Group Treasurer Interview Questions UK: 8 Real Questions and What Interviewers Want

Applying for a Group Treasurer job in the UK? Here is what you are likely to be asked. These questions come from our Group Treasurer question bank of 12 questions, written for UK employers at head/director level.

Eight Group Treasurer interview questions, and what the interviewer is thinking

1. How do you manage a group's liquidity and cash forecasting, and what time horizons do you work to?

Why they ask: Liquidity is the treasurer's first responsibility.

2. How would you hedge a group's foreign exchange and interest rate exposure, and how does hedge accounting fit in?

Why they ask: Risk management is central to the group treasurer's remit.

3. Forecasts show the group is likely to breach a leverage covenant in two quarters. How do you handle it?

Why they ask: They want to see early action, bank relationships and clear thinking.

4. Explain how cash pooling, netting and in-house banking work, and what issues arise in a multi-currency, multi-country group.

Why they ask: They test whether you can design efficient cash structures.

5. Tell me about a time you led a refinancing or negotiated a new facility.

Why they ask: This tests your market judgement, negotiation and project management.

6. How do you manage counterparty and bank relationship risk, and what lessons have the failures of Credit Suisse and Silicon Valley Bank taught treasurers?

Why they ask: They want a risk-aware view of bank exposure and relationship management.

7. Sterling falls sharply against the dollar in a week, and the CFO asks about the group's exposure. What do you do?

Why they ask: They test responsiveness and the use of data in a market shock.

8. What do you see as the main responsibilities of a group treasurer, and how do you add value beyond funding and cash?

Why they ask: They want to understand how you see treasury's role in the business.

A sample answer to question 1

How do you manage a group's liquidity and cash forecasting, and what time horizons do you work to?

I'd work across three horizons. In the short term, I'd run a daily cash position and a rolling thirteen-week direct forecast built from receipts, payments, payroll, tax and debt service, drawn from the business units and compared against actuals weekly to improve accuracy. In the medium term, I'd use a twelve-month forecast linked to the budget and working capital plan, and in the longer term a multi-year projection based on the strategic plan and capex. I'd hold liquidity in a mix of cash, committed facilities such as a revolving credit facility, and short-term deposits or money market funds under the investment policy. Policy would set minimum headroom, perhaps three to six months of expected outflows, and covenants would be tested forward. I'd centralise cash through pooling and in-house banking where possible, and track forecast accuracy as a key measure, since a treasury function can only plan what it can see.

Common mistake to avoid: Relying on indirect forecasts only; no link to covenants and policy

Want the rest?

Full model answers, key points and common mistakes for all 12 questions are on the Group Treasurer interview questions page. The first five are free, no sign-up needed.