Encompassing people who were born between 1996 and 2010, Gen Z is famously the first generation to grow up with the internet and smartphones – not to mention the myriad challenges that have played out on the world stage in recent years. As McKinsey summarises, “Gen Z identity has been shaped by the digital age, climate anxiety, a shifting financial landscape, and COVID-19.”
As digital natives, they also have much to offer their employers – and the treasury profession is one area in which Gen Z workers can add considerable value. “Gen Z brings a fresh perspective to treasury teams, particularly in the areas of technology and innovation, and for me I would say challenging the current way we are working,” comments Marianna Polykrati, Group Treasurer at Greek aquaculture company AVRAMAR.
With treasury undergoing a significant transformation towards digitisation and automation, Polykrati argues that these young professionals “are naturally equipped with the digital fluency and adaptability needed to thrive in this evolving landscape and help us achieve these goals. In my team, an incredible mix of different generations, we’ve seen how Gen Z and Millennials’ affinity for data analytics and systems can complement treasury’s strategic role, helping us make better, faster choices,” she adds.
Attracting Gen Z talent
When it comes to hiring Gen Z talent, the limited availability of treasury management courses in higher education institutions presents something of an obstacle – although there are some notable exceptions, such as Sorbonne University in Paris and VU Amsterdam, explains Jan Dirk van Beusekom, Head of Strategic Marketing, Cash Management, Trade Finance and Factoring at BNP Paribas. “As a result, the profession of treasurer remains relatively unknown and is rarely a career choice for young graduates from the outset,” he says.
With that in mind, BNP Paribas Cash Management has created a programme, ‘Bringing Gen Z to Treasury’, which aims to promote the corporate treasury profession and enhance its appeal to young graduates and professionals.
The main elements of the programme include ‘Student-Expert days’, in which Master’s students from Sorbonne Paris University, Solvay Business School and HEC Montreal connect with peers, senior corporate executives and industry experts. The programme also includes ‘Talent Place’, a six-month internship at BNP Paribas Cash Management, followed by six months of work experience in a corporate treasury environment.
“The objective is to enable trainees to discover the entire cash management value chain through hands-on projects first at the bank and then at the corporate side,” says Van Beusekom. “We are currently recruiting a second cohort of candidates for Talent Place.”
Striking a balance
When it comes to attracting and retain Gen Z talent, Polykrati notes that treasury teams need to highlight the profession’s growing reliance on cutting-edge technologies, as well as its critical role in shaping a company’s financial strategy. “Offering opportunities to work with advanced tools and encouraging continuous learning will not only appeal to Gen Z, but also unlock their potential to drive the function further,” she adds.
But while she describes Gen Z’s admiration for technology and innovation as a “tremendous asset”, Polykrati also highlights the importance of striking a balance.
“Their eagerness to explore continuous improvements and new tools can sometimes shift focus away from fully implementing and optimising existing automation,” she says. “Treasury teams must guide them to understand that successful transformation requires patience and dedication to seeing projects through to completion. By blending their enthusiasm with strategic focus, we can harness their potential, while ensuring sustainable progress.”
