How Treasury Careers Really Get Built | KyribaLive 2026 Panel

Why It Matters

The discussion highlights how companies can build treasury capability by recruiting for transferable skills and promoting internal mobility, while treasury leaders should prioritize transformation experience, stakeholder influence and technology adoption to scale operations and talent. This matters for hiring strategies, workforce development and companies modernizing treasury through systems like Kyriba.

Summary

A KyribaLive 2026 panel of treasury leaders described how diverse, non‑linear backgrounds — including audit, forensic investigations, medical care and law — funneled into treasury roles through cross‑functional projects, transformation programs and internal sponsorship. Panelists recounted lateral moves into treasury, leading major finance and treasury transformations (including Kyriba implementations), and rapid role expansion during the COVID era. They emphasized overcoming imposter syndrome, the value of relationship‑building and process skills over traditional treasury pedigrees, and how remote and global responsibilities broadened career opportunities. The session framed treasury as a strategic, visible function that attracts talent willing to pivot and learn new technical and leadership skills.

Original Description

At KyribaLive 2026, I sat down with three experienced treasury professionals to talk honestly about how careers in treasury actually develop — and it rarely looks like a straight line.

Joining me on the panel:

Sabrina Janulis – Director of Treasury, Baxter International

Benjamin Sill – Director of Global Treasury & Risk Management, Inotiv

Brian Gittelman – Deputy Treasurer, Capitus

We explore how each of them found their way into treasury — from forensic accounting and fraud investigation, to respiratory therapy and shared services, to nearly becoming a lawyer — and what that means for anyone building a career in the profession today.

Topics covered include the transferable skills that matter most (controls, skepticism, process improvement, adaptability), how to stand up a treasury function from scratch at a spin-off, navigating vendor selection and technology noise, managing banking relationships strategically, and how to advocate for yourself when promotion time comes around.

We also get into the value of the CTP, finding the right mentors, building your external network, and why being easy to work with is one of the most underrated career assets in treasury.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome and Session Overview

01:09 – Sabrina's Journey: From Forensic Accounting to Treasury Leadership

04:12 – Ben's Path: A Non-Linear Route Through Healthcare and Finance

06:24 – Brian's Story: Building Treasury from the Ground Up

09:24 – Transferable Skills: What Non-Traditional Backgrounds Bring to Treasury

14:21 – Pivotal Career Moments and When to Make the Move

16:02 – Standing Up Treasury at a Spin-Off: TMS, Banking, and Policies

17:55 – Cutting Through the Technology Noise

19:07 – Skepticism, Data Readiness, and Leaning on Your Network

21:59 – How to Reference-Check Your Treasury Tech Vendors

22:29 – Networking with Purpose and Following Up After Conferences

23:54 – Managing Banking Relationships Strategically

27:54 – Career Advice: Mentors, the CTP, and Staying Curious

32:18 – Audience Q&A: How to Position Yourself for Promotion

35:02 – Panel Takeaways and the Conference Challenge

39:43 – Closing Remarks and Handoff to the Next Session

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