In this episode of Treasury Leaders, Host Jan-Willem Attevelt, Co-founder of Automation Boutique, speaks with Marianna Polykrati, Group Treasurer of AVRAMAR and Co-Founder of Tetraktys Treasury, about the evolving role of treasury, where human judgment meets automation, and why treasury is far more than just numbers.
Marianna shares her journey from banking and venture capital into corporate treasury, explaining how the function sits at the centre of liquidity, risk, operations, and strategy. She breaks down the reality behind automation and AI in treasury, highlighting both the opportunities and the limitations. While automation can remove manual work and improve efficiency, she stresses that poor processes cannot be fixed by technology alone.
The conversation explores how treasury teams should approach automation, data, and system selection, from APIs and RPA to AI-powered tools. Marianna also explains why communication, adaptability, and cross-functional understanding remain essential skills, even as technology advances.
Beyond systems and tools, she offers a human perspective on treasury, emphasizing that treasury is ultimately about people, decisions, and responsibility.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Treasury as a Strategic Function How treasury connects liquidity, risk, and operations across the business.
- Automation vs. Reality Why fixing processes matters more than rushing into automation.
- AI in Treasury Where AI helps and where human judgment is still required.
- Choosing the Right Systems When to use a TMS, and when simpler or tailored solutions work better.
- APIs and Cash Visibility How real-time data improves treasury decision-making.
- Cash Flow Forecasting Why interpretation and scenario planning cannot be fully automated.
- Skills That Matter The mix of communication, business understanding, and technical ability needed today.
Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:
[00:53] Introduction and Marianna’s Background
[03:15] People Skills and Cross-Functional Treasury
[05:45] Automation, AI, and Process Limitations
[10:03] Treasury Systems and Practical Approaches
[13:13] APIs and Real-Time Cash Visibility
[21:18] AI in Forecasting and Data Integration
[35:35] “Treasury Is Not Numbers” and Final Insights
Follow our guest Marianna Polykrati:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianna-polykrati-61b5847/
Tetraktys Treasury: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tetraktys-treasury/
AVRAMAR: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avramar-seafood/
Follow Treasury Leaders:
Website: https://corporate-treasury-101.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/treasury-leaders/
Follow Our Hosts:
Hussam Ali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hussam-r-ali/
Guillaume Jouvencel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaume-jouvencel/
Jan-Willem Attevelt on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/attevelt/
Philip Costa Hibberd on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-costa-hibberd/
GHA Marketing Website:https://ghapodcast.com/
Automation Boutique Website: https://automationboutique.com/
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