What does it really take to build a treasury function from the ground up in a fast-moving tech company? And why is the mindset of “Fix the Now, Plan for Next” a game-changer for treasury leaders navigating scale and uncertainty?

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Scott, Senior Director of Treasury at Toast, whose impressive resume spans industry giants like Dell, HomeAway, Expedia, Dropbox, and Fastly.

Michael Scott is the Senior Director of Treasury at Toast where he leads global liquidity, capital markets, investments, and risk management. He’s built his career around scaling treasury functions, strengthening financial resilience, and advancing automation across fast-growing technology companies.

Before joining Toast, Michael led treasury teams at Dropbox, Fastly, Expedia, and Dell.

His story is a masterclass in building, scaling, and future-proofing treasury teams that don’t just survive - but thrive - through rapid change and disruption.

In this conversation, Michael walks us through his approach to starting up treasury from scratch, shares how he led Expedia’s treasury response to the COVID-19 crisis, and explains how those lessons are shaping his leadership at Toast today.

What We Cover in This Episode:

1. Michael’s unconventional entry into finance from a career in radio and media
2. How his MBA experience clarified his path into corporate treasury
3. Lessons from Dell’s treasury team and its emphasis on mentorship and rotation
4. Building a treasury function from the ground up
5. How Michael led the treasury response to COVID-19 at Expedia, helping raise $4B in capital
6. Transitioning to Dropbox and leading a cost-saving transformation project
7. Why Toast’s growth stage required hiring for scale and embedding a strategic mindset
8. How Michael assesses treasury talent and builds high-performing teams
9. His approach to implementing treasury technology and evaluating TMS platforms
10. The leadership shift from being a hands-on doer to managing parallel transformation streams
11. Michael’s advice for junior finance professionals entering the treasury world

You can connect with Michael Scott on LinkedIn.

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

What does it take to lead treasury at a global manufacturing powerhouse known for constant expansion?

In this episode, we uncover the operational discipline, strategic thinking, and career moves that shaped Bert Jameson’s path to becoming Vice President and Corporate Treasurer at Ingersoll Rand.

Bert Jameson is the Vice President and Corporate Treasurer at Ingersoll Rand. With a career that spans high-impact roles at Cargill, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Winnebago, Bert has built treasury functions from scratch, led billion-dollar bond issuances, and helped guide complex M&A transactions - all while staying grounded in the fundamentals of financial leadership.

In this conversation, Bert walks through his journey from accounting and tax into the world of treasury, sharing how key career moves, mentorship, and adaptability shaped his rise to leadership.

He reveals how treasury operates at the heart of business growth and explains the systems and mindset that allow him to support global operations and fast-paced corporate development.

What We Cover in This Episode:

1. How Bert pivoted from tax to treasury through initiative and education
2. The skillsets he developed on Cargill’s corporate treasury advisory team
3. Early exposure to valuations, deal structuring, and bond issuance
4. Moving from big food and hospitality brands into cyclical manufacturing
5. Building a treasury function from the ground up at Buffalo Wild Wings
6. Supporting global operations through a scalable treasury playbook
7. The role of treasury in M&A - from pre-close due diligence to post-close integration
8. Bert’s “Three Pillars of Treasury” framework
9. The cautious role AI is beginning to play in cash forecasting and operations
10. The importance of being a mentor and strategic career planner

You can connect with Bert Jameson on LinkedIn.

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CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

What turns a good treasury professional into a great one?

According to Daniel Perez, it’s not just technical skill - it’s transparency, trust, and never settling for the status quo.

In this episode, he shares what he's learned over a 25-year journey through retail, insurance, and healthcare, revealing how to build a resilient career and a truly strategic treasury function.

This week’s guest is Daniel Perez, Senior Director of Treasury at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. With a treasury career spanning over two decades and three major industries - retail, insurance, and healthcare - Daniel offers an insider’s perspective on how to grow your treasury expertise, lead high-performing teams, and drive meaningful partnerships both inside and outside your organization.

Whether you're early in your treasury career or preparing for a senior leadership role, this episode offers a roadmap for long-term success. Daniel shares hard-earned lessons on navigating industry changes, leading through transition, and transforming treasury into a strategic partner within the business.

What We Cover in This Episode:

1. Daniel’s unconventional entry into treasury - and why he never looked back
2. The differences (and similarities) in treasury across retail, insurance, and healthcare
3. How to transition from contributor to decision-maker
4. Building internal partnerships: why treasury is more than numbers
5. Why transparency is the foundation of long-term banking relationships
6. The role of systems and operations in future-proofing treasury
7. How Daniel navigated leadership succession and team-building at Horizon
8. The growing importance of strategic thinking and systemic processes
9. Thoughts on AI, fraud prevention, and digital treasury transformation
10. Why every treasury pro should advocate for themselves — and how to do it

You can connect with Daniel Perez on LinkedIn.

Other episodes mentioned:

1. Keith Gaub - https://treasuryrecruitment.com/podcast/ep-389-from-banking-to-treasury-the-career-move-that-seemed-like-a-step-back-but-it-wasnt/
2. Sandra Ramos Alves - https://treasuryrecruitment.com/podcast/ep-346-how-to-build-a-successful-treasury-team-with-sandra-ramos-alves/
3. Frank Mellacio - https://treasuryrecruitment.com/podcast/ep-379-think-like-an-owner-is-the-best-career-advice-i-ever-got/

---

🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

CLICK HERE for 🍏Apple Podcasts

📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

What happens when you're tasked with building an entire treasury function from scratch - under the pressure of a corporate spin-off and the uncertainty of a global crisis?

In this episode, Tom Gilliam takes us inside the high-stakes challenge of launching Haleon’s treasury team and the strategic thinking that made it a success.

Tom Gilliam is Vice President of Corporate Finance, Treasury at Haleon, a global consumer health company with trusted brands used by consumers worldwide. Tom has built his career across audit, investment banking, and corporate treasury roles at large multinational organisations, giving him a unique perspective on risk management, capital markets, and leadership in complex environments.

In this conversation, Tom shares the behind-the-scenes reality of separating a major consumer health business from its parent company and creating a standalone treasury function from the ground up. He reflects on how his career experiences prepared him for the role, why strategic clarity mattered more than speed, and how recruitment, culture, and collaboration were critical to navigating change.

The episode offers a candid look at what it really takes to build a modern treasury team that can support long-term business objectives.

What We Cover in This Episode:

1. How Tom’s early career in audit and banking shaped his approach to treasury.
2. Why returning from banking to corporate treasury was a pivotal career move.
3. The challenges of managing FX risk in emerging markets.
4. How treasury can create real business value through risk management and capital structure decisions.
5. What it takes to build a treasury function for a newly independent business.
6. How to recruit and structure a treasury team during periods of significant change.
7. Why adaptability and comfort with uncertainty are critical traits in treasury professionals.
8. The importance of internal relationships and trust across finance and the wider business.
9. How treasury’s role has evolved into a more strategic business partner.
10. Practical lessons for treasury professionals at all stages of their careers.

You can connect with Tom Gilliam on LinkedIn.

---

🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

How do you lead treasury teams through rapid growth, market volatility, and cross-continental transitions?

In this episode, Edwin Koopmans, VP Corporate Treasury at Lufthansa Group returns to the show to share what he's learned from managing treasury at both fast-moving tech platforms and one of the world’s largest aviation groups.

In this insightful follow-up episode, Edwin Koopmans reflects on his dynamic career evolution, offering listeners a rare look into the inner workings of treasury leadership across vastly different corporate environments.

From his early days in hospitality and banking, to navigating treasury transformation at Sara Lee and scaling up operations at Zalando, Edwin shares the key moments that shaped his strategic mindset.

Now at Lufthansa, he unpacks the challenges of managing global FX risk, massive capital investments, and leading highly specialized teams.

What We Cover in This Episode:

1. How Edwin transitioned from hospitality and banking into corporate treasury
2. Lessons learned building treasury functions across Europe and North America
3. Leading treasury through corporate transformations and spin-offs at Sara Lee
4. Managing pension plans and financial risk during market downturns
5. Taking treasury global at EVRAZ and overseeing teams of 30+ people
6. What it’s like leading treasury at Zalando during hyper-growth
7. The shift from Zalando to Lufthansa and adapting to a much larger scale
8. How treasury at Lufthansa deals with fuel price volatility, FX, and interest rate risk
9. The importance of cross-functional leadership and humility in high-expertise teams
10. How technology and AI are reshaping treasury - opportunities and risks
11. Edwin’s advice on managing teams with more experience than yourself
12. Why senior treasury professionals need to rethink what an FTE means in the age of AI

Whether you're a seasoned treasury professional or an aspiring leader, Edwin’s journey offers practical lessons on growth, resilience, and staying future-ready in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

You can connect with Edwin Koopmans on LinkedIn.

---

🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

Leading treasury teams across borders isn’t just about numbers - it’s about people, adaptability, and strategic vision.

In this episode, Mike Larsen,Global Head of Client Treasury at Computershare reveals how he’s built and led treasury teams on three continents, and what it really takes to thrive in today’s complex, global financial environment.

Mike Larsen is the Global Head of Client Treasury at Computershare. With a 25 year career that has spanned top financial institutions like PwC, JP Morgan, and HSBC across the US, UK, and Asia, Mike brings deep expertise in building and leading global treasury functions. At Computershare, he has spearheaded a major treasury transformation, helping the company navigate explosive growth and increasing complexity.

This episode delivers a masterclass in global treasury leadership. Mike Larsen shares firsthand lessons from building and leading treasury teams across the US, Europe, and Asia - adapting to cultural nuances, managing multi-billion-dollar portfolios, and transforming operations through technology.

What We Cover in This Episode:

1. Mike’s global career journey through San Francisco, New York, London, and Hong Kong
2. The critical role of mentorship and networking in treasury career development
3. The evolution of Computershare’s treasury function and managing $80+ billion in client assets
4. How to adapt leadership style across cultural contexts and global teams
5. The importance of control frameworks, cash forecasting, and risk assessment in modern treasury
6. Lessons learned from crises: treasury’s role in resilience and transformation
7. Advice for aspiring treasury professionals on taking career risks and building influence

Whether you're a rising treasury professional or a seasoned leader, this episode offers practical strategies and mindset shifts to elevate your impact in an increasingly complex financial world.

You can connect with Mike Larsen on LinkedIn.

---

🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

In this feature episode, recorded live at our inaugural Amsterdam Treasury Career Corner LIVE event, two senior treasury leaders share how they transitioned from banking to corporate finance - and reshaped treasury into a strategic force within their organizations.

You’ll hear how they built credibility, influenced business decisions, and led globally dispersed teams while driving treasury beyond its traditional operational boundaries.

Our guests this week bring a rare blend of technical mastery and real-world leadership experience, offering practical strategies for anyone looking to elevate treasury’s impact in their business.

It’s a powerful conversation about influence, transformation, and the future of treasury leadership.

Meet the Guests:

• Engin Dorttepe, Director of Global Cash Management at SABIC
• Ayca Arisoy-Kilic, Treasurer & Global Head at Bunge

Tune in to hear honest stories, leadership insights, and actionable advice straight from the frontlines of global treasury.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• Transitioning from banking into corporate treasury - and why each guest made the leap
• How to get treasury invited to the decision-making table
• Leading global treasury teams across cultures and time zones
• Selling the value of treasury to the wider business
• Lessons in managing liquidity, transformation, and internal buy-in
• The role of data, technology, and macroeconomic awareness in modern treasury
• Building influence through soft skills: empathy, communication, and cultural awareness
• Real-life challenges and wins - from cash repatriation to systems implementation
• Why soft skills and strategic thinking are just as critical as technical knowledge

----

🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

CLICK HERE for 🍏Apple Podcasts

📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

In this LIVE episode recorded from our most recent London event, three top treasury leaders share how they made bold career pivots, took on international roles, and built world-class treasury teams from scratch.

Whether you’re early in your treasury journey or eyeing the next big move, this episode is packed with unfiltered advice, leadership insights, and real-world lessons you won’t find in textbooks.

Meet the Guests:

• Brendan Boucher, Group Treasurer at Compass Group PLC
• Catherine Porter, Head of Treasury at Arup
• Adam Richford, Group Treasurer at Smith+Nephew

These three senior treasury leaders reveal candid insights into their career journeys - from accidental beginnings in the profession to leading treasury functions at globally recognised companies. They open up about the highs and lows of relocating internationally, rebuilding teams from the ground up, and steering organisations through mergers, crises, and major transformation.

Their stories offer a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to succeed and stay relevant in the ever-evolving world of corporate treasury.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• How each guest entered the treasury profession - some by accident, others by design
• Navigating international moves: Brendan’s roles in Vienna and Dubai, Catherine’s return to the UK, Adam’s transition from turnaround finance to global treasury
• Building and rebuilding treasury teams from the ground up
• The importance of adaptability, grit, and learning through challenge
• Lessons from leading treasury functions during the COVID-19 crisis
• Why automation isn’t a magic fix - and what treasury leaders should do first
• Career advice for aspiring treasury professionals: education, curiosity, and staying strategic
• Real talk on leadership: empowering teams, letting go of control, and managing up
• The impact of strong processes, cross-functional collaboration, and thoughtful use of tech

----

🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

What does it take to transform treasury into a strategic driver inside a global luxury brand?

In this episode, Olivier Smekens, Global Head of Treasury at Breitling, shares how he’s leveraging fintech, automation, and agile thinking to future-proof treasury operations - and what you can learn from his approach.

With a career spanning consulting, automotive manufacturing, and high-growth private equity environments, Olivier brings a wealth of cross-industry experience. At Breitling, he’s leading the digital transformation of treasury - automating FX hedging, preparing for IPO-readiness, and exploring the frontiers of AI in financial systems.

Whether you're building a treasury function from the ground up or optimizing an established one, you'll walk away with practical insights on:

• Implementing automation to manage FX risk
• Evaluating next-gen treasury tech
• Supporting rapid growth in a private equity setting

This conversation is a must-listen for treasury professionals ready to elevate their role as strategic enablers of growth.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• Olivier’s career path: from KPMG auditor to global treasury leader
• Transitioning into treasury without prior experience - and thriving
• Key treasury challenges in the automotive industry (FX risk, liquidity, decentralization)
• What it’s like to lead treasury in a private equity-backed company
• How treasury supports high-growth initiatives at Breitling, including acquisitions and expansion
• Implementing FX hedge automation using Kantox
• Preparing for a TMS rollout: evaluating AI capabilities and tech providers
• The role of NFTs and blockchain in Breitling’s digital innovation
• Embracing a tech-forward mindset to drive treasury efficiency
• How cross-cultural experience has shaped Olivier’s leadership style
• Why soft skills and simplification are vital for board-level impact

You can connect with Olivier Smekens on LinkedIn.

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🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

Wondering how to stand out in a competitive treasury job market, optimise your CV, boost your LinkedIn visibility, navigate AI’s impact, and position yourself for success in 2026?

In this special solo episode, host Mike Richards shares unfiltered insights gathered from thousands of conversations with treasury professionals around the globe. This is your career strategy download for the year ahead.

Mike Richards is the CEO and Founder of The Treasury Recruitment Company and host of the Treasury Career Corner podcast. With decades of experience in global treasury recruitment and a front-row seat to market trends, Mike shares invaluable advice to help professionals stay competitive, visible, and strategic in their career journeys.

Whether you’re considering your next move, trying to stand out in a crowded market, or simply want to stay sharp as the industry evolves, this episode offers a practical roadmap. It’s packed with real-world advice and actionable insights to help you thrive in 2026 and beyond.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Why most treasury CVs fail - and how to fix yours to get results
• How to make your LinkedIn profile visible to recruiters and CFOs
• The current state of the treasury job market (and why roles are harder to land)
• Smart salary benchmarking and how to ask for a raise the right way
• Career timing: when to stay, when to move, and how to tell the difference
• The real impact of AI and what skills treasury professionals actually need
• What’s coming in 2026: trends, events, and how to stay ahead

People and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Deirdre Martin for keeping Mike accountable on the weekly newsletter
• Kevin Michael, podcast coach
• Summa Simmons
• Sandra Ramos Alves
• Meredith Vance

Useful links:

• Global Treasury Salary Survey

Benchmark your role and see how your compensation compares with peers worldwide - http://www.treasurysalary.com

• Treasury career advice and support

For confidential career conversations, CV advice, or support with your next move - https://treasuryrecruitment.com

•  2026 Treasury Career Corner LIVE events

Check out the full lineup of 2026 events and save your seat - https://treasuryrecruitment.com/2026-ttrc-roadshow/

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🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/