JTT - Chapter Nine - VIRTUAL ACCOUNTS AND THE RACE FOR REAL-TIME LIQUIDITY

Jason Murphy is Co-Founder and Executive Director  of Corporate Finance Advisory Group, Centrus. He is also currently the President of the IACT. A Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and a past Chair of ACCA Ireland, with more than 25 years' investment banking and financial advisory experience. Murphy also lectures on Treasury Management and Derivatives for the Masters in Finance and Masters in Financial Risk Management at Trinity College, Dublin.

Eleanor Hill (TMI) is joined by Dr. Ruth Wandhöfer (Blackwired) to explore how treasurers can strengthen their defences as banks shift from a detect-and-respond mindset to a predict-prevent-and-defeat approach to cyber risk. Our guest explores how rising regulatory pressure, future threats like quantum-enabled ransomware, and how cybersecurity is becoming a genuine differentiator among banks. Dr. Wandhöfer also outlines what treasurers should ask of their providers to ensure resilience, reliability and safer cross-border operations.

Treasury management is rapidly transforming, and neural treasury (AI, Robotics, Machine Learning) is catapulting this evolution. Ben Poole (TMI) speaks to Andrew Comas (Microsoft), Steve Wiley (FIS), and Ari Morris (EY) to explore how neural treasury is revolutionising corporate treasury, empowering teams with automation, AI-driven insights, and optimised decision-making.

As the financial industry shifts toward ISO 20022, the transformation isn't just technical, it's human. John Emerson, Caroline Ngigi, and Mohammed Rahim (Standard Chartered) examine how financial institutions are equipping their people to thrive in a new messaging paradigm. We explore how organisations are upskilling staff, rethinking cross-functional collaboration, and building the human foundation required to unlock the full potential of structured data and enriched payment flows. Tune in to meet the professionals turning ISO strategy into real-world impact.

Welcome to the latest edition of Liquidity Link Live, your exclusive market analysis provided by Northern Trust Asset Management, one of the world's largest cash managers. Tune in each month to discover the very latest insights on the UK, Eurozone and US markets. This edition was recorded on the 6th November 2025.

The strength of Journeys to Treasury (JTT) has always extended beyond the report itself. Its unparalleled value lies in harnessing the collective expertise of four leading institutions—BNP Paribas, PwC, SAP, and EACT—and their global networks of specialists. For a decade, a group of senior leaders have served as its stewards, opening their organisations, shaping its strategic direction, and ensuring its insights resonate with the treasury community worldwide.

Twelve years after spinning out from Pfizer, Zoetis has built a lean, centralised treasury that is digitally enabled and strategically engaged. Assistant Treasurer Michel Verholen reflects on the tools and tactics behind the transformation and how visibility, automation, and AI are setting the stage for what is ahead.

AI is no longer a distant promise. Step by step, treasury teams are using it to rethink how they work by combining data, technology, and human judgment. From virtual assistants to predictive models, real-world use cases are beginning to deliver results.

Faced with a product recall and €1bn in excess inventory in quick succession, Accell Group's treasury team found themselves facing a steep uphill climb. Their response: a full pivot from traditional cash pooling to an integrated in-house bank, all of which was designed, constructed, and implemented in record time.

Treasurers are intensifying their efforts to achieve instant cash visibility and control. Virtual accounts, APIs, and real-time data offer the potential for faster decision-making and more streamlined operations, as long as integration, regulation, and cultural change are managed carefully.