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Audience

CFO advisory services for treasury and banking decisions

CFO advisory services give finance leaders a senior, independent sounding board for treasury and banking decisions. CFOs of mid-sized and international companies hire FIRMA Advisory before facility negotiations, bank panel changes and board treasury decisions. The outcome is better terms, decisions the board can follow, and requests banks take seriously.

When companies bring us in

CFOs bring us in when a treasury or banking decision is too important to make without a second senior view. These are the usual moments.

  • A credit facility is up for renewal, and the CFO wants to know which terms are achievable.
  • The board asks for a treasury, hedging or investment policy that does not yet exist.
  • The CFO plans to add or exit a bank and wants to protect the wider relationship.
  • A new CFO inherits a banking setup and needs an honest view of it quickly.
  • The company is expanding internationally and needs banking in new countries.
  • There is no senior treasurer, and the CFO carries every banking decision alone.

What we deliver

Deliverables follow the decisions in front of you, but most engagements include the items below. The table shows what you receive and when.

DeliverableWhat it containsTypical timing
Banking and treasury reviewAn independent view of your banks, facilities, pricing and treasury setup.End of phase 1
Decision papersOptions, trade-offs and a recommendation for each decision, written for the CFO and board.As decisions arise
Negotiation preparationThe bank's likely position, your requests and the evidence behind them.Before each negotiation
Board materialsTreasury policy drafts, hedging or investment frameworks, and reporting templates.Phase 2
Ongoing advisoryRegular calls and review of bank proposals as they arrive.Retainer period

How an engagement runs

CFO advisory starts with a short review and then continues around specific decisions. The format can be a defined project or an ongoing retainer.

  1. Review, weeks 1 to 3. We review banks, facilities, pricing and policies with the CFO. The output is a short list of decisions and priorities.
  2. Decision support, weeks 3 to 8. Each priority gets a decision paper and, where needed, negotiation preparation. We join key bank meetings at the CFO's request.
  3. Ongoing sounding board, from week 8, as a retainer. Many CFOs keep a regular call and send bank proposals for review. The relationship continues for as long as it stays useful.

What changes for the client

Outcomes depend on the decisions taken, so we track them decision by decision. These are the outcome types we report.

  • Facility terms achieved compared with the bank's first offer, in margin and fees.
  • Bank panel changes completed without disruption to payments or credit.
  • Board-approved treasury, hedging or investment policies in place.
  • Time from bank proposal to signed decision.
  • Banking and FX cost measured against the starting point.

Why an independent former banker

A CFO's request reads differently inside a bank than it does in the finance team. Federico Lleonart worked in cash management at J.P. Morgan and Barclays, so he knows how relationship teams package client requests for internal approval.

How does a bank read a CFO's request?

Relationship teams translate every request into revenue, risk and capital for internal committees. A request that shows the value of the wider relationship is easier to approve.

Requests that arrive vague or late get standard answers. Requests that arrive with data and a timeline get attention.

Where does a senior sounding board add the most?

Facility negotiations, bank panel changes and board treasury decisions have long consequences. A second senior view before committing costs little compared with a weak term that lasts for years.

We prepare the CFO rather than replace them. The CFO keeps the relationship and the decision.

What do boards expect from treasury?

Boards expect a written treasury policy, clear limits and regular reporting on liquidity and risk. Bank credit teams look for the same documents.

FIRMA Advisory has no products to sell and takes no commissions from banks. The advice comes from one senior consultant, with no stake in which bank wins.

For consulting firms and private equity teams

Consulting firms bring us in when a client CFO needs a senior banking view inside a wider finance engagement. Private equity teams use us to support portfolio CFOs on facilities and bank decisions, and our partner model explains how it works.

Frequently asked questions

These are the questions CFOs ask before engaging an independent advisor. Each answer is direct.

How is this different from hiring a treasury consultant for a project?

A project solves a defined problem, such as a fee review or a cash forecast. CFO advisory is a standing senior relationship around decisions as they come up. Many CFOs combine both: a project to fix a specific issue, then a retainer with the same consultant for later decisions.

How much does it cost, and what formats are available?

CFO advisory usually runs as a monthly retainer with a defined level of availability, or as a project around one decision. Some CFOs start with a fixed scope review of their banking and treasury setup. Pricing depends on scope and frequency. See engagement models and fees for details.

How long does an engagement last?

The initial review takes about 2 to 3 weeks. Decision support follows the timing of each decision, such as a facility renewal or a board meeting. Retainers continue for as long as the CFO finds them useful, and the scope can change as priorities change.

Do you meet in person?

Most advisory runs by video and phone, which keeps it fast and practical. Board meetings, key bank meetings and working sessions can be attended in person when they matter. On site time is agreed in the scope. Travel is billed at cost and approved in advance.

Which regions and languages do you cover?

We support CFOs of companies in the United States, Europe and Latin America. Federico Lleonart works in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French, so local banks and subsidiary teams can be engaged in their own language. Advice reflects banking practice in each of those regions.

Is the advice confidential?

Yes. Conversations, documents and bank proposals are confidential and used only to advise you. Nothing is shared with banks, investors or other clients without your approval. Client names and situations are never published without explicit consent. Documents can be shared through your own data room.
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Engage

Get a second senior view before you decide.

Book a short call with an independent consultant who knows how banks read your requests. We will discuss the decision in front of you.

Book a 30 minute call [email protected]