Articles
June 4, 2025
An Ideal Treasurer: Strategic Thinker, Storyteller, Data Devotee
# People and Talent
# Technology
Recruiter Mike Richards on the evolving definition of a great treasury hire, and why treasurers should tell their stories.
Now more than ever, treasurers looking to build stronger teams and advance their own careers need to do far more than master core technical skills. They must be able to communicate their value, embrace change and understand how data and technology are reshaping the function.
- That’s one of the key messages delivered by Mike Richards, founder of the Treasury Recruitment Company, in the latest episode of NeuGroup’s Strategic Finance Lab podcast. In a conversation with NeuGroup founder and CEO Joseph Neu, Mr. Richards shares lessons learned from three decades in treasury recruiting—along with tips for professionals preparing for their next step, whether or not they’re actively searching.
Mike Richards, The Treasury Recruitment Company
Earning a strategic seat at the table. Treasurers who want to build teams that can do more need to raise their hands and lean into change, according to Mr. Richards. “Treasurers have been generalists for a long time; CFOs want treasurers that put their hand up and say, ‘Hey, I can do insurance for you. I can do this as well.’”
- That kind of value-add increasingly means bringing data fluency and tech savvy to the table. “I’m finding lots of clients want someone that knows data,” Mr. Richards says. “What I’m seeing now is people hiring tech skills more than treasury skills.”
- He’s not suggesting treasurers become programmers but says the most effective ones act as translators—connecting the business to finance and technology. “You’ve got machine learning, you’ve got all the other things and the rapid pace of it,” he says in the podcast. “Any treasurers that embrace that are going to be more successful.”
Stepping up and speaking up. As roles evolve and expand, more treasury professionals are making the leap to the CFO seat, Mr. Richards says. “I’ve seen more and more treasurers become CFOs now—whereas 20 years ago, it never happened. Sometimes their roles have sort of morphed a little bit. They become the quasi-deputy CFO.”
- In some cases, he adds, treasurers are taking the lead on forward-looking strategy while CFOs tackle operational areas like accounting and tax. “I’ve certainly seen the treasurer sometimes focusing more on the future and everything else, and that actually leads them into many other areas.”
- But growing into that kind of leadership role requires more than delivering results—it means making sure others know about them. “If you’re just doing it and not telling anyone about it, why bother?” Mr. Richards explains in the episode. He advises treasurers to advocate for themselves by measuring their achievements and spreading the word.
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