos on Reconciliation and Netting and Cash Management

The impact of netting on cash management

Netting takes a specific proportion of all cash flows and places them within the framework of a dedicated and structured process. This process, the netting run, is repeated at regular intervals. It can be divided into four steps:

  1. Data import
    Data is imported from the ERP system to the netting system.
  2. Data reconciliation
    The netting system automatically matches and consolidates submitted payables and receivables based on pre-defined parameters and creates a netting statement.
  3. Data sharing
    Once data has been matched and invoices consolidated, the netting center communicates the net amount to every netting run participant. It can be issued in their currency of choice.
  4. End of cycle
    The netting center makes one single payment to participants with a positive balance. Participants with a negative balance make one net payment to the netting center.

netting run

Netting boosts cash flow efficiency

By offsetting payables and receivables, netting reduces the number of transactions. In turn, this reduces cash-in-transit. And reduced cash-in-transit and minimal transactions make for reduced efforts when it comes to procuring liquidity, interest burden and payment processing.

In addition, the schedule of the netting run means payments are made on a specific date: instead of having to monitor countless different dates, treasury can lean back and wait for the end of the netting cycle.

Netting makes the lives of cash managers much more linear: they can plan accurately and allocate the exact amounts of required funds to accounts. This means that the company can keep floating assets to a minimum. Netting lends structure to complex processes and ensures opitmal allocation of cash flows.

Netting accelerates cash consolidation and allocation

All transactions between two parties result in accounts receivable for one company and accounts payable for the counterparty. The respective journal entry must show a zero balance. However, without a structured process in place, consolidation efforts are often far from straightforward. The different parties pursue different interests – either receivable- or payable-driven.

A good netting process seeks agreement between the parties and allows them to clarify any disagreements within a structured and automated framework. Agreement-driven netting encourages participants to submit accurate data. This makes for a much faster reconciliation process and makes it possible to automate several steps of the netting cycle. A speedy reconciliation process is followed by swift payment processing –  directly in the system and with one click – and makes for greater efficiency.

Faster consolidation has a positive impact on cash flows. At the same time, netting saves treasurers valuable time when it comes to monitoring invoices. Conversely, accountants no longer need to waste hours matching invoices. On average, time savings amount to 1-2 man-days per month per entity. For a group consisting of 10 entities, this equals 10 to 20 days per month and 240 days per year – a full-time position that can be dedicated to other tasks that add real value to the company.

 

Netting saves time

Netting optimizes FX management

Netting makes it easier for companies to manage their FX exposure, i.e. to optimize their FX management.

The payment terms defined as part of the netting cycle govern the timeframe between issuing an invoice and paying it. Companies that use cross-currency netting also set internal conversion rates for the currencies in question that apply to the respective netting cycle.

Having defined dates and rates, treasurers gain insight into an entity’s hedging requirements for a specific time period and can consolidate this sum to one hedging transaction. The netting center also defines the settlement price that is used to convert each entity’s FX payments to the respective settlement currency. This creates implicit hedging. The netting center can post and settle the transactions for each netting run participant without impacting the FX result. Entities transfer their actual currency exposure to the netting center, where it can be hedged strategically.

How netting optimizes FX management – an example:

As part of a monthly netting cycle, a company defines a payment term of 30 days. An entity issues and posts an invoice in March, which is paid in April. In February, the netting center defines the FX rate for March, and the March rate is identical with the settlement price for April. The netting center has complete visibility of currency requirements and can hedge the FX exposure centrally. Transaction and conversion costs are reduced to a minimum.

Netting FX-Management

 

Netting and cash management in a nutshell:

Netting is a powerful tool for companies to optimize their cash management. Netting lends structure to offsetting cash flows and puts them into a clearly defined timeframe, the netting cycle. This has the following benefits:

  • Very precise account planning
  • More efficient cash flows
  • Faster consolidation
  • Option to automate processes
  • Speeding up of the cash allocation process
  • Visibility of FX requirements
  • Strategic FX hedging

Interested in finding out more about whether netting is the right solution for you? Give BELLIN a shout or check out tm5, our intuitive treasury management system.

 

 

Dit zeggen Nederlandse bedrijven over hun renterisico

| 02-08-2019 | ICC Consultants | treasuryXL |

Recent heeft ICC een rente-enquête uitgevoerd onder haar relaties. In deze enquête werd één prangende vraag gesteld: Waarom dekt u uw renterisico (nog) niet in?

Hieronder ziet u hoe deze vraag beantwoord is:

Circa de helft geeft aan op dit moment geen renterisico te hebben. Deze groep bestaat uit bedrijven die geen financiering hebben (19%) en organisaties die hun renterisico al (deels) ingedekt hebben (32%). ICC denkt overigens dat dit laatste percentage aanzienlijk hoger ligt dan het landelijk gemiddelde omdat het hier ICC relaties betreft. Meerdere bedrijven hebben de afgelopen periode gebruik gemaakt van de prachtige, historische lage, renteniveaus.

De overige 50% van de respondenten heeft wel een renterisico en de meningen binnen deze groep zijn zeer verdeeld. Voordat we hier verder op inzoomen willen we u er op wijzen dat de swaprentes recentelijk nog weer verder gedaald zijn. De 10-jaars swaprente staat nu op ca. 0,2%. Aangepast aan de modaliteiten (bijv. 3-maands Euribor en 3% aflossing per jaar) van uw onderliggende financiering zou de ‘kale’ swaprente zelfs rond de 0,1% uitkomen. Tel daar gemakshalve een kleine 0,2% bankmarge bij op en u kunt uw rentelasten voor de komende 10 jaar mogelijk fixeren onder de 0,3%.​

ICC geeft hieronder een paar kanttekeningen bij een aantal gegeven antwoorden:

‘Wij willen wel (deels) indekken, maar pas als het Euribor tarief daadwerkelijk gaat oplopen’

Het is een keuze, om te willen wachten en pas te acteren bij daadwerkelijk oplopende Euribor rentes. U krijgt echter, juist nù, de opportunity om zekerheid te verkrijgen van langdurige zeer lage rentekosten. Bovendien is de kans reëel dat de lange rentes (al) zijn opgelopen, wanneer u in de toekomst van een variabele rente naar een gefixeerde rente(last) wilt gaan.

‘Wij dekken niet in, omdat ‘iedereen’ zegt dat de rente nog heel lang laag blijft (geen urgentie)’

Dit zou goed kunnen, maar een aantal ontwikkelingen wijst op meer inflatie in de toekomst. De druk op overheden om meer uit te geven neemt toe en de arbeidsmarkt is krap waardoor de lonen stijgen. Ook neemt het protectionisme toe, wat kan leiden tot hogere importtarieven en minder concurrentie. Als er eenmaal sprake is van (een) hogere inflatie(verwachting), dan zal de ECB daar dankbaar gebruik van maken en de rente gaan verhogen. Hogere rentes betekent voor banken, dat het aantrekkelijker wordt om meer krediet te gaan verstrekken. Terwijl de ECB ‘monetaire munitie’ moet opbouwen – o.a. via renteverhogingen – om daarmee een volgende crisis te bestrijden.

Daarnaast bent u vermoedelijk geen rentespeculant. Als u als ondernemer voor continuïteit gaat, dan is het zo lang mogelijk zekerstellen van de laagst mogelijke operating costs misschien wel een beter beleid, dan het nastreven van de allerlaagste rentekosten op enig moment.

‘Wij willen wel (deels) indekken, maar onze bank werkt niet mee’

De redenen die wij hier voor horen zijn divers en verschillend per bank. Enerzijds heeft dit te maken met de cliëntkwalificatie en de verbonden Mifid-wetgeving, anderzijds met de (vereiste) aanwezige kennis binnen het bedrijf. ICC wordt dikwijls gevraagd om (vooraf) de (on)mogelijkheden hiervan te bekijken; met inbreng van onze kennis & ervaring weet u daadwerkelijk hoe ver u kunt komen en is er vaak meer mogelijk bij uw bank.

‘We dekken niet in omdat we niets meer met renteswaps te maken willen hebben’

Dit is een reden, die we vaak horen. Slechte ervaring vanuit het verleden en daarom doe ik het maar niet meer. Opgemerkt hierbij, dat de voor- en nadelen van renteswaps nu veel beter bekend zijn en u kunt zich hierover laten adviseren. Des te meer een opvallende reden, aangezien men in het verleden ‘massaal’ de rentes afdekte op een renteniveau van rond ca. 5%, terwijl de rentemarkt nu nagenoeg op 0% staat.

Sowieso is het risico op grote negatieve waardes op de huidige lage renteniveaus natuurlijk veel kleiner dan destijds in de periode 2006-2008. Daarnaast zijn er andere mogelijkheden om renterisico’s af te dekken, dan sec een renteswap. Hier liggen vaak interessante mogelijkheden, met meer flexibiliteit en hierdoor voor meerdere bedrijven een optimalere afdekking van het Euribor risico.

ICC RESEARCH

Ongetwijfeld leven er bij u meerdere overwegingen om uw renterisico’s (verder) wel/niet af te dekken. Het advies van ICC is om in ieder geval de renteontwikkelingen goed te volgen. U kunt dit doen door regelmatig de publicaties van ICC Research te lezen. Vraag hier uw gratis proefperiode aan.

Wilt u meer informatie over het afdekken van uw renterisico, neem dan contact op met ons via telefoonnummer: 030-2328200 of via email: [email protected].

Auke MiddelAuke Middel
Senior Consultant Market Risks | ICC Consultants

BELLIN Launches SWIFT g4C Product Offering

| 30-07-2019 | BELLIN |

BELLIN, a global leader in providing treasury software and services, has successfully integrated SWIFT gpi for Corporates (g4C) in its tm5 treasury management system and completed the pilot and Early Adopter phase. With the BELLIN SWIFT product offering extended, all BELLIN clients can now benefit from fast cross-border payments as well as tracking directly in the tm5 system.

tm5, BELLIN’s treasury management system, has supported SWIFT g4C technology since as early as April, making BELLIN the first of the TMS provider Early Adopters with a customer live on g4C. SWIFT has now officially launched gpi for Corporates, enabling all users of the BELLIN SWIFT Service to consider benefiting from transparency and traceability for cross-border payments. Corporates need their own SWIFT BIC to make use of the SWIFT g4C technology. They register their BIC with gpi for Corporates and connect financial institutions that offer g4C. Started Monday, June 24, 2019, the entire SWIFT community can register their BICs for the new SWIFT g4C technology.

SWIFT g4C from pilot to live

“All of us, our clients, BELLIN and SWIFT, are bound by the desire to advance corporate payments. This is why we have worked hard in a concerted effort to implement SWIFT g4C technology,” explains Karsten Kiefer, Product Manager SOLUTION MANAGEMENT at BELLIN. “With SWIFT g4C, corporates will benefit enormously from speed, transparency and comprehensive information with cross-border payment processing. The obvious advantages will make for an immediate success story.”

The BELLIN SWIFT Service enables BELLIN clients to receive their own BIC and to gain access to the SWIFT Network as a member of the Standard Corporate Environment (SCORE). BELLIN takes care of the BIC application, connects the company to the SWIFT Network and guides the client through onboarding and configuration. The BELLIN SWIFT Service has been part of BELLIN’s portfolio since 2013, making BELLIN the very first treasury management system provider with a service of this kind. Today, over 160 customers use the BELLIN SWIFT Service.

Interview with Karsten Kiefer on the SWIFT g4C integration in BELLIN’s treasury management system and the benefits for corporates

About BELLIN

BELLIN is the global leader in technology for corporate banking and treasury. We provide solutions for the financial sector, catering to a range of clients from large multinationals to SMEs and banks. Founded by a treasurer, BELLIN has been championing innovation and out-of-the-box thinking since 1998. With the treasury software tm5 as the centerpiece, BELLIN makes a fundamental difference by offering solutions that zero in on the relationship between corporates and banks and cover everything from payments to FX, cash and risk management. BELLIN is an international company with offices on four continents, powered by a trailblazing fintech spirit and yet firmly rooted in the heritage of German craftsmanship and engineering. BELLIN delights 500 clients and over 80,000 users around the globe.

Give your career a boost and become a Register Treasurer

| 29-07-2019 | by Kendra Keydeniers |

Over the last weeks we shared blogs with profiles of Register Treasurer (RT) graduates with their motives, experiences and career paths. The blogs give you a better insight in the type of treasurers that are “RT material”.

You can read the following RT stories:

Jarno Timmerman | Treasury Director at Nike

Michel van Baardewijk | Treasurer at Vestia

Richard Blokland | Corporate Treasurer at NewCold

Mathieu Ummelen | Interim Treasury and Corporate Finance Professional

The RT program brought all the above graduates to a higher level in their career as Register Treasurer.

Executive Treasury Management & Corporate Finance programme

The post-graduate Executive Treasury Management & Corporate Finance programme combines two finance disciplines: Treasury Management and Corporate Finance. These disciplines largely overlap and are inextricably connected.

This post-graduate executive programme has now been running for more than 20 years at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. It is a unique programme both in the Netherlands and abroad.
The programme will be delivered entirely in English to appeal to the increasingly large community of non-Dutch-speaking finance professionals in the Netherlands.

Participants successfully completing this post-graduate executive programme will be awarded with the title of Registered Treasurer. This title is well-known and widely recognized within the treasury professionals’ community.

The curriculum consists of 6 modules, each of which covers a clear sub-discipline in Treasury Management and Corporate Finance. Each module comprises approx 8 lecture days on Thursdays (from 15:30 until 20:00). It is an intensive and efficient 18-month programme.

The post-graduate Executive Treasury Management & Corporate Finance programme is a strategic partner of the Dutch Association of Corporate Treasurers (DACT). Partners in the programme are KPMG, Orchard Finance, PwC, and Zanders Treasury & Finance Solutions. Senior affiliates are programme lecturers.

Exemptions apply to alumni of Dutch RC and RA programmes.

More info here

Why Michel decided to explore the World of Treasury

| 22-07-2019 | by treasuryXL | Kendra Keydeniers

 

 

Our next RT story is the one of Michel van Baardwijk. He graduated as a Register Treasurer (RT) in 2017. Michel is specialized in the Public Sector and faced many challenges working at Vestia as Treasurer.

Vestia, formally ‘Stichting Vestia’ is the largest public housing corporation in the Netherlands, which is headquartered in Rotterdam. The corporation owns (and rents out) about 78,000 houses and 8,000 other “rentable units”.

Vestia received media attention in 2011 and 2012 on the topic of interest derivatives. This attention continues until today. The follow up and the consequences of the transactions made in the past determine most of Michel’s treasury activities.

 

 

  1. What for you was the main reason to start a career in treasury?

    Actually my career in treasury was not premeditated. I liked the courses corporate finance during my studies business economics/econometrics in Tilburg, but my first jobs at Philips and the municipality of Rotterdam had nothing to do with treasury. Later when I worked as a financial manager or controller treasury was one of the many elements of the job, until the take-over by Vestia in 2011. In the re-organisation of 2013 I applied for Treasury and I got the job.

  2. Why did you start with the RT program?

    Because the portfolio of Vestia was more than 20 times the portfolio I managed before, refreshing my knowledge and skills was priority number 1. I got some training on the job by an experienced interim treasurer and I oriented on possible courses. The RT program at VU offered the best combination of theory and practice.

  3. What are key words that you would use to describe the program?

    The program is small scaled and interactive. You get to know all your fellow students very fast and there is enough time to exchange experiences.

  4. Which topics covered were most interesting?

    The most interesting courses for me were those courses I had little experience in: international finance and cash management. Piece of cake for seasoned treasurers, but new stuff for me. I also took courses in macro economics and behavioural finance.

  5. Can you describe what your research and thesis was about?

    My thesis researched the effects of new, tougher, legislation on the way treasury for housing associations is organised. I thought many had changed their processes, but most processes were already adequately organised and in control before 2012. With more emphasis on compliance after 2015.

  6. How did the education help you in your career?

    The RT program has helped me to become a professional in treasury in a short time.

  7. What surprising elements did the program hold that you did not expect?

    Behavioural finance was an eye opener for me. I took some psychology courses during university (marketing, organisation) but the impact of psychological elements on decision making was a positive surprise.

  8. Are you still in touch with your peers?

    Of course. I meet fellow students at DACT-events, we still have a Whatsapp-group and we are linked via LinkedIn.

  9. What other treasury education programs did you consider and why did you choose this one?

    I researched several other programs (NIVE QT, Improfin, modular courses), but VU offered a proven concept which was very practical for me (every week courses on Thursday afternoon and evening) and started very soon.

  10. Did following the program influence your relation with your family, friends and/or colleagues?

    Doing classes and assignments takes some planning. And sometimes you have to say No at home or at work, or skip class due to a priority job. Commuting by train gave me much time for reading and writing but not enough. Many weekends were spent writing my thesis, and also two holidays. Fortunately my wife took a course herself and my kids had their own exams.

  11. Can describe a treasury topic you learned about and you could directly apply in your job?

    In the first lecture I learned something about the consequences of a large divestment I had not thought about. Fortunately we could solve this directly. I also got more insight in the way banks were pricing loans, which resulted in better quotes.

More stories please! Read the RT story of Jarno, Mathieu and Richard and/or read more info about the RT program here.

The post-graduate Executive Treasury Management & Corporate Finance programme combines two finance disciplines: Treasury Management and Corporate Finance. These disciplines largely overlap and are inextricably connected.

After a successful completion of all required modules, the title of Registered Treasurer (RT) is conferred by the Registered Treasurer foundation.

As of last year the Register Treasurer (RT) program at the University of Amsterdam is taught in English. This is an important change as the program used to be in Dutch.

The course will start on 1 September 2019. Why wait? Apply today!

 

 

How to Solve the 4 Main Payments Challenges

| 18-07-2019 | BELLIN |

Sascha Kopp has been a Consulting Director with BELLIN for over 10 years. He has successfully accompanied and implemented well over 100 payments projects in international groups. In this interview, based on our on-demand webinar, he outlines the 4 main payments challenges for corporates and how to best tackle them.

#1 payments challenge: a complex set-up

What is the biggest challenge for international businesses in handling their payments?

When it comes to payments, the biggest challenge for companies is usually their existing set-up. Very often we witness the following: You have banks on one side, ERP systems on the other side, and the individual entities in the middle. They all exchange payment data, generated by various technologies and in different formats, communicated by several channels. Companies find it difficult to manage this complexity.

How can companies make sense of this complex set-up of several e-banking systems, payment platforms and communication channels?

A payments solution, such as BELLIN’s integrated payments platform in the tm5 treasury management system, allows corporates to leave complex set-ups behind: instead, they experience simplicity with one platform that is accessible to all group companies and connected to all ERP systems and banks. tm5 can be used with any payment format.

You can access it on a desktop computer, mobile phone or tablet. All you need is Internet access. One of the many benefits of this solution is that it is scalable and can be adapted to changing company requirements – and we all know companies change all the time.  Every time a new entity is added, no matter where in the world, this company and its banks can easily be connected to the payment platform. There is no need for an additional solution. The tm5 platform handles it all and is easy to use, transparent and secure when communicating data.

#2 payments challenge: fraud and cyber crime

How important is payment fraud?

Fraud, cyber crime and internal manipulation have been increasing dramatically for years. In 2016, the Leoni Group lost 40 million euros to payment fraud. In 2017, ABB reported a fraud case amounting to 100 million dollars. Companies lose more and more money and the number of attacks has been growing. This was confirmed by the AFP Payments Fraud & Control Survey published in April 2019: 82% of companies report having fallen victim to payment fraud.

How can companies best protect themselves against payment fraud?

Organizations currently invest a lot of time and money in fraud prevention. The best way of achieving payment security is to eliminate vulnerabilities, i.e. by using a multi-bank payments platform with integrated user permissions management such as BELLIN’s tm5. Thanks to a single point of entry and an additional security measure by way of 2-factor authentication in the BELLIN Connect app, tm5 protects companies from external threats. The integrated permissions functionality enables companies to define and manage user rights and implement dual approval for payment processing, thus ensuring compliance.

#3 payments challenge: cost

How can companies save money in their payment process?

In addition to bank fees, payments processing eats up resources. For most companies a centralized set-up is the most efficient – as well as the most secure – option to manage group-wide payments with only one team. As a web-based system, tm5 also enables decentralized cooperation using a central platform. We refer to this approach as Load-balanced Treasury.

What is the most affordable payments set-up for companies?

The most cost-efficient combination of formats and connectivity always depends on the countries in which payments are processed as well as on the volume of payments. tm5 offers all types of connectivity, be it local standards such as EBICS, host-to-host connections to main banks or a global solution such as SWIFT. BELLIN consultants offer advice on how to find the most affordable solution.

#4 payments challenge: new banking partners

What is the impact of changes to the banking landscape on corporate payments?

Companies are hit hard by changes to the banking landscape. In recent years, some banks have discontinued their services in some countries over night. But even when the selection of a new banking partner is driven by strategic and cost reasons, this change usually goes hand in hand with a new, additional e-banking system.

But it could be so much simpler: Companies who process their payments on the integrated payments platform in the tm5 treasury management system always work with the same user interface. This user interface is independent of the banks, channels and payment formats a company uses.

All in all:

Make the move to a central, multi-bank payments platform and benefit from:

  • compliance
  • security
  • reduced cost and effort
  • 100% visibility and transparency
  • 100% cash flow visibility
  • 100% independence thanks to self-administration

Sascha Kopp author picture

Sascha Kopp
Consulting Director at BELLIN

 

RT story: From professional athlete to Treasury Director

| 15-07-2019 | by treasuryXL | Kendra Keydeniers

 

Best example of a great career in treasury (before and) after graduating from the RT program is the one of Jarno Timmerman. This is his Register Treasurer Story:

Professional athlete in The Premier League of volleyball, Jarno decided to further expand his passion for and knowledge about treasury by participating in the RT program of 2007.

Starting as Treasury Manager at Nike, following by a role as Manager Group Treasury at KLM/Air France and winning the award of being Asia’s Best Treasurer by The Corporate Treasurer Awards working at AkzoNobel – you can say that Jarno is an outstanding treasurer who must be passionate about his work.

Jarno returned to Nike in January 2018 and started as Director Treasury EMEA, surrounded with top athletes from around the world. Being a former professional athlete himself, working for Nike is feeling at home. Nike and Jarno is an obvious match.

Why did you start with the RT program?

I started the program because I felt it would elevate me as a treasury professional. I studied economics also at the VU, already positioning myself for treasury. I did that by taking classes like Corporate Finance for example and the RT felt as a natural next step to improve my treasury knowledge.

How did the education help you in your career?

After the completion of the RT it definitely helped me in my career. Besides being a more rounded treasury professional also to the outside world it allowed me to distinguish myself and definitely help me in my career to get a promoted role in a new company for example.

Therefore, I can for sure recommend every Treasury professional to consider participating the RT program. It will be an investment you need to put in, primarily in time at the expense of your social life for a while, but it will pay off.

Which topics covered were most interesting?

The program is a strong combination of die-hard deep dives in treasury subjects like cash management and derivatives, but it also brings a nice introduction to overlapping subjects like tax and legal which allows to have a better understanding of those topics as well.

The program also brings the right balance between theory and practice. Therefore, the second strong element of the program is the ‘mandatory physical presence’ to the classes and sessions. This gives a nice discipline, rhythm and momentum to keep track of the subjects, challenges and tasks at hand.

Are you still in touch with your peers?

Maybe even more important is that the journey you undergo with a group of similar treasury professionals, providing synergies, keeping you motivated and allows you to build up an important network that will last throughout your career. Although I finished the program more than 10 years ago, I still keep contact with many treasury professionals from my year.

So in short, the RT program is about knowledge & network and will definitely elevate your career as treasury professional!

More stories please! Read the RT story of Mathieu and Richard and/or read more info about the RT program here.

The post-graduate Executive Treasury Management & Corporate Finance programme combines two finance disciplines: Treasury Management and Corporate Finance. These disciplines largely overlap and are inextricably connected.

After a successful completion of all required modules, the title of Registered Treasurer (RT) is conferred by the Registered Treasurer foundation.

The course will start on 1 September 2019. Why wait? Apply today!

 

 

Why Richard decided to explore the World of Treasury

| 08-07-2019 | by treasuryXL | Kendra Keydeniers

The post-graduate Executive Treasury Management & Corporate Finance programme combines two finance disciplines: Treasury Management and Corporate Finance. These disciplines largely overlap and are inextricably connected.

After a successful completion of all required modules, the title of Registered Treasurer (RT) is conferred by the Registered Treasurer foundation.

The course will start on 1 September 2019. Why wait? Apply today!

 

Let’s talk with another RT graduate this week: Richard Blokland started the Executive Treasury Management & Corporate Finance programme in 2007 to become a certified Treasurer. He graduated in 2009.

Richard’s broad professional treasury experience touches several industries like Oil & Gas, Airlines, Real Estate and the Public Sector. His experience brought him to his latest function as a successful Corporate Treasurer at NewCold.

 

 

What was your main reason to start a career in Treasury?

I started within a Treasury Department for my first job and found out that Treasury would offer me the opportunity to combine business economics with mathematics which I was looking for. Besides this, each day within Treasury is different and I really appreciate this aspect.

Why did you start with the RT program?

This program would offer me the opportunity to get the best education in the field of Treasury.

What are key words that you would use to describe the program?

Divers, meeting the requirements for being a Treasurer and fun.

Which topics covered were most interesting?

Cash management (international), business analysis, derivatives and tax.

Can you describe what your research and thesis was about?

My research and thesis resulted in a framework for handling (US) cross border lease within your organisation, and have it embedded in the right way.

How did the education help you in your career?

It helped me a lot as the RT is a highly trained Treasury professional and also puts you in the same league as the RA or RC.

What surprising elements did the program hold that you did not expect?

The elements not typically Treasury but every Treasury professional should at least know about something, and the international aspect in terms of teachers.

Are you still in touch with your peers?

I am with some.

What other treasury education programs did you consider and why did you choose this one?

None as the RT program is all I need.

Can you describe a treasury topic you learned about that you could directly implement in your job?

For example Tax in terms of transfer pricing.

More stories please! Read the RT story of Mathieu here and/or read more info about the RT program here.