Treasury Under Pressure: What We Heard When Treasury Leaders Got in a Room Together

There’s something different that happens when you put a small group of treasury professionals in a room with no slides, no sales pitches and no expectation of having the “right” answers.

That was the spirit of our recent treasury roundtable in Dublin, hosted and moderated by AtlasFX. What emerged wasn’t a checklist of best practices or a debate about tools, but a candid, thoughtful exchange shaped by real experiences across industries, maturity levels, and perspectives on where treasury is heading next.

A peer-led conversation, by design

From the outset, the discussion was deliberately peer-driven. Participants came from a wide range of industries and organisational structures, with experience levels spanning those newer to FX risk management through to seasoned practitioners who have lived through multiple volatility cycles.

That diversity mattered. It created space for honest comparison rather than consensus—and for learning in both directions. Less experienced teams could hear how others think about governance, forecasting and communication under pressure. More established teams were challenged by fresh perspectives and different organisational constraints.

What united everyone was a shared willingness to speak openly about what’s working, what isn’t, and where uncertainty still exists.

Expectations are rising, alongside volatility

The group began the discussion by sharing their thoughts on this quarer’s FX environment. Volatility remains a given, but the pressure isn’t only market-driven. Many conversations quickly moved toward expectations: how treasury teams are being asked to respond faster, explain more clearly and deliver confidence even when conditions are far from predictable.

What stood out was how often people referenced judgement, trust and communication alongside more traditional FX concerns. Managing risk today isn’t just about exposures; it’s about aligning stakeholders around what’s realistic.

Operational reality beats theory

When the discussion turned to operations, the tone became even more practical. This wasn’t about ideal workflows or future-state diagrams. It was about what actually scales inside complex organisations, and what breaks under pressure.

Participants spoke candidly about manual steps that still exist by design, not by accident. In many cases, these processes serve as control points or moments for human judgement rather than signs of inefficiency. The group spent time exploring trade-offs that treasury teams knowingly accept: speed versus oversight, consistency versus local flexibility, automation versus explainability.

There was no single “right” model, and that was the point.

Forecasting: different paths, shared challenges

Forecasting sparked some of the most engaged discussion of the afternoon. Teams shared very different journeys—manual, statistical, hybrid, and increasingly AI-assisted approaches—but many arrived at similar conclusions.

Accuracy matters, but credibility often matters more. A forecast that leadership trusts and understands can be more valuable than a technically superior model that lacks transparency. Several participants reflected on assumptions they would rethink if starting again, and on lessons learned through iteration rather than transformation.

AI, unsurprisingly, was a recurring theme. It’s clearly top of mind, but the conversation was nuanced. Rather than enthusiasm or scepticism alone, most participants framed AI as a capability still finding its place: powerful, evolving, and requiring careful integration into existing processes and governance.

The value of being in the room

What made the discussion particularly impactful was its scale. This wasn’t a conference panel or a formal presentation. It was an intimate setting that allowed for side conversations, follow-up questions and personal exchanges that don’t happen in larger forums.

People compared notes across industries. They challenged each other respectfully. They acknowledged uncertainty without feeling the need to resolve it on the spot.

That kind of interaction is difficult to replicate and increasingly valuable in a profession where change is constant and clarity is often in short supply.

A reminder of why peer exchange matters

The roundtable served as a reminder that progress in treasury doesn’t always come from new frameworks or technologies. Often, it comes from hearing how others are navigating similar pressures, making trade-offs and learning in real time.

As FX markets evolve and tools continue to advance—particularly with AI reshaping expectations—the role of peer dialogue remains essential. Not to arrive at universal answers, but to sharpen judgement, build confidence and move forward with a clearer sense of context.

We’re grateful to everyone who took part and contributed so openly. Conversations like these reinforce the importance of creating space for thoughtful, practitioner-led exchange, and we look forward to continuing them.

Learn how treasury teams are changing the way they approach FX forecasting. Check out our blog, Enhancing FX Forecasting with AI.