Earning vs Learning: The Treasury Career Dilemma

Let’s talk career moves, specifically, the ones that don’t always come with a big base salary increase but set you up for long-term success. Treasury careers aren’t just about chasing the highest salary; they’re about making strategic moves that expand your skill set, increase your market value, and open doors to leadership roles. Some of the smartest career moves don’t result in an immediate financial windfall, but they position you for far greater success in the future. Treasury professionals who understand this principle often find themselves accelerating past their peers, landing senior roles years ahead of schedule.

When a Lateral Move Is the Best Move

Not every career decision should be driven by salary alone. Some of the most ambitious and forward-thinking treasury professionals I’ve met have made what appeared to be lateral moves, no immediate increase in pay, but a massive expansion in expertise. These moves are about access: access to a broader treasury function, greater technical complexity, or new areas of responsibility that can redefine your career trajectory.

Think about a treasury analyst who has spent the last few years focused solely on cash management and bank reconciliations. They get an offer for a new role with a similar salary, but this one exposes them to risk management, FX operations, and debt structuring. On paper, there’s no big financial gain, but in practice, they’re stepping into a role that will set them up for a future in senior treasury leadership.

Many treasury professionals hit a ceiling when they lack exposure to a full-function treasury environment. A lateral move that fills those gaps can be the most important step in their career. Those who prioritise long-term capability-building over short-term gains often become Group Treasurers far faster than those who remain in narrow specialisations.

Moving to Build from Scratch: The Ultimate Challenge

Then, there are those who make a move for the same money, or even less, not just for broader exposure, but to build something from the ground up. Setting up a treasury function from scratch is one of the most career-defining moves a treasury professional can make. It’s a high-risk, high-reward scenario that puts you in a position of ownership and strategic influence within a business.

Joining a company where the treasury function is either non-existent or underdeveloped means stepping into a role where you’re responsible for designing processes, implementing controls, and defining how the business manages liquidity, risk, and funding. It’s a steep learning curve, but the career acceleration that comes with it is huge. Treasury professionals who successfully build a function from scratch often become highly sought after for senior roles because they’ve proven they can think strategically and execute under pressure.

Beyond the technical skill set, this kind of move also offers a level of visibility that treasury professionals in well-established teams don’t always get. You aren’t just part of the function, you are the function. Your work is directly seen by CFOs and senior leadership, making your strategic input integral to the business. While the initial salary may not be a leap, the long-term payoff in credibility, experience, and career trajectory is undeniable.

When You’re Still Learning and It’s Worth Staying Put

Sometimes, the best career move is no move at all, at least for the time being. If you’re in a role where you’re still gaining valuable experience, expanding your technical knowledge, and being exposed to new challenges, it might be worth staying put. Treasury professionals often get tempted by external opportunities, but jumping too soon can mean leaving behind crucial learning experiences that could be career-defining.

Ask yourself: Are you still working on projects that challenge you? Are you gaining exposure to senior stakeholders and strategic decision-making? Are you developing expertise that will significantly boost your marketability in the future? If the answer is yes, then there’s a strong case for remaining in your current role.

Professionals who stay in a role long enough to fully master their domain before moving on tend to build stronger reputations and avoid the pitfalls of job-hopping without real progression. The key is to recognise when you’ve extracted all the learning value a role has to offer, and when it’s time to take the next step.

The Money Move: When It’s Just About the Paycheck

Of course, sometimes moving for a higher salary makes absolute sense. Treasury professionals spend their careers managing financial risk for their organisations, but they also need to manage their own financial risk. If the market has shifted and competitors are offering significantly more for the same role, moving purely for the pay increase can be a smart financial decision.

But not all money moves are created equal. Some treasury professionals switch roles solely for salary without considering career progression, only to find themselves in a stagnant position a few years later. The key question to ask is: Where does this lead me in three years? If the answer isn’t clear, the move might not be the right one.

When You Stop Earning and Learning

At some point, many treasury professionals hit a plateau. The challenges that once pushed you forward become routine, and learning slows down. If your role no longer offers new learning opportunities and your earning potential is capped, it’s time to reassess.

Some professionals stay in roles longer than they should because of job security, a comfortable routine, or even fear of stepping into the unknown. But staying too long in a position that no longer challenges you can be just as risky as making a poorly timed move. If your day-to-day work feels repetitive and promotions seem unlikely, it’s time to consider a change.

A smart move isn’t always an upward one, it’s one that keeps you growing. Whether that means taking on a more complex treasury environment, expanding your strategic influence, or stepping into leadership, the key is to avoid career stagnation. The professionals who recognise when they’ve stopped earning and learning, and take action, are the ones who keep progressing.

Strategic Sideways Moves: Treasury Careers Across Industries

Treasury professionals often assume that moving between industries could slow down their career progression, but cross-industry experience can be a major asset. A treasury professional who has worked within both a financial institution and a multinational corporation brings a diverse perspective on liquidity management, funding strategies, and risk mitigation. Moving sideways into a different industry, especially one with a more complex treasury setup, can be an invaluable career accelerator, even if the salary increase isn’t immediate.

The Leadership Leap: Exposure to Senior Stakeholders

One of the most underrated aspects of career development in treasury is exposure to C-suite executives. Professionals who transition into roles where they interact directly with CFOs, board members, and investors gain strategic insight that’s hard to acquire in mid-level roles with limited visibility. Even if the pay increase is marginal, a role that places you in high-stakes discussions about capital structure, refinancing, and risk strategy can be a game-changer.

The Big Picture: Balancing Earning & Learning

The best career moves strike a balance between financial progression and professional development. Treasury professionals who take a strategic approach, whether that’s broadening their exposure, building a function, or securing a well-timed salary increase, set themselves up for long-term success. Those who chase salary at the expense of growth often find themselves hitting roadblocks sooner than expected.

The most valuable currency in treasury isn’t just salary, it’s experience. The decisions you make today shape your future opportunities. Whether you’re considering a lateral move for broader exposure, a role to build a function from scratch, or a financial step up, the key is to ensure each move is intentional and aligned with your long-term goals.

Author – Craig Ryan Perkins