Context: The growing reliance on cloud-based treasury systems, AI-driven analytics as well as data lakes and warehouses has made technology integration a critical part of treasury operations. These technologies and platforms depend on secure connections—including APIs and host-to-host links—to deliver real-time cash visibility, bank connectivity and forecasting accuracy.
In NeuGroup sessions, members often express a desire for dedicated IT support aligned with treasury—specialists who understand both technology and treasury priorities and can bridge the gap between the two. For some companies, treasury can end up chasing IT on critical tasks, or taking the lead on projects themselves, even when they would prefer a different model.
A recent discussion on the online community of NeuGroup for Global Cash and Banking spotlighted those challenges, as one member asked how companies divide responsibilities for tasks like host-to-host key renewals, bank encryption updates, data migrations and payment file troubleshooting. The responses reveal a wide range of models: some treasury teams are deeply involved; others rely heavily on IT and some operate with dedicated treasury IT resources.
Member question: “How involved are treasury teams in IT processes related to banking and/or forecasting integrations? I’m hoping to get a response on whether treasury owns tasks like host-to-host key renewals, bank cipher changes and forecast data migrations. “At my company, treasury is heavily involved in changes to secure file transfer protocols (SFTP) and APIs used for bank reporting, bank host-to-host key renewals or changes to downstream systems that feed data into our TMS. At previous companies, this was managed almost entirely by IT teams behind the scenes with limited treasury input aside from the testing stages.
“If members could provide a quick yes/no on whether they lead the tasks/projects below, and share any details on the aspects they’re involved in, that would be helpful:
- “Host-to-host key or API certificate renewals required by banking partners.
- “Bank integration-related changes such as if a bank or TMS partner is changing the ciphers used to encrypt data.
- “Migrations of forecast data source systems. For example, if you were implementing a new data lake or warehouse and forecast data will be migrating there.
- “Resolving integration issues, such as if an accounts payable (AP) payment file sent to a bank failed to process.”
Question 1 answers: Host-to-host key or API certificate renewals required by banking partners.
- “Yes, we have involvement. We shouldn’t have to, but we tend to have to chase our IT team to do it even though the emails for renewals go to them directly. It is my dream to have dedicated treasury IT resources so that these things can be taken off our plates.”
- “The IT team manages all of those at my company, but the IT team also reports up through the treasury/banking team leader.”
- “We have a dedicated treasury IT team that sits within our IT organization. Treasury IT works closely with our in-house treasury systems and analytics team (within our cash management organization). Host-to-host key or API certificate renewals are led by treasury IT with ownership by the cash management office.
- “Yes, but only to identify appropriate IT contacts and ensure it gets done. Emails get sent automatically, but in case of turnover, we like to make sure we stay on top of it before it becomes a fire drill.”
- “Yes, treasury is involved, but led by IT.”
Question 2 answers: Bank integration-related changes such as if a bank or TMS partner is changing the ciphers used to encrypt data.
- “Yes, we are involved, because we need to know what changes were made and, again, we have to keep our IT team on top of it.”
- “Yes, but we also involve our TMS (treasury product team) support team to help us with these changes.”
- “Yes, we are involved, but IT leads.”
Question 3 answers: Migrations of forecast data source systems. For example, if you were implementing a new data lake or warehouse and forecast data will be migrating there.
- “Yes, we take the lead here since it was our ask to have the data lake set up. Also, because we know the data and need to ensure that the data coming across is accurate. We also facilitate calls between our TMS vendor and the IT team.”
- “Led by treasury IT and supported by the treasury systems and analytics team within the cash management office.”
- “Yes, working with IT on defining requirements, data elements, etc.”
- “Yes, but we also involve our TMS IT support team to help us with these changes. We also require business IT support. We have many operating businesses under our umbrella and each one has a different ERP and IT team, so the needs are different depending on the business.”
Question 4 answers: Resolving integration issues, such as if an AP payment file sent to a bank failed to process.
- “Yes and no. We call it a shared responsibility. AP attempts to resolve it first and if it is beyond what they can do, they are advised to come to us. If the issue impacts more than one account, such as several accounts or region, we need to be brought in ASAP to help resolve it. Again, this is because treasury owns the TMS tool, so we are expected to help.”
- “Led by payables IT and payables, with support from cash management if escalation is needed.”
- “Yes, AP owns this, but usually brings in treasury to help resolve.”
- “Joint effort between treasury and our treasury product support (TMS support) team.”
- “Treasury leads and pulls in AP or IT as needed.”
Member response: “It’s helpful to know that most treasury teams either have involvement in these processes or have treasury-specific IT personnel who lead the changes. We are planning to use this information to discuss potential changes to our processes.
- “For most of these items, our treasury team leads the discussions and projects today. We’re hoping to shift more of this to be led by our fintech teams while treasury takes more of a supporting role.”
