Head of Treasury
The Head of Treasury manages company liquidity, cash flows, currency and interest rate risks, and banking relationships, reporting to the CFO.
What a Head of Treasury does
The Head of Treasury manages the company's money: how much cash is available today and next week, in which currencies and accounts it sits, and how to pay suppliers and collect revenue without cash gaps. In high-risk verticals this role is critical, because cash flow often depends on payment providers, acquiring with delayed settlements, chargeback reserves, and requirements from partner banks. A delay in a single settlement can halt player payouts, bets, or user withdrawals.
In crypto companies, treasury also oversees asset storage (wallets, custody providers, multisig), manages the volatility of balances in tokens and stablecoins, and handles conversion and hedging. In other verticals, such as fintech or e-commerce, the focus shifts to funding, bank accounts, payment limits, and banking relationships.
Within the org structure, the role sits in the finance function and reports to the CFO or finance director. The Head of Treasury leads a team of treasury analysts, payments specialists, and sometimes banking relationship managers. They work closely with risk management, legal, operations, and business unit heads who forecast cash requirements.
Responsibilities
- Maintaining and controlling the cash flow forecast on horizons from one week to one year across all accounts and currencies
- Managing liquidity: distributing balances across banks, payment providers, and exchange accounts, and maintaining minimum buffers
- Working with banks and providers: opening accounts, setting limits, settlement terms, and negotiating fees and reserves
- Managing currency and interest rate risks, including hedging and monitoring open positions
- For crypto companies: setting asset storage policy, selecting custody solutions, and controlling multisig and withdrawal procedures
- Investing surplus balances within the investment policy approved by management
- Overseeing the payment calendar: payment priority, approval of large payments, and handling cash gaps
- Building and maintaining internal treasury procedures, segregation of duties, and access control for payment tools
- Engaging with regulators and banks on source-of-funds requests, reporting, and reserve requirements
- Preparing reports for the CFO and board of directors on liquidity, risks, and use of credit lines
Skills
- Building cash flow models and scenario analysis (base, stress, and extreme cases)
- Understanding payment infrastructure: acquiring, provider settlements, delays, and reserves
- Managing currency and interest rate risks, with knowledge of derivatives for hedging
- Negotiating limits, fees, and terms with banks and providers
- Working with crypto assets: custody, stablecoins, on-chain operations, and related risks
- Managing a team and distributing responsibilities within treasury
- Understanding regulatory requirements for client fund custody and segregated accounts
- Communicating with leadership: explaining risks in plain language and making data-driven decisions
- Attention to operational detail: dual control, reconciliations, and error prevention in payments
Tools
- Excel and Google Sheets for liquidity models and forecasts
- TMS (Treasury Management System) for tracking positions and payments
- ERP system and cash flow management modules
- Corporate banking portals and multi-bank platforms for managing balances
- Market data terminals for FX rates and interest rates
- Custody platforms and multisig wallets (for crypto companies)
- On-chain explorers and blockchain transfer analytics
- BI tools for liquidity and risk dashboards
How performance is measured
- Cash flow forecast accuracy (variance between actual and planned figures)
- No cash gaps or overdue payments
- Share of surplus funds placed in line with the investment policy
- Currency and interest rate open positions within limits
- Cost of banking services and settlements at the agreed service level
- Execution time for large payments and bank requests
- Number of security incidents involving asset custody and unauthorized withdrawals (target: zero)
By vertical
Crypto
The main task here is not only fiat liquidity but also managing assets in tokens: storage, multisig, protection against hacks, and control of balance volatility. The treasurer works closely with the security team and is responsible for withdrawal procedures, as well as conversion between cryptocurrencies and fiat through vetted counterparties.
Corporate functions
In traditional companies and fintech, the role focuses on bank accounts, payment limits, funding, and currency control. Risk in this vertical comes mainly from dependence on acquirer and provider settlements and reserves, not from working with tokens.
Levels
Head of / Director
The Head of Treasury is responsible for the entire treasury strategy: liquidity, investment and hedging policy, banking relationships, and the board of directors. Decisions on limits and on new banks and providers are made at this level, and the team executes operational processes under their leadership.
How to get there
People usually enter treasury from banking (corporate banking, bank treasury), audit, financial planning and analysis, or payment companies. The Head role requires experience managing liquidity and currency risk at the level of a large business, plus the ability to negotiate with banks and make decisions under uncertainty.
To enter the profession, it helps to study treasury fundamentals: cash management, working capital management, FX operations, hedging derivatives, and principles of banking relationships. For crypto companies, it is important to understand custody, multisig operations, stablecoins and related risks, and regulatory requirements for client fund storage.
Growth typically goes from treasury analyst or manager to senior treasurer, then to a head of a specific area (liquidity, banking, investments). Moving into the Head role requires experience working with the CFO and board of directors, the ability to build a treasury strategy, and the skill to design processes that scale, including moving from one vertical to another.
Next steps: CFO (Chief Financial Officer), Group Treasurer, Finance Director, Head of Finance, VP Finance
FAQ
What is a Head of Treasury in simple terms?
It is a leader responsible for the company's money: how much is available, where it sits, how to pay, and how to avoid cash gaps. They also manage currency and interest rate risks and oversee relationships with banks and providers.
How does a Head of Treasury differ from a CFO?
The CFO is responsible for the company's finances as a whole: reporting, budgeting, taxes, and strategy. The Head of Treasury focuses on liquidity, payments, bank accounts, and cash movement risks, which is one of the key functions within the finance function.
Do you need to know crypto to work as a Head of Treasury at a crypto company?
Yes. Without an understanding of asset custody, multisig, stablecoins, and on-chain transfers, the role is hard to perform at a crypto company. It is also important to understand regulatory requirements for client fund storage and withdrawal control procedures.
What determines income in this role?
Pay depends on company size and the volume of liquidity managed, the vertical and country, regulatory requirements, and leadership experience. Specific figures vary by market and company, so it is best to check current job listings.
What experience is needed to become a Head of Treasury?
Typically you need several years in treasury, corporate finance, or the banking sector, including work with liquidity, currencies, and banks. Experience managing a team and working with senior leadership and the board of directors is often expected.
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