WHAT IS TREASURY? (2024)

WHAT IS TREASURY? (1)

noun, plural treasuries

The funds or revenue of a state, institution, or society.

(in some countries) the government department responsible for budgeting for and controlling public expenditure, management of the national debt, and the overall management of the economy.

Place or building where treasure is stored.

A store or collection of valuable or delightful things.

Source: Oxford Dictionary

WHAT IS TREASURY IN A BUSINESS CONTEXT?

Treasury in a business context is a key, specialist function of the finance department.

Treasury involves the management of money and financial risks in a business. The priority is to ensure the business has the money it needs to manage its day-to-day business obligations. It also aims to ensure there is enough cash available to meet future liabilities. To do this successfully, the function analyses the risks that might impact the flow of cash.

By performing these activities, treasury develops successful long term financial strategies and policies for the organisation.

Larger organisations will usually have a variety of departments which could include sales, marketing, operations and production, human resources, research and development, and finance. Treasury is usually a specialist function within the finance department, and works both inside the firm and outside in the wider environment.

To carry out this work effectively, treasury functions need to understand financial markets and the wider economic environment.

TREASURY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS

Financial markets deal in financial assets. This includes the sale and purchase of shares, bonds and foreign exchange or the lending and borrowing of funds. Treasurers frequently need to use financial markets to help manage and mitigate risks.

There are many examples of financial markets:

  • stock markets, which enable the trading of shares
  • bond markets, which facilitate the trading of bonds
  • money markets, which provide short-term debt financing and investment

Physical and virtual markets

Historically, markets were physical locations. Many modern markets are now entirely virtual, with no physical location.

Wholesale and retail markets

Wholesale markets trade in large quantities. Retail markets can be defined as everything which is not wholesale. In a retail market, therefore, trading is in smaller quantities and sometimes by private individuals.

Treasury needs financial markets to safely invest surplus short-term cash. Financial markets are also used to for borrowing money for longer periods. This helps manage the risk of a company running out of money or can help a company get money for expansion.

Because treasury works so closely with the financial markets, it’s important to understand how they work, how the laws of supply and demand apply and what is happening right now that’s causing individual companies to do what they do (microeconomics and macroeconomics).

Over time there will always be fluctuations in production, trade and economic activity. The important thing is that any good period of economic expansion is unlikely to continue smoothly forever. This means that the treasury function needs to stay on top of forecasting, work well with the financial markets and develop robust financial strategies to ensure that an organisation will survive any downturns in the wider economy!

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WHAT IS TREASURY? (2024)

FAQs

What does the Treasury do? ›

The Department of the Treasury operates and maintains systems that are critical to the nation's financial infrastructure, such as the production of coin and currency, the disbursem*nt of payments to the American public, revenue collection, and the borrowing of funds necessary to run the federal government.

What is the Treasury in finance? ›

noun, plural treasuries. The funds or revenue of a state, institution, or society. (in some countries) the government department responsible for budgeting for and controlling public expenditure, management of the national debt, and the overall management of the economy. Place or building where treasure is stored.

What does a treasury system do? ›

Treasury management systems, or TMS, are specialized software solutions that oversee and manage an organization's financial operations. These systems centralize information and processes related to liquidity, funding, and risk management.

What does a treasurer do? ›

What is a Treasurer? Treasurer is a financial professional who manages various financial aspects of an organization, including cash management, risk management, investment activities, and financial planning. They play a crucial role in ensuring the long-term financial stability and success of the business.

Who controls the US treasury? ›

Who is the current Secretary of the Treasury and what does she do? Janet Yellen is the Secretary of the Treasury.

Where does Treasury money go? ›

Treasury's operating cash is maintained in an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and in Tax and Loan accounts at commercial banks.

What is the point of the treasury? ›

Treasury operates and oversees the government's central financial accounting and reporting system. This role is critical to help ensure the proper management of the nation's finances, and public confidence in the U.S. government.

What is the basic function of treasury? ›

Treasury involves the management of money and financial risks in a business. Its priority is to ensure the business has the money it needs to manage its day-to-day business obligations, while also helping develop its long term financial strategy and policies.

How do government Treasuries work? ›

We sell Treasury Bonds for a term of either 20 or 30 years. Bonds pay a fixed rate of interest every six months until they mature. You can hold a bond until it matures or sell it before it matures.

Does a treasurer take care of money? ›

Depending on the skills of the staff, the treasurer may be responsible for managing the everyday activities of an organization's finances. This includes managing cash flow, paying and recording bills, maintaining a record of debt, selecting a bank and reconciling statements.

Is it good to be a treasurer? ›

The treasurer is a crucial, though sometimes challenging, position in a company. Corporate treasurers are responsible for identifying and managing risks and developing policies, but they must also coordinate accountants and other specialists to follow those policies and mitigate those risks.

What are the benefits of a treasurer? ›

In their role as planner, a treasury professional often acts as the financial planner for the entire company, especially when investment capital is involved. They also prepare financial forecasts that can help executives make strategic decisions, including mergers and acquisitions.

What is the job function of treasury? ›

Supports and manages financial structure, negotiating and executing financing transactions as needed, including bank facilities, debt financing, lenders, documentation review and covenants. Executes stock repurchase program execution, foreign currency hedging support, and investment management.

What is the primary function of the US Treasury? ›

The management of the money resources of the United States has always been the primary function of the Department of the Treasury.

What is the difference between the Fed and the Treasury? ›

The U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve are separate entities. The Treasury manages all of the money coming into the government and paid out by it. The Federal Reserve's primary responsibility is to keep the economy stable by managing the supply of money in circulation.

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