COVID-19
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has triggered the biggest global financial crisis in over a decade. In the financial services world, it has caused regulatory deadlines to be pushed back, while the spending it is requiring from banks will have an impact on their innovation programmes.
For treasurers, the implications of COVID-19 are widespread. Existing cash flow forecasts can effectively be ripped up, with treasurers moving away from longer-term forecasts completely, instead focussing on 30-90 day forecasts, running daily rather than monthly. Market volatility also threatens liquidity, so strategies around areas like funding and cash investments need to take into account the new reality. Plus, as most offices have been closed to some extent, the treasury team’s capability to work remotely is under scrutiny, with treasury technology that is optimised for ‘normal’ working conditions being put to the test.