In this episode of the Treasury Storyteller Podcast, Eleanor welcomes back Chris King, co-founder of Dukes & King, for a wide-ranging (and sometimes hilarious) conversation on what’s really shaping corporate treasury and risk management as we move through 2026.

Picking up from their last discussion (which famously/infamously veered from FX into rave music), Eleanor and Chris explore how the global landscape has shifted – politically, economically, and operationally – and what that means for CFOs, treasurers, and risk managers trying to stay ahead with limited time and resources.

Using The Good, the Bad and the Ugly as a framing device, Chris unpacks key macro themes including geopolitical instability, US policy risk, compressed credit spreads, subdued volatility, and the challenges hidden beneath seemingly familiar risks like FX and interest rates. The discussion also dives into digital transformation, AI, transparency of data, and why traditional hedging approaches may still work — but only if they’re flexible enough to adapt.

Along the way, there are nods to Green Day, Maslow, Arsenal, fractional resourcing, the Global FX Code, and why sleeping well at night might be one of the most underrated risk metrics of all. What more could you want?

You’ve heard the phrase “just doing my job” – but what if that job is saving your company millions, streamlining global bank structures, or single-handedly holding together the entire liquidity strategy with nothing more than caffeine and spreadsheets?

In this special episode of Treasury Storyteller, Eleanor is joined by the one and only Mike Richards – CEO of The Treasury Recruitment Company, host of the Treasury Career Corner podcast, and, whether he admits it or not, the Godfather of Treasury Recruiting!

Together, they dive into the overlooked art of personal storytelling in treasury, why so many treasurers shy away from the spotlight and how to sharpen your personal narrative.

This episode is packed with Mike's trademark punchy insights, practical tips, and a lot of heart. Listen in to hear:

• Why treasurers often struggle with self-promotion – and how to fix it
• The one question Mike always asks hiring managers (and you should too)
• How small weekly reflections can transform your personal brand
• Why practice doesn’t make perfect… it makes you better
• What CFOs really want when they’re hiring
• The one podcast question Mike wishes he’d asked (and why)

And if you’ve been sitting on your own story, wondering whether anyone really wants to hear it…we do! Drop us a line :)

BOOK LAUNCH SPECIAL EPISODE

When cash is tight, most businesses default to cost-cutting, without strategy.. But as a treasurer, CFO, and author, Jessica Oku, explains, this kind of panic is rarely helpful.

In this episode, Jessica introduces The Cashflow Prioritization Matrix – a new book and practical framework for evaluating spend based on urgency and impact.

She also shares some war stories from business missteps, and we chat about ways to help finance leaders make clearer, faster choices under pressure.

We also cover;

• How to build a cash-first mindset across the organisation (and why storytelling matters)
• The danger of treating EBITDA like cash
• How traditional forecasting leaves decision-makers guessing
• And what Jessica’s learned from working with everyone from multinationals to scrappy startups

Whether you're leading a treasury team, running a finance function, or just trying to get more value from your cash, this episode is full of practical ideas.

In this jam-packed episode of The Treasury Storyteller, I sit down with Matthew Davies – Head of Global Payments Solutions EMEA and Global Co-Head of Corporate Sales, GPS at Bank of America – for a chat about the forces reshaping corporate treasury.

From his 27 years in transaction banking to the latest on ISO 20022, instant payments, and real-time treasury, Matthew brings a big-picture view that’s sorely needed in these times of relentless change. And, of course, we have a good laugh along the way as well!

We explore:

• Why strong fundamentals (and people!) still matter in a tech-obsessed treasury world
• How to strategically navigate the 'build vs buy' tech conundrum
• What ISO 20022 really means for corporates (it’s not just a bank issue)
• The myth of real-time treasury – and why on-time can often be the true target
• How leading companies are future-proofing talent with data, tech, and people skills
• Why treasury isn’t 'just a job'. It’s a career with global reach, strategic impact, and a true sense of community

Plus, we preview some hot topics likely to dominate the agenda at this year’s Sibos in Frankfurt – from the future of cross-border payments and transactional FX to embedded finance.

🎧 Listen now and get ready for what’s next in treasury.

How do you turn a once-manual, back-office accounting setup into a proactive, globally aligned treasury function built for real value creation? In this episode, Eleanor sits down with Andrew Monkhouse, International CFO at Lockton, to unpack exactly how he's achieved that.

We dive into:

• Andrew’s career path from chartered accountant to CFO
• The post-COVID wake-up call that exposed weak spots in cash and FX processes
• Building a six-person treasury team from scratch
• How automation, a bespoke FX framework, and daily cash dashboards changed the game
• The power of uncommonly independent thinking (and why Lockton leans into it)
• Why governance isn’t boring....it’s your secret weapon
• Upskilling, vendor support, and why slow-and-steady transformation wins every time

Whether you’re a seasoned treasury professional or just wondering what a good finance transformation looks like in the real world, this episode is packed with insights, practical advice, and a few trademark laughs!

What do ice cream sales, shark attacks, and AI in treasury have in common? More than you might think, according to this week's podcast guest. In this eye-opening episode, James Kelly, founder of Your Treasury and former corporate treasurer at Pearson, helps us separate AI fact from fiction.

James shares his personal journey from AI sceptic to advocate, recounting the moment he realised AI could compress weeks of Excel work into minutes. He also offers a refreshingly honest take on where AI truly adds value in treasury operations – and where it is being oversold.

From debunking myths about data readiness to questioning the wisdom of AI-powered fraud detection for most corporate treasuries, James explains why focusing on everyday automation might be more valuable than chasing headline-grabbing AI applications.

Whether you’re already experimenting with AI or still wondering where to start, this episode offers clear guidance on building a practical, transparent approach to AI implementation that actually delivers value.

What do 808 State’s rave anthems and Keynes' animal spirits have in common with treasury risk in 2025? In this thought-provoking episode, our favourite risk management expert, Chris King of Dukes & King, answers this question and more! He also draws surprising parallels between past and present, as he unpacks the critical challenges facing CFOs and treasurers right now. From US market dynamics to the spectre of global tariffs, environmental risks, and demographic shifts, King offers fresh insights for finance professionals navigating uncertain times. Join us to discover why his practical ‘three Cs’ framework – collaboration, communication, and complexity management – might just be the key to treasury success in 2025.

What do strange dinners in Liverpool, a stint at Sibos TV, and a sleepy English town called Sandwich have in common? Treasury, of course! In this episode, Eleanor Hill sits down with Ben Poole – treasury journalist, accidental industry veteran, and her editorial partner-in-crime for over a decade of conferences and career twists.

Ben spills on his unlikely journey from construction supply magazines to the treasury big leagues, shares the secrets of surviving a decade-plus in the industry, and reveals the real highlights (and it’s not always about the writing).

From the evolving role of treasurers to AI hype and the future of cashflow forecasting, this chat dives into treasury tech, supply chain finance, ESG, and the underrated joy of meeting genuinely nice people in the field 🧡

Tune in for laughs, insights, and a human take on all things treasury ✨