The Treasury Career Corner

Join me on this episode of the Treasury Career Corner Podcast, where I speak to Lee-Ann Perkins, the Assistant Treasurer at ION Geophysical.Lee-Ann is responsible for global treasury operations at ION where she has been focused on centralizing and maturing their treasury department. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, ION has been a technology leader specializing in data capture, analysis and optimization to enhance critical decision making of exploration and production (E&P) companies for over 50 years. Originally founded in 1968 as Input/Output (I/O) it was renamed ION in 2007. Today it is a publicly-traded company with revenues of around $180 million and 500 employees across regional offices. The company started off in the exploration and production (E&P) industry and today is diversifying into offshore logistics, military and marine robotics. ION’s strategy is to deliver the power of data-driven decision making for E&P companies. Lee-Ann started her career as a ballerina before an injury saw her take up a new career in South Africa working in accounting for a global petrochemical company. She moved into a treasury role for three years before moving to the US. She then went on to work for IES, two global oil services companies, Frank’s International N.V and Q’MAX Solutions before moving to her current role as Assistant Treasurer at ION.Lee-Ann has also become a recognized expert in the field of treasury, focused on cost-reduction, efficiencies, technologies, and compliance. She is a respected subject matter expert of the Association of Finance Professionals (AFP) and a member of the national Treasury Advisory Group (TAG) advising the AFP leadership team on matters affecting the industry, and also sets test questions for the CTP exam. She was also the Director of the Houston Treasury Management Association. Today she is a sought-after speaker in the world of treasury, with fantastic advice on structuring your career, which is why we are delighted to welcome Lee-Ann to The Treasury Career Corner Podcast. On the podcast we discussed…Lee-Ann’s very different career path into treasuryHow she developed her deep generalist treasury knowledge at various companiesThe changes she has witnessed in the world of treasury and the importance of looking to the futureWhy she feels it's so important to learn the business side in order to progress How she’s helped transform and centralise the treasury at ION and is driving technological changeLee-Ann’s three “N’s” for managing your career. Networking, noise, niceties and nurturing your career How she applies the same focus, hard-work, and desire to continually learn she had as a ballerina to her career in treasuryWould you like to get in touch with Lee-Ann? If so, you can connect with her via her LinkedIn profile Are you interested in pursuing a career within Treasury? Whether you’ve recently graduated, or you want to search for new job opportunities to help develop your treasury career, The Treasury Recruitment Company can help you in your search for the perfect job. Find out more here. Or, send us your CV and let us help you in your next career move!If you’re enjoying the show please rate and review us on whatever podcast app you listen to us on, for Apple Podcasts click here!

Join me on this episode of the Treasury Career Corner Podcast, where I speak to Gloria Griesinger, the Assistant Treasurer – Global Treasury and Pensions at Cummins Inc. She’s had repeated success financing challenging projects in some of the most difficult environments, is experienced with spin-offs, private equity, investment grade and non-investment grade firms and can also speak both Spanish and Portuguese.If you haven’t heard off it before, Cummins Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, filtration, and power generation products. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, they employ over 62,600 people worldwide and serve customers in approximately 190 countries and territories through a network of more than 6000 independent distributor and dealer locations. In case I haven’t done enough to sell you the scale of the company already, in 2018 Cummins reported a net income of approximately $2.1 billion and revenues of approximately $23.8 billion. During her time there, Gloria led global refinancing in a tax restructuring project with projected tax savings of ~$1billion and created Latin American, African and Southeast Asian regional treasuries to provide global coverage and support for global operations, liquidity, credit and M&A needs.Before Gloria moved to Cummins Inc. in 2005, she worked for Griesinger International Financial Consulting over in São Paulo, Brazil, where she financed agribusiness startups, raising capital, negotiating with partners, setting up financial structure and controls and much more.She’s also spent time working for Whirlpool as the Director of Treasury and for Goss International as Vice President and Treasurer. Having such a varied and exciting career already means that Gloria is the perfect person to have on the Treasury Career Corner podcast and I can’t wait for you to hear all about it.On the podcast we discussed…Where Gloria sees Treasury going in the futureHow Gloria discovered TreasuryThe technology used throughout her careerWhat it is like to manage a large teamWhat to look out for when moving to a new companyWhat it’s like to be the only female in the officeAdvice Gloria would give to people starting out in TreasuryWould you like to get in touch with Gloria? If so, you can connect with her via her LinkedIn profile Are you interested in pursuing a career within Treasury? Whether you’ve recently graduated, or you want to search for new job opportunities to help develop your treasury career, The Treasury Recruitment Company can help you in your search for the perfect job. Find out more here. Or, send us your CV and let us help you in your next career move!If you’re enjoying the show please rate and review us on whatever podcast app you listen to us on, for Apple Podcasts click here!

In this week’s episode of the Treasury Career Corner podcast, I’m joined by Erik Smolders, the Extended Treasury Solution Offering Lead at Deloitte. He has vast experience within the finance sector, which spans corporate treasury, global cash management, risk management, mergers and acquisitions and business unit CFO.Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, or just ‘Deloitte’ to you and I, is a multinational professional services network which is regarded as one of the ‘Big Four’ accounting organisations and the largest professional services network in the world by revenue and number of professionals.To give you an idea of the scale of Deloitte, in FY 2019, the network earned a record US$46.2 billion in aggregate revenues and its subsidiaries operate from around 120 offices across 100 cities, employing more than 11,000 accountants.Prior to joining Deloitte, Erik was the VP and Treasurer Corporate at Ingram Micro, the largest wholesale technology distributor with revenues exceeding $45 billion. I think it’s fair to say, Erik has had a career that we can all aspire to replicate.On the podcast we discussed…How Erik got into TreasuryHis progression to the topHow moving from Europe to the US elevated himThe importance of cash managementWhat Erik was like as a bossWhat advice he would give to people looking to have a similar career pathIf you would like to get in touch with Erik, you can connect to him via his LinkedIn profile Are you interested in pursuing a career within Treasury?Whether you’ve recently graduated, or you want to search for new job opportunities to help develop your treasury career, The Treasury Recruitment Company can help you in your search for the perfect job. Find out more here: Or, send us your CV and let us help you in your next career move!If you’re enjoying the show please rate and review us on whatever podcast app you listen to us on, for Apple Podcasts click here! 

Join me on this episode of the Treasury Career Corner Podcast, where I speak to Kirk von Seelen, the Vice President & Treasurer at The Brinks Company. With his consistent track record of significant achievements in finance, operations management and process improvement, Kirk’s treasury career quickly gained momentum. He is a high-focused, motivated and seasoned hands-on leader with a lot to say about treasury and the future of the industry!Kirk von Seelen is Vice President & Treasurer for The Brink's Company, the premier provider of secure logistics and security solutions including cash-in-transit, ATM replenishment and maintenance, international transportation of valuables, cash management and payment services, with responsibility for corporate finance, global treasury operations and risk management. Previously, Kirk was Vice President - Treasurer with PAE, a global leader in providing enduring support for the essential missions of the U.S. government, its allied partners and international organizations. Prior to joining PAE, Kirk was Staff Vice President, Treasury Operations - Assistant Treasurer, at General Dynamics, where he developed capital strategies and oversaw corporate finance and treasury operations for the $30 billion defence contractor and manufacturer with a global footprint. In this role, he managed all facets of treasury operations during a rapid organic growth period with heavy acquisition activity. His accomplishments there ranged from leading General Dynamics' treasury operations during a period that saw revenues grow from $3.5 B to $30 B, integrating ~65 acquired companies, deploying multiple technology platforms for items ranging from cash management to foreign exchange to trade finance, and successfully navigating the challenges presented by Sarbanes-Oxley and subsequent regulatory reforms. Kirk is an accomplished and versatile financial executive with a proven record of leading teams in periods of rapid growth. He is noted for his excellence in operational execution and strategic planning, commitment to the development of talent and process with a commitment to ethical leadership. He has led corporate finance and treasury operations in businesses ranging from $350M to $30B always improving processes, reducing expenses and enhancing profitability. His background is varied having served in a heavily regulated mid-market utility, a Fortune 100 global manufacturer in the Aerospace and Defence Industry, a government contractor providing essential services and a global logistics company after an initial stint in financial services.On the podcast we discussed…How Kirk discovered and then pursued a career in finance and Treasury How he transitioned from a traditional Treasury role in cash management to working in corporate and internationalHow management and coaching roles change in different culturesWhat it’s really like working for a government contractorWhy you should take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves to youHow to prepare for a potentially ‘cashless world’Kirk talks about how technology has impacted treasury for him and his teamWould you like to get in touch with Kirk? If so, you can connect with him via his LinkedIn profile Are you interested in pursuing a career within Treasury? Whether you’ve recently graduated, or you want to search for new job opportunities to help develop your treasury career, The Treasury Recruitment Company can help you in your search for the perfect job. Find out more here. Or, send us your CV and let us help you in your next career move!If you’re enjoying the show please rate and review us on whatever podcast app you listen to us on, for Apple Podcasts click here!

In this week’s episode of the Treasury Career Corner podcast, I’m joined by Tanya Kuznetsova, the Director of Treasury at Centric Brands Inc. She’s worked across different sectors in different countries, so has plenty of experience that she can share with our listeners.Centric Brands Inc. is a leading lifestyle brand collective, bringing together creative minds from the worlds of fashion and commerce, sourcing, technology, marketing and digital. They design, produce and manage kid's wear and women's and men's accessories and apparel and distribute their products across all retail and digital channels in North America and in international markets. Currently they employ approximately 4,000 employees in offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Greensboro, N.C., Toronto and Montreal and in stores and partner shops throughout North America.Before she became a Director of Treasury, she worked for the largest Russian food retailer as an Assistant Treasurer where she helped the business grow from 600 stores to 16,000. She’s also worked for the Finance Department of Russian Railways where she facilitated the company’s first $600 million syndicated loan.On the podcast we discussed…Tanya’s earliest experience in treasuryHow Tanya transitioned within x5 Retail Group from Project Finance Manager to Assistant TreasurerIf companies in Russia are digitally orientatedThe transition from working in Moscow to North CarolinaHow Tanya uses her passion for technology on a day to day basisWhat advice she would give to people looking to have a similar career pathIf you would like to get in touch with Tanya, you can connect with her via her LinkedIn profile Are you interested in pursuing a career within treasury?Whether you’ve recently graduated, or you want to search for new job opportunities to help develop your treasury career, The Treasury Recruitment Company can help you in your search for the perfect job. Find out more here. Or, send us your CV and let us help you in your next career move!

In this week’s episode of the Treasury Corner podcast, I’m joined by Stephen Kaufhold, the Senior Vice President & Treasurer at Allergan plc. If you looked at Stephen’s undergraduate CV it would have stated that he only ever wanted a job in treasury. He has seized every opportunity and made some good early moves in his career, ensuring he built a solid foundation across all treasury roles.Stephen joined Allergan in 2010 as Treasurer and is now responsible for the global treasury and insurance functions. Allergen plc is a global pharmaceutical company which focuses on the development, manufacturing and commercialising of a range of branded pharmaceutical devices, and a broad range of regenerative and therapeutic products covering the nervous system, eye care, gastroenterology and medical aesthetics. They have one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry. Formed in 1948 it has undergone many changes. Today they employ around 17,000 employees and operate in 100 countries.Before joining Allergan, Stephen was the VP, Treasurer of Virgin Mobile USA, a wireless MVNO service provider, from 2004 to 2010. While at Virgin Mobile, he was part of the team that led the company’s IPO in 2007. Prior to Virgin Mobile, Stephen was SVP, Assistant Treasurer of the CIT Group responsible for the cash management, risk and international treasury functions.He started his treasury career at AT&T Capital Corporation. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Washington Crossing Council, Boy Scouts of America. He earned his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University and has Bachelor degrees from St. Peter’s College and Loyola University, Maryland. On the podcast we discussed…How Stephen has taken risks and several leaps of faith for his career developmentHow to make yourself more valuable to your company and potential employersStephen’s experience of managing an IPO and large acquisitions and mergers and how that has helped his treasury careerWhy he believes building a portfolio of skills across all areas like FX and Cash Management are key for a successful career in treasuryWhat Stephen sees as the future for treasuryThe importance of being flexible and grabbing every opportunity and experience available to youIf you would like to get in touch with Stephen, you can connect with him via his LinkedIn profileAre you interested in pursuing a career within Treasury?Whether you’ve recently graduated, or you want to search for new job opportunities to help develop your treasury career, The Treasury Recruitment Company can help you in your search for the perfect job. Find out more here. Or, send us your CV and let us help you in your next career move!If you’re enjoying the show please rate and review us on whatever podcast app you listen to us on, for Apple Podcasts click here!

In this week’s show I am joined by Stephen Darnley, the Corporate Treasurer at International Air Transport Association (IATA).  IATA was founded in Havana, Cuba, on 19 April 1945. It is an international not-for-profit trade organization, created over 70 years ago by a group of airlines. At its founding, IATA had 57 members from 31 nations, mostly in Europe and North America. Today it has some 290 airlines in 120 countries comprising 82% of total air traffic. The organization also represents, leads and serves the airline industry in general.The international scheduled air transport industry is more than 100 times larger than it was in 1945. Few industries can match the dynamism of that growth, which would have been much less spectacular without the standards, practices and procedures developed within IATA.Today it is the prime vehicle for inter-airline cooperation in promoting safe, reliable, secure and economical air services for the benefit of the world’s consumers.  Stephen has worked in the travel and transportation industry in the past. But his incredible, diverse work experience was never limited to one industry, and he has encountered many sectors in his remarkable career. He discusses the roles he held, the skills he acquired, and how this broad approach to his career guided him into the position he holds today.On the podcast we discussed…How he transitioned from accounting to treasuryThe wide array of industry and sectors that broadened his skill setHow treasury is a truly mobile career that transcends sectorsA fascinating look at treasury inside IATA – a not-for-profit associationInsight into treasury – then and nowHow technology will evolve in treasuryIf you have any questions for Stephen, he can be reached via his LinkedIn profile. Are you interested in pursuing a career within Treasury? Whether you’ve recently graduated, or you want to search for new job opportunities to help develop your treasury career, The Treasury Recruitment Company can help you in your search for the perfect job. Find out more here. Or, send us your CV and let us help you in your next career move!If you’re enjoying the show please rate and review us on whatever podcast app you listen to us on, for Apple Podcasts click here!

In this week’s episode of the Treasury Career Corner podcast I’m joined by Paul Miseré, the Treasury Director EMEA at Medtronic. We explore what gets him excited about treasury and what’s motivated him to rise through the ranks at a global organisation over the last decade.Founded in 1949, Medtronic is a global healthcare solutions company committed to improving lives through their medical technologies, services, and solutions. Since beginning, 60 years ago, their mission has remained the same: to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life for people around the world. To meet the needs of patients and healthcare professionals around the globe, they operate from more than 370 locations in approximately 160 countries.Paul joined Medtronic back in 2002 and has worked his way up from being fresh-faced into the industry to being Treasury Director. If you’re looking to forge a similar career, then get listening.On the podcast we discussed…How Paul first discovered TreasuryHow Treasury has changed over the last decadeWhat it's like to work in a global organisationWhat advice Paul would give to other people who aspire to have a similar career pathHow he rose through the ranks at MedtronicWhat keeps Paul passionate about TreasuryHow you will know if a career in Treasury is for youIf you would like to get in touch with Paul, you can connect with him via his LinkedIn profile.Are you interested in pursuing a career within treasury? Whether you’ve recently graduated, or you want to search for new job opportunities to help develop your treasury career, The Treasury Recruitment Company can help you in your search for the perfect job. Find out more here. Or, send us your CV and let us help you in your next career move!If you’re enjoying the show please rate and review us on whatever podcast app you listen to us on, for Apple Podcasts click here!

On this episode of the Treasury Career Corner podcast, I’m joined by Oliver Gerstberger, Director of Corporate Funding, for the Selecta Group in Switzerland. Oliver has carved out an impressive career by finding ways in which he can continually add value for his employers.Before this role, Oliver was the Head of Group Treasury, Tax & Insurance at Selecta, where he established the group treasury and tax as a business partner to fund the business expansion of Selecta.Oliver started his career in banking, equity and then FX sales, before deciding to make the move into treasury. He used his experience to position his move into treasury. While Treasurer at REHAU, a leader in polymer solutions for the construction and automotive industry, he led a 3-year transformation project to introduce a new group wide multi-banking platform.Selecta is a leading European vending and self-service coffee services provider. Headquartered in Switzerland since 1957, it is now the European market leader. Selecta focus on creating the perfect coffee experience workplaces and for on the go. They have over 9,000 employees and 250,000 customers spanning 16 countries. It serves more than 10 million consumers a day through its 460,000 points of sale across Europe.On the podcast we discussed…Why always asking “where can I add value?” can help drive your careerHow Oliver used his banking experience as an asset to transition into a treasury role at REHAUHow he stood out in the company by driving added value for the company, bringing new ideas and building strong teams of expertsHow private investors at Selecta look to add value and how a treasury manager needs to constantly help shape thatThe challenges and benefits of working across both treasury and taxHow Oliver believes all treasury managers need make sure they are listening to the problems in the business and finding ways to make things betterHow in order to make your next career move, you need to consider where you can add valueIf you would like to get in touch with Oliver, you can connect with him via his LinkedIn profile.Are you interested in pursuing a career within Treasury?Whether you’ve recently graduated, or you want to search for new job opportunities to help develop your treasury career, The Treasury Recruitment Company can help you in your search for the perfect job. Find out more here. Or, send us your CV and let us help you in your next career move!If you’re enjoying the show please rate and review us on whatever podcast app you listen to us on, for Apple Podcasts click here! 

Stephen Medhurst, the Senior Vice President of Treasury at Omnicom Group Inc., joins the Treasury Career Corner podcast to tell us about his career history, insights into managing global treasury operations and the importance of embracing change.Omnicom is a global marketing communications leader which provides brand and advertising services to over 5,000 clients in over 100 countries. Since its formation in 1986, the company has grown to include over 1,500 subsidiary agencies.Stephen is the SVP of Treasury for Europe & Asia for Omnicom Finance Ltd. As part of the management team, he is responsible for the global development of the Treasury function and for international operations outside North America. He is also a member of the board for Omnicom Europe and Customer Advisory Board member for Deutsche Bank.Stephen’s first job was as a graduate trainee at National Westminster Bank, but he quickly moved on to working for Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank in their MNC Group. While there, he built up their client base by 20% and increased profitability by 30%. After taking a year out to complete an MBA, Stephen went on to join ICI in an Organisation Development role. He moved back into treasury, looking at corporate exposures and managing debt and investments. But then when ICI demerged its pharmaceutical business, Stephen was responsible for executing this operation.Today, at Omnicom Group Inc, he is building a world class fit-for-purpose treasury team and transforming the architecture of global cash and liquidity across the Group. On the podcast we discussed…How Stephen’s career has spanned some interesting developments in treasuryChallenges of building Omnicom’s treasury function across the group in the past 21 years.The challenge for treasury in managing multiple local bank relationships, bank accounts and tax differences for Omnicom’s SME agencies around the worldThe range of treasury roles at Omnicom and how they support, train and coach their entry level staffHow they are embracing technology and AI to develop their architecture and processesHow to keep pace with change by making careful career steps, being flexible and embracing constant learningIf you would like to get in touch with Stephen, you can connect with him via his LinkedIn profile.Are you interested in pursuing a career within Treasury?Whether you’ve recently graduated, or you want to search for new job opportunities to help develop your treasury career, The Treasury Recruitment Company can help you in your search for the perfect job. Find out more here. Or, send us your CV and let us help you in your next career move!If you’re enjoying the show please rate and review us on whatever podcast app you listen to us on, for Apple Podcasts click here!