As the old saying goes, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. The same can be said for gaining the treasury role at a company. At a recent NeuGroup Assistant Treasurers’ Group of Thirty (AT30) meeting two veteran treasurers provided tips on how to land the treasurer’s role in an organization.
Both treasurers said taking positions outside of treasury and developing company relationships were key elements to carving out a path to the coveted office. Both guests also emphasized the benefits of knowing more people and understanding the underlying business in order to get on the A-list for consideration. Members were told that behavior and leadership qualities will outweigh technical skills, and that crossing over from individual contributor to leader is also critical to acquiring the experience one needs in order to be considered for the top treasury role.
In a related session on developing employees for the long haul, AT30 members discussed treasury roles and people management. Members pointed out that providing rotational opportunities and regular development talks helped to keep employees engaged and communications open. Additionally, many companies have a process in place to identify top performers in order to develop and retain high potential employees.