Tag Archive for: treasury management

Reminder: INFORMATION EVENING TREASURY MANAGEMENT & CORPORATE FINANCE

| 12-11-2018 | Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam |

On Thursday 15 November 2018 the Information Evening for the Postgraduate programs, including the Treasury Management & Corporate Finance program, will take place at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Anyone interested in this program is welcome to get an impression and to get to know the people involved.

You are welcome as of 18.00 hours. The program for Treasury Management & Corporate Financestarts at 20.30 hours. Afterwards there will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

We herewith kindly request you to inform potential candidates in your office and/or your network, about this meeting.

Program Information Evening 15 November 2018:

18.00 hrs. Walk in with coffee / tea and sandwiches
18.30 hrs. Investment Management
19.30 hrs. Risk Management for Financial Institutions
20.30 hrs. Treasury Management & Corporate Finance

Location

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam
Room Agora  (main building, 3rd floor)

VU Accessibility

Registration and information

Myrthe Scholze
020-598 2171
[email protected]
https://ee.sbe.vu.nl/nl/over-vu-executive-education/voorlichtingsdagen/index.aspx

Sincerely,

Herbert Rijken and Robert Dekker

INFORMATION EVENING TREASURY MANAGEMENT & CORPORATE FINANCE

| 26-10-2018 | Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam |

On Thursday 15 November 2018 the Information Evening for the Postgraduate programs, including the Treasury Management & Corporate Finance program, will take place at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Anyone interested in this program is welcome to get an impression and to get to know the people involved.

You are welcome as of 18.00 hours. The program for Treasury Management & Corporate Financestarts at 20.30 hours. Afterwards there will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

We herewith kindly request you to inform potential candidates in your office and/or your network, about this meeting.

Program Information Evening 15 November 2018:

18.00 hrs. Walk in with coffee / tea and sandwiches
18.30 hrs. Investment Management
19.30 hrs. Risk Management for Financial Institutions
20.30 hrs. Treasury Management & Corporate Finance

Location

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam
Room Agora  (main building, 3rd floor)

VU Accessibility

Registration and information

Myrthe Scholze
020-598 2171
[email protected]
https://ee.sbe.vu.nl/nl/over-vu-executive-education/voorlichtingsdagen/index.aspx

Sincerely,

Herbert Rijken and Robert Dekker

New style post executive education in Treasury management & Corporate Finance at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

| 06-06-2018 | by Herbert Rijken |

For more than 20 years the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is running a postgraduate executive program in Treasury Management. The educational design of this program is unique in treasury management education. It aims to stimulate development as an academic professional. It mixes useful academic knowledge for practitioners with hands on knowledge useful in daily practice of treasury professionals. To make this happen the program is at an academic master level and much time spent in interactive sessions with various academic and professional experts in the field of treasury management and corporate finance.

 

The curriculum has recently been modified for a better fit with young finance professionals willing to boost their career with high Master level post graduate executive education.

1) The curriculum has been re-organized in 6 clear defined modules which all can be completed in 1.5 years.

2) The scope of the curriculum has been broadened by a more clear focus on Corporate Finance in 2 modules, so the name of the program has become Treasury Management & Corporate Finance.

3)In September 2018 this program will be given entirely in English to connect to the increasingly larger community of non-Dutch speaking finance professionals in The Netherlands. But also, English is becoming more common in the treasury business.

4) The curriculum has been designed in such a way exemptions apply to applicants with Dutch RA and RC qualifications.

After finishing the program you will receive the certificate of a Registered Treasurer which is well recognized in the treasury community. Partners of the program are KPMG, Orchard Finance, PwC and Zanders Treasury & Finance Solutions. Senior affiliates lecture in the program. The program is also strategic partner of the Dutch Association of Corporate Treasurers and TreasuryXL.

For more information see our website:

 

Prof. Dr. Ir. Herbert Rijken – Professor Corporate Finance at VU University Amsterdam

 

 

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This is why corporate treasury is great – The laymen introduction to corporate treasury

| 09-01-2018 | Pieter de Kiewit |

My father was a civil engineer and would have liked one of his kids to follow in his footsteps. Regretfully for him we all went in different directions, me landing an engineering degree of the wrong type. What I did like to learn from my first business management professor was about creating bridges between various functional areas. That is what I have been doing as a recruiter for almost 25 years, the last 8 solely in corporate treasury. Why treasury?

All organisations, even the small ones, can benefit from good treasury. Only the bigger ones hired permanent experts. The main three areas, perhaps oversimplified, they focus on are:

  1. Money logistics: opening and closing bank accounts, doing (bulk) payments, forecast money coming in and going out;
  2. Managing (treasury) risk: understand and manage the implications of interest or currency fluctuations. If your manufacturing costs are in Euro and you sell in Dollars and the price of the Dollar drops, what to do? What to do if you have excess cash on your current account;
  3. Funding: where do you get your money for new or current business? Bank loans, equity, mortgage, leasing?

This does not sound sexy, does it? But do understand that during the crisis treasurers found solutions for companies how to survive. They found funding to pay salaries, helped sales finding creative funding solutions to make complex transactions achievable, helped prevent companies going belly-up due to currency exposures, forced banks to offer better solutions at a more acceptable price.

Treasurers manage huge amounts of money and operate very close to the CFO. They are involved in mergers & acquisitions, reorganisations and international expansion. They act in small numbers but have huge impact if they would stop doing their work. And the job type evolves continuously. Creating new treasury bridges to traditional job types like accounting, tax, sales helps all doing a better job. The academic world is showing increasing interest. In the Netherlands the post graduate education at the Vrije Universiteit is becoming more prominent in the treasury community. Corporate treasury is very dynamic!

What I love doing is helping CFO’s, HR, internal recruitment and senior treasury managers with their staffing questions. What qualifications and personality type matches best with your current and future business situation. If you only hire one treasurer per year, what do you need to know to choose the best candidate? I hope now you can understand my passion for creating bridges in treasury and recruitment.

I look forward to your thoughts to the above and further contact,

Pieter de Kiewit
[email protected] / +31 6 1111 9783

Pieter de Kiewit

 

 

Pieter de Kiewit
Owner Treasurer Search

 

 

Surveys Treasury Training & Education + “Post HBO Leergang Treasury Management”

| 16-11-2017 | Treasurer Development |

Both from student perspective as well as from educators we receive signals they want to invest in training and education. Some articles have been written about what is out there (read article 1 and article 2), nothing comprehensive as far as we can oversee. In order to help both parties make a proper match we think two surveys are in place. 

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Survey – Treasury Training & Education

In this survey we want to focus on what is essential for potential students. What content, investment in time & money, with or without degree, etcetera? Do students need the education to do a proper treasury job, to improve their labour market position or do they have other reasons?

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Vragenlijst – “Post HBO Leergang Treasury Management” (in Dutch)

De Hogeschool Utrecht is bezig met de ontwikkeling van de Post HBO leergang Treasury Management en stelt een aantal vragen over de praktische opzet van het aanbod, zodat ze het toekomstige aanbod zoveel mogelijk op uw behoeften of die van uw collega kan toespitsen.

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These questionnaires are a cooperation between treasuryXL, Hogeschool Utrecht, Vrije Universiteit and Treasurer Search. We appreciate your input and will post the results in December 2017.

Thank you for your input.

Due to the improved economy and other factors we notice a rising interest in the development of the treasurer as a person. Education, competence development and labour market changes are the most obvious topics this concerning. This is why we started the Treasurer Development initiative. 

Read more about the Treasurer Development Initiative

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The size and shape of your treasury team

| 09-11-2017 | Pieter de Kiewit |

Treasury TeamLast week I received a call from one of my clients. Over the last years, I found several members for their team. Given the transition they are in, they were looking for benchmark information to shape their treasury team and make it future proof. This has kept me thinking and I started gathering information in order to give a proper answer. As to be expected, there is no standard template resulting in an easy answer. Even for more evolved job types like sales or accounting this is a hard question, corporate treasury is too young and small for sound statistics.

To make my analysis workable, I decided to measure the size of the team in a straightforward headcount. When talking about shape, I would like to work with the main functional areas: cash management, risk management, corporate finance and support. Of course this is an oversimplification. I think the following variables are the most relevant.

To start with the obvious: size matters. Size in revenue, number of employees, number of countries active in, number of currencies used, number of payments are all related to size of the treasury team. Not 100%. Senior management requesting detailed and up-to-date information requires a bigger team. We see this especially with organizations in turbulent situations, internally or in dynamic markets. Treasury teams that recently started, do not yet have a focus on efficiency and tend to be bigger. The willingness to invest in modern IT solutions on one hand creates a bigger team: key users and treasury IT managers, on the other hand it replaces staff doing manual work.  Finally improving aspects like segregation of duties and back-up typically create a bigger team.

Moving forward to the shape of the treasury team or perhaps the size of the various functional areas, I observe that the industry and company status have their impact. Typically, companies with a dynamic balance sheet, due to distress or growth (autonomous or take overs) need a bigger corporate finance function. A longer balance sheet in a capital intense industry requires a bigger team. In this area I also see an increase in project and customer finance teams contributing in the structuring of business deals.

Companies with diverse and dynamic payment flows need bigger cash management teams. Especially corporates with an ambition towards strong centralization require extra central staff. They need stronger software support, communicate a lot with subsidiaries and have to understand the business. If achieved, central cash management can be managed by few.

I observe a decrease of number of staff working in FX and interest risk management. Corporates are more risk averse, markets are transparent and ICT enables STP processes. In parallel other types of risk increase the workload: counter party, commodities, insurance, etcetera. Big data and business modeling is having its impact.

This blog does not have the ambition to be comprehensive, the above could be more thorough. Furthermore I could elaborate on aspects like control, IT and especially back office and settlements. Should they even be in your treasury team? I think the topic deserves further attention and could be researched by more than one graduate student.

What are your thoughts? What obvious aspect should be included? I look forward to your reactions,

Pieter de Kiewit

 

Pieter de Kiewit

 

 

Pieter de Kiewit
Owner Treasurer Search

 

 

First 100 days of a treasurer

| 11-9-2017 | TIS (Treasury Intelligence Solutions GmbH) – Sponsored content |

When a government official enters into office, the 100 days in the new role are closely observed by all. Similarly, the first impressions left by a new treasurer are often long lasting and critical to success further down the road. In most cases, after the first three months, all stakeholders have formed their opinion.

Sounds familiar? We know that the first 100 days in a new job are known to be crucial in setting the right course. The challenge facing treasurers is to acquire a quick overview, identify company-critical risks, introduce necessary measures at short notice and, at the same time, convince the new boss that they are also able to set the right strategic course.
In our Executive Briefing, our treasury experts share their experiences and provide tips and insights to support you in the first 100 days of your latest position.

TIS (Treasury Intelligence Solutions) GmbH

 

What are hot topics in corporate treasury? Let us know!

 | 28-8-2017 | TreasuryXL |
 The treasury community knows us from ‘fresh’ content on a daily basis. A growing number of treasury professionals, our experts, send in articles and blogs and it is our goal to present  interesting content that matters to our readers.
In order to be able to do so, it is important to stay on top of developments and trends and know what keeps you busy. At the moment we are exploring what the hottest topics in corporate treasury are and we would like to ask your help with this!

In cooperation with Treasurer Search we are making a list of the hottest topics. We are curious what subjects you, as a treasury professional, are dealing with on a daily basis.

Please answer the one-question survey (It only takes 1 minute of your time)

Based upon your input we will know what is relevant for you and we will be able to manage our content better.

Thank you for completing the survey.

Annette Gillhart – Community Manager treasuryXL

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Minor Treasury Management at Hogeschool Utrecht increasingly successful

| 15-8-2017 | Pieter de Kiewit | treasuryXL |

In July 2017 our expert Pieter de Kiewit wrote an interesting article about the minor treasury managment of Hogeschool Utrecht (University of Applied Sciences).
Hogeschool Utrecht started with this program three years ago and Pieter had been asked by Frans Boumans, lecturer and researcher at Hogeschool Utrecht,  to contribute to create the curriculum. Pieter also assisted in finding both guest lecturers and companies providing internships. He will give a presentation to students about labour market opportunities for treasury experts on September 20th, 2017. In his article Pieter continues:

Programs like these do exist at universities in Europe and other countries. The university of Chicago has a strong reputation and we recruited two candidates from France with an extensive academic treasury curriculum. In the Netherlands the Register Treasurers post graduate program is the obvious academic way to go for a treasurer. You can only enter with experience and a degree. Graduating at master level in treasury in the Netherlands is not (yet?) organised.

By now, the Hogeschool Utrecht program has more applicants than seats. Students, not only from Utrecht, but also from other cities enroll. Their backgrounds vary from accounting, audit to business control. They find positions in SMEs, bigger corporates and the financial services industry. Recently Treasurer Search found a permanent position for a graduate with a treasury minor (again). Before we did not recruit graduates as our focus did not match the Dutch educational system. Graduates with treasury expertise were hardly available.

As from September we will continue our cooperation. Together with the people of treasuryXL we will create a brief survey in order to find out what is “hot in corporate treasury”. The results of this survey will be used to have student write papers. Interesting stuff! If you want to contribute or know more about this program you can contact Frans directly ([email protected]) or through Treasurer Search. The structure is set but for good input there is always room.

I hope all this is the preparation for an academic treasury track in The Netherlands. Time will tell.

Pieter de Kiewit

 

 

Pieter de Kiewit
Owner Treasurer Search

 

 

More articles of this author:

Fintech recruitment considerations

Consider a treasury intern

If you are not a treasurer with the ambition of a dentist

Banker to corporate treasury transfer – A topic as relevant as ever

 

Trump’s determination to protect American business

| 14-8-2017 | Rob Beemster |

 

Many negative issues surround the President of the United States.  Approval rating hits new low,  surprise on his erratic conduct seems to grow daily. Trump is a unique politician. He is incomparable to any other western political leader. I want to pinpoint his monetary policy in 2017, by looking at the pattern of the dollar so far this year.

The dollar in 2017

Currency pair             January 2017              August 2017               Relative decrease USD

EUR/USD                    1.05                            1.18                            12.4%

AUD/USD                    0.72                            0.80                            11.1%

GBP/USD                    1.22                            1.32                            8.2%

USD/JPY                      1.18                            1.10                            6.8%

USD/CNY                    6.96                            6.70                            3.7%

Maybe Mr Trump does have a foreign economic policy.

He sees the results of Chinese manipulation and soft American response as an unfair trade relationship. The President of the US must do something about these unbalances. At least, this is how Trump judges.

Let’s take into account this Potus is a streetfighter. Long bilateral meetings with the Chinese are not options for Trump. Fast and furious, that it is: Bring the dollar down!!
And this is going on for half a year now. It is going the Trump way. Tough (but efficient)!

How to see the future value of the dollar?

The current outlook for the dollar against its main trading relations is related to some issues:

–          Process of QE by ECB, and  Euro interest rates

–          North Korea

–          China’s position in this geopolitical stress

–          Economic conditions of the US

–          Economic conditions of the main trading partners of the US

These are very important to determine the future value of the dollar. But this is the holistic view, we are all used to. Let’s be flexible and take a different stance. Just conclude as Trump will do. Be his alter ego.Then the most important issues are:

–          Pattern of the Euro against the dollar and the bilateral trade balance between US and Germany

–          China’s reaction to a lower dollar

–          US trade balance

–          US corporates repatriation of overseas cash

–          US investments to produce within America

–          FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in America

This is a totally different scope. If we want to understand Trump, then we have to use his view on the international arena. The above mentioned bullet points are crucial. All can easily be measured, Trump loves that. I would like to go through these points to be able to clarify the possible outcome of the dollar for the coming time.

Pattern of the Euro against the dollar and the bilateral trade balance between US and Germany

The more than 12% revaluation will have a serious impact on the trade balance between US and Germany. When the correction emerges, Trump might temper his view on Germany. When we notice correction in the trade data, the dollar has gone far enough…

China’s reaction to a lower dollar

So far the yuan has gained some territory but not as much as other major currencies rose against the dollar. How will PBOC and the Chinese Government react on Trump’s wishes to correct the trade balance by a devaluation of the dollar against the yuan? If they take action on Trump’s stated requirements, whatever this may be, then pressure may diminish.

US trade balance

For many years the US  faces a deficit on its trade balance. The more than $500 billion yearly shortage is a notable pain point. If a remarkable achievement can be noticed on short term, a more relaxed dollar attitude may be expected.

US corporates repatriation of overseas cash

In history, attempts have been organised by US governments to return overseas cash of US corporations. During President Bush jr Presidency, corporations did repatriate cash. When Trump does decrease the corporate tax tariff to  15% and he rewards the US corps to transfer their money back to the US without any other penalty payments, a large repatriation may get going. Many of these funds will until now be held in local currencies, so a switch to the dollar may occur.

US corps return back to America

Trump has ordered US companies to produce in the US instead of overseas. If he becomes successful by bringing factories back to the US, the trade balance will shift, employment will improve. Also when large repatriation is done, these funds can be invested in local factories.

FDI in America

Many non-US corporations are scared by the threat of the US government that regulations like import tariffs and other taxes may be charged on imports. It will damage the advantage corporations have experienced last couple of years due to the high dollar. If special import tariffs are installed, investments may be done in the US to avoid these special expenditures. Onshore producing on American soil will become an alternative.

How to manage this?

Foreign currency management has always been a hard part of the international business. Currency moves are unpredictable. But since Trump, one has to be aware of non-economic issues as well. Note that all the above mentioned issues can have effect on the value of the dollar. Professional guidance of your flows is becoming more and more important. Barcelona valuta experts helps you to install a decent strategy to counter unpredicted events. We guide you in protecting the cash flow.

 

Rob Beemster

Owner of Barcelona valuta experts BV