Treasury’s Next Evolution: Strategic Foresight and Tech Fluency with François Masquelier

Treasury’s Next Evolution: Strategic Foresight and Tech Fluency with François Masquelier‍

In an era defined by relentless volatility, geopolitical friction, and digital transformation, treasury leaders are under more pressure than ever to evolve. Few understand this better than François Masquelier, CEO of Simply Treasury and Chair of multiple treasury associations across Europe. A prolific voice in treasury innovation and risk management, Masquelier sat down with us to unpack what’s reshaping the profession, and what lies ahead.‍

From Scorekeeper to Strategic Co-Pilot
‍According to Masquelier, treasury is no longer a back-office function defined by spreadsheets and settlement cycles. It’s becoming the digital nerve center of finance, where decisions about liquidity, risk, and capital structure ripple across the enterprise.

“Treasurers must move from scorekeeper to strategic co-pilot,” he says. “CFOs today don’t just want reports. They want foresight, and they expect treasury to help steer the ship.”

That shift requires not only financial acumen but strategic foresight and digital fluency, a hybrid mindset that blends scenario planning with fluency in APIs, AI, and automation.

Navigating a Jungle of Fintech
‍With the explosion of treasury tech, ranging from real-time payments to AI-powered risk analytics, the market has become a “jungle” of solutions, Masquelier warns. To help treasurers navigate it, he created the Treasury Tech Map, a tool that categorizes fintech solutions by function and value.

So how can treasury teams tell what’s truly transformative versus what’s just hype?

Masquelier outlines a clear evaluation framework:

• Align with Strategic Objectives: Does the tech support centralization, liquidity visibility, or risk reduction?
• Assess Value Across Treasury Pillars: Does it enhance cash forecasting, bank connectivity, FX hedging, or compliance?
• Test for Longevity: Will it integrate well with your ecosystem? Is the vendor viable?
• Run a Strategic Tech Radar: Classify tools as “Now,” “Next,” “Watch,” or “Avoid” to cut through the noise.

“Avoiding all new tech is as dangerous as chasing every trend,” Masquelier cautions. “A structured radar keeps innovation grounded.”

Hidden Risks: The Blind Spots That Still Haunt Treasurers
‍Despite more sophisticated tools, many treasury teams are still operating with blind spots, especially when it comes to second-order risk, tail events, and cross-border regulations.

• Second-Order Risks like supply chain disruptions triggered by FX volatility or geopolitical shocks are often overlooked because they fall outside traditional risk models.
• Tail Risks, such as pandemics or cyberattacks, are underestimated due to overreliance on historical data.
• Regulatory Fragmentation across jurisdictions is often treated as someone else’s problem, until compliance gaps create real financial exposure.

Masquelier believes it’s time for treasurers to embed risk thinking into strategic planning, not just treat it as a compliance checkbox.

“Treasury needs cross-functional risk councils that include IT, tax, procurement, and operations. Siloed thinking is dangerous.”

The One Skill That Will Define the Future of Treasury

Asked what skill will most define the next decade of treasury leadership, Masquelier doesn’t hesitate:

“Strategic Foresight & Tech Fluency. Those who combine these will shape the future of corporate value.”

Here’s how future-ready treasurers can start developing that today:

• Cultivate Strategic Foresight: Read macro trends. Practice scenario planning. Partner with other functions.
• Build Digital & Data Fluency: Understand how APIs, ERPs, and TMS work together. Join pilot projects.
• Adopt a Product Owner Mindset: Treat treasury tools like products. Design, iterate, and advocate for usability.
• Sharpen Storytelling Skills: Translate risk insights into action that resonates at the CEO and Board level.

Looking Ahead
‍As treasury transforms into a real-time, cross-border, tech-enabled function, leaders like François Masquelier are calling for a mindset shift as much as a skillset upgrade.

The future of treasury belongs not just to those who can adapt, but to those who can anticipate. And in Masquelier’s view, that starts with embracing technology, not as a threat, but as a strategic ally.