Treasury has never been more visible or more important than it is right now as we are heading into 2026. Markets remain unpredictable, supply chains Treasury has never been more visible or more important than it is right now as we are heading into 2026. Markets remain unpredictable, supply chains react at the slightest disturbance, regulations keep expanding like an over-engineered ERP project and CFOs want clarity in places where clarity is… ambitious at best.
Treasury isn’t simply managing cash anymore. It’s shaping how organizations stay resilient, react quickly and plan confidently.
I know, I know… resilience is a word you hear so often it became a cliché… but, really the average treasury team is so small that it has to be flexible and adaptable.
The coming year brings a set of trends that will define how modern treasurers operate and what “good” looks like:
1. Liquidity Becomes a Strategic Infrastructure Layer
The old idea that liquidity structures exist purely to “sweep surplus cash” is gone.
In 2026, liquidity architecture becomes core financial infrastructure.
Companies are redesigning their setup to deliver:
- Better cross-entity visibility
- Flexible, regulation-aware pooling models
- Faster access to global liquidity
- Reduced dependency on manual interventions
Treasurers that treat liquidity as a design discipline rather than an administrative task will outpace competitors, especially in multi-market environments.
2. Forecasting Finally Grows Up
Treasury forecasting has often been a mix of spreadsheets, instinct, and quiet despair. Not anymore.
Volatility in our current environment makes precision non-negotiable, and 2026 pushes organizations toward:
- Integrated data models across ERP, TMS and banking
- Rolling scenario simulations
- Predictive drivers based on historical patterns
- Alignment with procurement and sales behaviour
The treasurer’s role evolves from “reporting variance” to “guiding business decisions.”
3. Technology Goes Modular
Treasury systems are moving from monolithic giants to ecosystem architectures.
Instead of ripping out and replacing entire landscapes, companies are layering:
- API-driven cash visibility tools
- Lightweight risk modules
- Automated reconciliation engines
- Plug-in analytics capabilities
This modular approach reduces implementation pain, speeds up deployment and finally gives treasurers what they’ve been asking for: flexibility.
4. AI Moves Out of the Experiment Phase
2024-2025 let companies experiment. In 2026, it’s no longer a pilot, it’s a full-scale production.
AI becomes part of day-to-day treasury operations with use cases like:
- Real-time anomaly detection
- Automated exposure classification
- Predictive liquidity alerts
- Auto-generated reporting packs
- Continuous data cleansing
It’s less about replacing treasurers and more about reducing the work nobody wants to do, so teams can focus on strategy instead of digital housekeeping.
5. Banking Relationships Shrink and Intensify
Treasuries are trimming their banking panels to improve pricing, streamline KYC, and reduce operational drag. At the same time, relationships with core partners are becoming deeper and more data-driven.
However, regulatory realities mean that even with fewer banks, complexity doesn’t magically disappear. Treasurers will need sharper governance frameworks and better documentation to avoid falling behind.
6. The Talent Gap Becomes Impossible to Ignore
Demand for treasury expertise keeps rising faster than supply.
Technology accelerates. Regulation expands. Teams stay small.
2026 forces companies to rethink how they resource treasury:
- More interim specialists
- External support for system rollouts
- Cross-functional upskilling
- Outsourcing of operational pain points
Treasury is becoming a hybrid model: lean internal teams supported by specialized external capability.
7. Treasury Steps Fully Into Its Strategic Role
This is the big shift. Treasury’s voice is now required early, not as an afterthought.
Whether it’s FX strategy, pricing, supplier terms, investment decisions or scenario planning, treasury is being asked to influence, not just execute.
Companies that elevate treasury as a strategic advisor will navigate volatility far better than those who treat it as a reporting function.
2026: The Year Treasury Builds What’s Next
The strongest treasuries next year won’t be the ones with the biggest tech stack or the most complex policies. They’ll be the ones that master simplicity, integration and clarity.
Teams that embrace data.
Architect liquidity intentionally.
Automate the repetitive.
Invest in capability.
And focus relentlessly on strategic impact.
A Quiet Note from Pecunia
At Pecunia, we see these trends play out every day across treasury teams of every size.
Whether it’s redesigning liquidity structures, upgrading a TMS, improving forecasting or filling an expertise gap, our consultants help treasuries move faster and operate smarter.
If your organization is preparing for 2026 and wants expert support without the noise, you can always reach us at pecuniatf.nl/contact.
