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Matching transactions is one of the most time-consuming and at the same time most critical tasks in finance. In account reconciliation, internal records are compared with actual bank movements to make sure the numbers add up. It sounds simple, but in practice it is often a laborious, manual process. Especially in companies with many accounts, multiple banks, and various subsidiaries, manual reconciliation quickly becomes a burden. It costs days, is error-prone, and ties up va

Intercompany settlements are part of everyday finance work for many mid-sized companies. The parent company takes on central tasks such as IT, HR, accounting or financing. Subsidiaries use the services provided. These are then charged internally and posted in both companies. However, many manual processes can quickly lead to differences. One company may record a receivable, while the other has not yet recorded the service provided. This delays the preparation of monthly accou

Many corporate groups know cash pooling as a way to bundle liquidity and reduce bank fees. But the larger and more international a group becomes, the more pure cash pooling reaches its limits. The next level of centralization is in-house banking. An internal bank, often called a group bank or in-house bank (IHB), bundles payments, financing, and liquidity across all subsidiaries. Toward the subsidiaries, it acts like a bank of its own, but within the group. In this article, w

CFOs must know at all times whether their company is solvent, how long existing liquidity will last and which risks arise from receivables, liabilities, cash flows and forecast deviations. Liquidity ratios make this solvency measurable. Especially in mid-sized companies, classic liquidity ratios are not enough because they are often only based on a reporting date. Dynamic ratios that reflect cash flows, capital tied up and planning quality are essential. What Are Liquidity Ra

Many mid-sized companies generate sufficient revenue, but still regularly face liquidity bottlenecks. The reason is often not a lack of income, but insufficient working capital management. Revenue is there, but capital is tied up: Open customer receivables High inventory levels Unfavourable payment structures Active working capital management helps reduce capital tied up in inventory. In many companies, it is still viewed as a purely operational task and is underestimated. Ye

Many mid-sized companies lack a complete overview of open receivables. They issue invoices, but late payments and unstructured receivables processes put the company’s liquidity at risk. Especially in economically uncertain times, liquidity and cash flow can come under significant pressure. Accounts receivable management can be a success factor for the treasury strategy and help avoid liquidity bottlenecks. This article explains what accounts receivable management is and how f

ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. Many companies use an ERP system as a central tool to manage processes, data and resources in a bundled way. For mid-sized companies, an ERP system is important for managing processes in a controlled way despite growth. At the same time, ERP systems are often not enough to fully cover specialised finance requirements such as treasury and liquidity management. This article explains how mid-sized companies use ERP systems and how spe

SWIFT is one of the world’s most important networks for financial messages. Around 44 million messages per day and 150 trillion US dollars in payment volume per year run through this system. It is almost impossible to process international payments without SWIFT. For CFOs and finance teams, it is important to understand and use SWIFT. Correct payment data, secure bank communication and transparent processes are necessary to reduce operational risks. This article explains what

Several banks, different portals, many Excel lists and recurring manual downloads and uploads. This used to be the daily finance reality for many mid-sized companies. With increasing digitalisation, these processes are becoming more sensitive, as secure bank communication is crucial for finance departments. EBICS established a standard for the secure exchange of data between companies and banks. It replaced older systems such as BCS-FTAM and can simplify payment processes for

An international payment is ready for authorisation. The invoice verification process has been completed and the payment has been authorised. However, the payee has not been checked against current sanctions lists. This gives rise to several risks for a company. The consequences extend beyond an abstract compliance issue. There may be specific risks relating to payment, liability and reputation. This is why sanctions list screening are carried out. Sanctions lists include com

Treasury has its own language. Terms such as value date, disposition, DSO, or cash pooling come up constantly in daily work, but they are not always self-explanatory. This treasury glossary explains the most important terms around liquidity, cash management, and treasury management briefly, clearly, and to the point. Whether you are new to the topic or want to look up a single term: here you will find quick, clear definitions, sorted alphabetically and with the relevant formu

A company's most sensitive data comes together in treasury: account balances, payment flows, bank connections, and confidential financial plans. This is precisely why treasury is a preferred target for fraud and cyberattacks. A single manipulated payment run or one unauthorized access can cause considerable financial damage. At the same time, requirements are rising: fraud schemes such as CEO fraud and payment fraud are becoming more sophisticated, regulatory requirements are

In corporate groups with multiple subsidiaries, liquidity is often distributed unevenly. One subsidiary sits on surpluses while another needs money in the short term and takes out expensive external loans. This is exactly where cash pooling comes in. Cash pooling is a central technique in cash management with which groups bring together the balances of their accounts and subsidiaries. The goal: deploy surplus liquid assets where they are needed, reduce dependence on external

Volatility, interest rate swings, and unpredictable payment flows are putting treasury departments under increasing pressure. At the same time, daily tasks in many companies are still handled with Excel-based models. These are: time-consuming, error-prone, without real-time transparency. For this reason, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is moving to the forefront of modern treasury management. AI-powered systems promise: more precise forecasts, early warnings, well-founded decisi

The DORA Regulation has been mandatory since 17 January 2025. The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is an EU-wide regulation designed to strengthen digital operational resilience in the financial sector. This is why it is not just an IT topic. It mainly affects the finance department, including all processes, payment transactions and third-party providers. The regulation covers five central areas. These include: ICT risk management Management and reporting of ICT inci

Working capital is a key metric for assessing short-term financial stability. It describes the difference between current assets and current liabilities. To run a company successfully, working capital should be effectively dealt with. We will explain how to calculate and assess working capital, how to improve it and which tools can help you. Many finance teams still work with fragmented Excel files and manual reports affecting transparency and the timeliness of working capit

A Payment Factory helps companies manage payment processes and makes day-to-day finance work easier. Centralised management reduces manual work and creates more transparency. Many CFOs know the challenge: several bank portals, entities, payment formats and manual approvals. Added to this are rising compliance requirements and a lack of overview of payment status. This article explains what a Payment Factory is and how mid-sized companies can benefit from it. What is a Payment

Are complex organisations always experiencing unstable liquidity? Not necessarily. Thanks to innovative technologies, companies can respond efficiently to the demands of today’s dynamic financial world. While liquidity used to be seen mainly as an operational topic, it is now a strategic success factor. Companies must continuously optimise liquidity to be able to respond to uneven payment flows and market changes. Successful businesses that prioritise stability and security u

The financial industry is undergoing a major transformation. While traditional automation follows fixed rules, modern software solutions are far more flexible. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI), modern systems now support both operational processes and strategic decision-making. Companies investing in AI-powered systems reduce the workload of their finance departments while improving employee efficiency. Teams gain more time for innovative projects and service impro

Distributed data, manual processes, lack of transparency. Many treasury teams know these challenges well. Despite the time involved and the high risk of error, many companies still handle daily financial tasks with manual Excel-based models. This is why data-driven methods are moving more and more into focus. The first step is to Integrate data through automation and Bring it together on one single platform. Automated processes create greater data transparency and allow deepe