Why UK businesses should invest in Treasury Analysts
We’ve already discussed the evolving role of Treasury Managers in the US, but what about Treasury Analysts based in the UK?
The role of treasury within UK businesses has never been more pivotal. With increasing emphasis on cash flow forecasting, financial risk management, foreign exchange (FX) exposure, and working capital optimisation, treasury teams are no longer just operational support. They are central to strategic financial decision-making across key areas such as corporate finance, financial reporting, and capital markets.
Despite this growing importance, a concerning trend has emerged: many organisations are outsourcing or relocating these critical treasury activities to offshore shared service centres. While this may offer short-term cost savings, it poses significant longer-term risks to business performance, agility, and talent development. It also disconnects businesses from the UK economy, local government partnerships, and the broader financial services ecosystem, including providers, pension funds, and financial institutions.
Moreover, it’s becoming increasingly clear is that businesses that retain their UK-based treasury teams, are consistently outperforming those that treat treasury as a transactional back-office function. These forward-thinking organisations understand that treasury is a strategic asset, not a cost centre.
Strategic value of a local treasury function
A locally embedded treasury function offers far more than operational efficiency. It provides strategic proximity to leadership, enabling treasury professionals to collaborate directly with finance directors, CFOs, and commercial teams. This proximity fosters better-informed investment decisions, stronger alignment with corporate objectives, and faster response times to changing market conditions.
When treasury operations are offshored, businesses often experience fragmentation, reduced agility, and a loss of institutional knowledge. Offshore teams, while capable, are typically removed from the day-to-day realities of the UK financial markets. This disconnect can lead to slower decision-making, misaligned priorities, and missed opportunities.
UK-based treasury teams benefit from enhanced responsiveness to financial risk, tighter controls, and greater visibility over liquidity, liabilities, and funding needs. They are better positioned to navigate regulatory shifts, interest rate fluctuations, and geopolitical developments. These factors are especially relevant to UK banks, financial institutions, and government departments that rely on accurate, high-quality financial data and methodology.
Moreover, local treasury teams are better equipped to engage with key institutions such as HM Treasury, the Bank of England, and the wider UK government. Their understanding of the regulatory landscape, including updates published on platforms like GOV.UK, ensures compliance and strategic alignment with national economic goals.
Junior talent is a long-term investment
One of the most overlooked strategic investments a business can make is hiring a junior treasury analyst. This entry-level role is not just a support function. It is a vital feeder into more senior treasury positions. It enables robust succession planning and ensures continuity of knowledge and expertise within the team.
With many senior treasury professionals nearing retirement or transitioning into broader finance roles, the analyst level is where the next generation of treasury leadership is cultivated. These junior professionals bring fresh perspectives, digital fluency, and a hunger to learn. They are the future stewards of your organisation’s financial strategy, whether in the private sector, public sector, or start-ups.
In the UK market, we are seeing a clear trend. Professionals at the analyst level are not motivated by job titles alone. Instead, they seek development opportunities, firsthand exposure, and mentorship.Businesses that offer structured career pathways and development frameworks are attracting and retaining the strongest talent. These organisations are building resilient, future-ready treasury teams that can adapt to change and drive innovation
Development beats titles
It is no longer about chasing the next job title. It is about the depth and breadth of experience. Treasury Analysts today are looking for roles that provide:
- Broader exposure across cash management, FX, debt, and liquidity
- Direct interaction with banking partners, counterparties, and senior stakeholders
- Opportunities to work on transformation projects, treasury management system (TMS) implementation, or ESG-linked financing initiatives
From a talent acquisition perspective, career development has overtaken compensation and title as the top priority for treasury analysts. This shift aligns closely with broader workforce trends. Professionals want to feel that they are progressing, learning, and adding value. They are not just interested in ticking boxes on a career ladder.
Companies that recognise this shift and invest in meaningful development opportunities are building more engaged, loyal, and high-performing teams. They are not just filling roles. They are cultivating future leaders with a clear remit and purpose.
Benchmark your treasury team’s salaries
The general theme across this year’s report is that 2024 has been slightly slower in some verticals. Primarily we have seen most hiring activity from investor-led businesses and because of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity.
Keeping treasury talent in the UK
UK businesses that continue to invest in their treasury functions locally gain a unique competitive advantage. They retain institutional knowledge, build a pipeline of adaptable professionals, and ensure their teams understand the nuances of the UK economy and financial services landscape.
This becomes particularly important when navigating complex events such as interest rate changes, regulatory updates, or geopolitical tensions. A UK-based treasury analyst is better equipped to respond quickly and advise strategically than a remote team disconnected from local operations.
Moreover, having a local team fosters stronger relationships with UK banks, financial institutions, pension funds, and government departments. These relationships are critical in times of uncertainty and can make the difference between reactive and initiative-taking fiscal management. They also support sustainability goals and long-term partnerships across jurisdictions.
How Brewer Morris can help you build a great treasury team in the UK
Our recruitment consultants are experts on their given markets. Our treasury recruitment team can guide businesses on how to build treasury teams that create lasting impact. Based on our experience, we would advise:
- Keep treasury operations in-house wherever possible to maintain strategic control and agility
- Invest in junior hires who can grow with your business and fill future leadership roles
- Prioritise career development in your employee value proposition (EVP). It is the main currency in the analyst-level talent market today
- Partner with specialist recruiters like Brewer Morris who understand the complexity of the treasury function and can identify candidates who bring not just technical skills but also strategic curiosity and long-term potential
Conclusion
In summary, businesses that retain their treasury operations in the UK and focus on junior talent development are positioning themselves for sustained success. Treasury is no longer just a cost centre. It is a strategic engine that drives performance, manages financial risk, and supports growth.
By investing in junior roles like the treasury analyst, companies ensure a robust talent pipeline, gain agility in a volatile market, and foster a culture of continuous development. These are the companies that not only attract top talent but also keep them. They build teams that are not only technically proficient but also strategically aligned with the business’s long-term goals and the evolving demands of financial markets.
At Brewer Morris, we have helped hundreds of businesses source exceptional treasury talent. If you are looking for a new specialist recruitment partner, please submit a brief and a member of our team will be in touch.
Alternatively, if you are looking for a new treasury role, check out our latest opportunities.
