What’s Really on Treasury Professionals’ Minds and What They Need to Consider
Going independent is no longer a vague or distant idea in treasury. For many professionals, it has become a serious career consideration, and often an emotional one.
To better understand what’s pulling treasury professionals toward independence, and what’s holding them back, we asked a simple but honest question:
“If you’re thinking about going independent, what’s really on your mind?”
The answers revealed a picture that is far more nuanced than the usual freelancer-versus-employee narrative.
Who Is Actually Considering Independence?
One of the biggest myths around independence is that it mainly attracts people who are already freelancing or contracting. In reality, most people thinking about going independent are in the middle of a transition.
Some have recently left permanent roles. Others are still in corporate positions but actively reassessing what comes next. Independence, it turns out, is often explored at moments of change. Not as an escape, but as a considered alternative.
How Serious Is the Idea of Going Independent?
This isn’t idle curiosity. For most respondents, independence is not a vague “someday” plan. It’s a real option being actively explored right now. The idea has moved beyond daydreaming and into practical reflection: Could this work for me? What would it really involve?
What Kind of Independent Work Appeals to Treasury Professionals?
When treasury professionals think about independence, they’re not talking about leaving treasury behind. On the contrary, most want to stay close to their core expertise.
Independent work is primarily envisioned around core treasury activities, systems, and TMS work, and risk, FX, and liquidity topics. Some also see opportunities in finance transformation, data and analytics, or tax, but always as extensions of their existing knowledge.
Independence isn’t about becoming a generalist. It’s about applying deep expertise across different environments, companies, and situations.
What Attracts People to Independence?
The motivations behind independence are strikingly human.
Many are drawn by the idea of having more control over their time and location. Others are looking for work that feels more meaningful or impactful, or simply more varied than what a single permanent role can offer. Escaping internal politics and creating more space for professional autonomy also feature strongly.
While income potential plays a role, independence is rarely just about money. It’s about purpose, relevance, and having a say in how and with whom you work.
What Does “Success” Look Like as an Independent?
When asked what success means, respondents didn’t talk about job titles or billable hours.
They talked about satisfied clients, credibility, recognition, and balance. They described success as working on realistic, meaningful projects and gaining broader experience across different companies and situations without burning out.
In other words, success is about sustainable independence, not constant hustle.
What Worries People Most About Going Independent?
This is where the answers become especially revealing.
The biggest concern isn’t loneliness or lack of structure. In fact, those worries barely register at all.
What truly concerns people is visibility and positioning, how to sell themselves, how to be chosen, and how to find the right assignments consistently. Income volatility, staying relevant, and navigating legal or administrative complexity also feature prominently.
The fear isn’t working alone. It’s being invisible.
What Could Stop Someone From Going Independent?
Even among those seriously considering independence, the decision isn’t irreversible.
An interesting permanent role, clear growth opportunities, or the promise of stability and security could still change someone’s path. This isn’t about burning bridges or rejecting traditional careers it’s about keeping options open and choosing deliberately.
What Would Make Independence Feel Safer?
One answer came through loud and clear: independence feels safer when it’s not done in isolation.
People want visibility and positioning support. They value mentorship from experienced interims, access to a peer network, and honest conversations about what independence really looks like the good and the difficult. Skill development matters too, but almost no one wants to figure everything out completely alone.
Independence, paradoxically, works best when it’s shared.
So… Should You Go Independent?
The survey doesn’t give a simple yes or no.
What it does show is this: treasury professionals don’t fear independence itself. They fear being alone in it.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Going independent doesn’t have to mean selling yourself without support, guessing your market value, or navigating assignments, positioning, and growth on your own.
At Pecunia, independence is paired with community: a network of treasury professionals who share assignments and experiences, support visibility and positioning, offer mentorship and honest feedback, and help each other stay relevant, confident, and connected.
Independence isn’t about stepping away from people. It’s about choosing how and with whom you work. If independence is on your mind, you’re already not alone. And you don’t have to be. Contact us
