Why an independent former banker
Banks see payment fraud attempts and weak mandates across many clients. Federico Lleonart worked in cash management at J.P. Morgan and Barclays, where client mandates and payment controls are set up and reviewed.
Which payment fraud controls matter most?
Business email compromise and fake supplier bank detail changes remain common attack routes. The defense is procedural: verify every change by calling a known number, never the one in the email.
Dual authorization, payment limits and alerts on new beneficiaries close further gaps. Bank tools for this often exist but are left switched off.
Why does signatory hygiene matter?
Bank mandates often lag behind staff changes, especially across many entities and banks. A former employee with live signing rights is a real risk.
A single list of signatories per bank, reviewed on a schedule, prevents this. Mandate updates take time at banks, so the review must be regular.
What does segregation of duties look like in treasury?
No single person should create a supplier, enter its bank details and release payment to it. Small teams can still separate duties with system roles and second approvers.
What treasury policy does a bank credit team expect?
Credit teams look for written rules on liquidity buffers, counterparty limits, FX hedging and investments. They also want to see who can approve what.
A clear policy supports credit decisions and makes due diligence easier. It also gives auditors and boards a standard to test against.
FIRMA Advisory sells no software or banking products and takes no commissions. A senior consultant designs the controls with your team.