Navigating New Frontiers: The Evolving Role of Treasurers in a Complex World

The aim is not to restate the obvious about the topics of instant payments, supply chain finance (SCF), trade finance, and ESG. But instead, in the company of some of our leading subject matter experts, we aim to untangle some of their more persistent complexities. 

While ‘under the hood’ our experts will be exploring the mechanics and conundrums of each topic in some detail, our primary aim is to present to treasurers a set of possible next steps that are adaptable to their own circumstances. Ultimately, as the title of this whitepaper suggests, the objective is to reassert treasury’s status as a source of both strength and vision within their organisations in times of great uncertainty. We hope the information contained herein will prove a useful resource in validating that statement.  
In Balancing ESG and Treasury Priorities in Uncertain Times, we consider how, with ESG now integral to corporate strategy, corporate treasurers are playing a significant role in its delivery. We examine why treasurers are compelled to balance long-term sustainability goals with short-term financial returns. Additionally, we explore how geopolitical tensions are redirecting supply chains and how firms are adapting to these developments. We’ll also reveal the moves being taken by innovative companies to build cross-functional ESG capabilities and weave them into their transition financing strategies, aided by the latest methodologies such as Societe Generale’s Transition Opportunities Potential (TOP). 

The section entitled From Crisis to Opportunity: Unlocking the Power of Supply Chain Finance in a Volatile World, tells of the resurgence of SCF as a tool for managing working capital and supplier relationships. We investigate how SCF has evolved, with growing interest in extending financing upstream to the long-tail of supply chains, and the rise of multifunder platforms . We’ll also look at the emerging concept of payment terms extension ‘beyond the initial term’ and how, for the first time, this could serve the conflicting needs of both DPO and DSO without involving suppliers. 

In the context of escalating global political instability and trade tariffs eroding business confidence, the section Geopolitical Upheaval: Mapping the Consequences for Trade Finance unpacks transformations in corporate strategy. With companies reassessing project investments in the US, and increasing evidence of shifting trade corridors, the effect on trade finance is revealed. We’ll look at how digitisation, under the auspices of initiatives such as the International Chamber of Commerce’s Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) and adoption of the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR), is slowly winning the battle against process inefficiency, despite the persistence of a few technological and legal hurdles. And with the emphasis on increasing automation, standardising platforms, and fostering fintech-bank co-operation, we’ll also discover how banks such as Societe Generale are actively supporting long-term trade finance stability and resilience.

While Instant Payment (IP) has made a strong push into consumer circles, the same cannot be said for corporate treasury. Acknowledging uncertainty around use cases, value propositions, and compatibility with structured end-of-day processes, Travelling Companions: Treasury’s Journey Towards Instant Payments takes readers through the treasury transformation challenge. It explains the arrival of real-time fraud detection tools such as verification of payee (VoP), and how collaborative thinking facilitated by Societe Generale’s regular client workshops is now bringing those use cases, value propositions, and process upgrades to life.

As we stand at the crossroads of unprecedented change and complexity, the role of the corporate treasurer has never been more pivotal. This whitepaper is not merely a guide through current challenges but a call to embrace a mindset of agility, innovation, and strategic foresight. By harnessing the insights and tools explored within these pages, treasurers can transform uncertainty into opportunity, driving resilience and sustainable growth for their organisations. Together, let us navigate these new frontiers with confidence and vision, reaffirming treasury as a cornerstone of strength and progress in a rapidly evolving world.


These articles are part of the whitepaper "Navigating New Frontiers : The Evolving Role of Treasurers in a Complex World", published by Treasury Management International (TMI) - September 2025. Click here to download the whitepaper.