If there is one lesson that the market keeps teaching us, it’s this : the need for interim talent is real, and true expertise remains the key to success. This blog unfortunately explores a case where a company needed specialist treasury support….but lost valuable time and expertise by sticking to internal processes built for general hiring, not niche roles.
The Challenge: Finding Specialist Treasury Talent Fast
A potential client approached us for treasury support. They had never worked with interim professionals before, so the concept already required some explanation. We walked them through the benefits:
• Speed: Interim treasury specialists do not require three-month notice periods.
• Knowledge: we provide senior experts who have solved the exact issue before
• Flexibility: our interim consultants scale up or down as needed, without long commitments
Yes, the hourly cost is higher than that of an employee. But in return, you get someone who can step in immediately, fix the issue, and keep the business running.
Why Interim Treasury Expertise Matters
The treasury team instantly saw the value of interim specialists. In fact, the time pressure of not finding a permanent hire fast enough pushed them toward interim support. So they asked to see candidates, and we provided them with truly strong profiles. That’s when things started to change…
When HR Processes Block Access to Real Expertise
HR got involved and immediately rejected us as a supplier. Not because of quality. And no, not even because of risk! They declined our offer simply because Pecunia wasn’t on their list of approved vendors.
The decision: “We don’t want to add another recruiter.”
Ouch … We’re not a recruiter, but let’s leave that aside.
Even a one-off onboarding was off the table, despite the fact that our contracts are simple and onboarding takes hours, not weeks.
Instead, HR insisted the role be pushed out through their existing “known agencies.” Multiple of them. At once.
How Generalist Agencies Derail Specialist Treasury Searches
The assignment went to several large, generalist agencies. And what happened next is exactly what every treasury professional has seen before:
The Domino Effect of Using Too Many Agencies
- The same candidates were contacted by multiple agencies:
One of our consultants received outreach from four different firms for the exact same role. - Confusion began:
Consultants weren’t sure which agency to use. Agencies weren’t sure what the job even required. - No expertise = bad representation:
Treasury is a specialist field. Explaining liquidity structures, cash pooling designs, or TMS migration work requires more than a quick skim of a job description.
Generic recruiters simply cannot position a treasury expert correctly. - Market fatigue set in:
Candidates get frustrated, and the company brand suffers. What was meant to increase reach ended up diluting quality.
Instead of increasing the talent pool, using many agencies made it smaller.
Exactly what we tried to avoid.
The Real Outcome: Missed Talent and Lost Time
We were out of the process.
So were some of the strongest consultants, who refused to be represented by agencies that didn’t understand their skill set or by multiple agencies at once.
And the company?
As far as we know, they are still looking.
The Core Lesson: Treasury Hiring Requires Expertise, Not Volume
Treasury is not a volume game. The problem cannot be solved by sending the same role to as many agencies as possible. The only cure to this “disease” is working with partners who understand the function, understand the market, and can position the right expert quickly and properly.
The treasury team knew this all along. They felt the urgency, saw the advantages of interim support, and were ready to act.
But process won over expertise.
Sometimes the barrier to finding the right talent isn’t the market.
It’s the internal machinery designed for general hiring, not specialist roles.
And until that changes, companies will continue to lose time, lose candidates, and lose opportunities.
How Pecunia Provides the Right Treasury Expertise, Fast
The good news? If you refuse to let process override expertise and you need immediate, effective treasury support, Pecunia can step in fast with the right interim talent.
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