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Microlesson · 5-min read

Treasury Management - Meaning, Objectives, and Functions

## Treasury Management

Meaning: Treasury management encompasses planning, organizing, and controlling funds and working capital to:

  • Ensure best use of funds
  • Maintain liquidity
  • Reduce overall cost of funds
  • Mitigate operational and financial risk

Scope: Treasury management mainly deals with:

1. Working capital management

2. Financial risk management (Forex & interest rate management)

Key Objectives:

  • Maximize return on available cash
  • Minimize interest on borrowings
  • Mobilize cash for corporate ventures
  • Effective dealing in forex, money & commodity markets

### Functions of Treasury Department

FunctionDescription
Cash ManagementEfficient collection & payment systems, managing surplus, ensuring liquidity
Currency ManagementMinimize forex risks via matching receipts/payments and forward contracts
Fund ManagementPlan and source short/medium/long-term funds; forecast future rates
BankingMaintain bank relationships; negotiate interest and forex rates
Corporate FinanceSupport acquisition/divestment; manage investor relations

### Cash Management

Cash management deals with managing cash inflows, outflows, and balances to meet payments and invest surplus efficiently.

Objectives:

1. Provide adequate cash to all units

2. Avoid idle funds

3. Invest surplus cash to maximize returns

### The Need for Cash — Keynes' Three Motives

MotiveDescription
Transaction NeedMeet day-to-day expenses and debt payments from operational inflows
Speculative NeedHold cash to exploit profitable opportunities that require immediate settlement
Precautionary NeedSafety buffer against unexpected/emergency events

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Confusing treasury management with only cash management — it also covers currency management, fund management, banking, and corporate finance
  • Mixing up Keynes' three motives: Transaction = routine payments, Speculative = profitable opportunities, Precautionary = emergencies
  • Forgetting that Currency Management uses instruments like forward contracts to hedge forex risk, not just matching receipts and payments
Reference:
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