Op-Ed by:
Kwame Asante (Executive Director: Structured Solutions) and Mark Hearne (Head of Cash & Transaction Banking, South & Southern Africa: Standard Chartered Bank)
Recent discussions with treasury leaders across South Africa revealed a clear message: artificial intelligence isn’t just automating treasury operations – it’s fundamentally reshaping the function’s strategic value. No longer simply a back‐office guardian of liquidity, the modern treasury function is evolving into a strategic driver of enterprise value.
How treasuries are using AI
Today’s treasury teams are leveraging AI and embracing digital technologies—AI, cloud-based systems, real-time APIs, and blockchain—to forge an agile, forward-looking approach in managing cash and risks. Machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models are dramatically improving cash flow forecasting accuracy and working capital optimization. Natural language processing (NLP) tools are extracting actionable insights from vast amounts of unstructured data, from regulatory updates to market commentary.
The distinguishing feature of AI systems is their capacity for continuous improvement. These self-learning systems are continuously improving and refining their performance through real-world application. This capacity fosters agility, supports proactive risk management, and strengthens treasury’s role in guiding financial decision-making aINRt the enterprise level.
The future of AI in treasury
The next frontier will move beyond operational efficiency toward strategic transformation. We’re seeing the emergence of AI as a semi-autonomous agent, capable of managing global liquidity in real-time and executing adaptive hedging strategies. Conversational AI assistants will soon handle routine queries and transactions, while sophisticated risk management systems will fuse internal financial data with external signals to provide early warnings of market shifts.
Perhaps most exciting is AI’s potential to break down organizational silos. Imagine treasury systems that automatically adjust working capital based on real-time supply chain data, or that provide instant scenario analysis for board-level strategic decisions.
The same AI systems that enable treasury teams to process vast amounts of data and make split-second decisions, however, also raise important questions about oversight and control. As treasury functions become increasingly automated and data-driven, the need for robust governance frameworks becomes paramount.
In the realm of compliance, artificial intelligence can facilitate continuous monitoring of evolving regulatory landscapes. Natural language processing (NLP) tools are capable of scanning global regulatory databases, identifying inconsistencies, and recommending internal policy modifications in real time. Automated compliance checks and audit trails contribute to reducing risk exposure and bolstering confidence in the treasury’s control environment.
Most notably, AI has the potential to enhance the strategic role of the treasury. By providing tools to model capital structures, simulate funding strategies, and assess market risks, AI empowers treasury professionals to deliver comprehensive, real-time insights to boards and executive committees. This capability informs decisions regarding mergers, capital allocation, and long-term financial planning.
Pitfalls to avoid
But treasury AI models pose some challenges and to incorporate them successfully requires careful navigation . Off-the-shelf solutions often fail without proper customization to specific business contexts. Poor data quality, either inconsistent, incomplete, or outdated, can undermine even the most sophisticated AI models.
And while automation is powerful, the human factor is equally important: maintaining human oversight remains crucial for high-stakes decisions. Treasury teams will need digital upskilling and change management support to embrace AI effectively.
Transparency and explainability are an ongoing concern and emphasize the need for tightening regulatory expectations around AI models. “Black-box” algorithms pose risks to compliance and stakeholder trust and treasuries must ensure their AI systems are auditable, ethical, and aligned with internal and regulatory governance frameworks. It is clear that launching AI projects must be done with clear business alignment, tied to specific KPIs in terms of improved forecast accuracy, reduced working capital costs, or enhanced fraud prevention. Otherwise, they risk becoming siloed experiments with limited ROI and diminishing support from executive leadership.
How banks can help
Banks play a critical role as enablers and partners in this transformation. Currently, they are developing API-first architecture platforms that connect treasury systems with real-time visibility across accounts, currencies, and regions—streamlining payments, reconciliations, and liquidity management. This automation reduces friction, accelerates cash flow, and frees treasury teams to focus on analysis and strategic planning. For organizations without extensive internal capabilities, banks can provide ready-to-use AI solutions for fraud detection, compliance monitoring, and process automation. Banks can also provide hosted AI fraud detection, blockchain trade finance, and LLM digital assistants on scalable platforms for corporations lacking internal IT resources.
Most importantly, banks can serve as strategic partners by supporting treasuries with advisory and educational services and helping to drive innovation by incubating fintech solutions. This consultative role positions banks as strategic partners rather than transactional intermediaries. By recognizing the uniqueness of each treasury, banks would be in a position to offer scalable, modular solutions tailored to client complexity, maturity, and goals, delivered via on-premises, cloud, or hybrid setups. This flexibility makes transformation feasible and measurable.
Looking ahead
The integration of AI is not just about automation and efficiency; it is about redefining the treasury function as a proactive contributor to corporate strategy. The winners will be those who embrace AI thoughtfully, with clear governance and strong partnerships. AI won’t replace treasury professionals, but it will dramatically enhance their capabilities, elevating the function into a strategic powerhouse that drives enterprise value. The next frontier will likely see the emergence of autonomous treasury systems that can self-adjust to market conditions while maintaining human oversight for critical decisions.
The technology is ready. The question is: are you?
