A FTSE 100 Company, had relied on City Financials as its core treasury system for more than a decade due to its strength in managing complex intercompany loan structures, a vital workflow for the firm.
However, as the system's vendor reduced investment in future development, the business made the strategic decision to upgrade to the modern Kyriba platform.
While the business had clarity on the desired new system, they faced a critical execution gap regarding the transition itself. The treasury team initially considered seconding an internal team member into a project management role, but this presented significant risks:
Recognising the urgent need for specialist support to bridge strategy and execution, the firm partnered with Goodman Masson to design the resourcing strategy and identify a senior TMS expert to lead the transition effectively
Although the business is a highly attractive employer brand, the urgency and highly technical nature of the project made the search complex:
Specialist Dual-System Requirements
The role demanded deep treasury knowledge combined with proven delivery experience across both the retiring system (City Financials) and the new system (Kyriba)
High Contractor Market Cost
Senior TMS implementation specialists regularly command premium day rates, exceeding £600 per day
Extremely Short Notice Period
The project timeline required immediate mobilisation, limiting the search to candidates who could join rapidly
Narrow Talent Pool
Only a small segment of the treasury market possesses hands-on change, systems, and project implementation experience across multiple, specific platforms
The intersection of niche system expertise, immediate availability, and regulatory depth significantly reduced the viable candidate pool for this critical role
Given the specialist nature and extreme time pressure, Goodman Masson designed and executed a highly focused search strategy tailored precisely to the technical and project demands of the implementation.
Sourcing Strategy
Process Design & Qualification
Ultimately, the Treasury team appointed a candidate with over 10 years in a well-known treasury consultancy, extensive Kyriba delivery experience, and first-hand knowledge of City Financials, joining on the required short notice period.
The placement enabled the FTSE 100 Company to move forward with their TMS transformation with confidence, supported by an expert who could bridge the critical gap between strategy, system design, and day-to-day project execution.
The successful appointment significantly reduced implementation risk, accelerated project mobilisation, and provided the Treasury function with a credible subject matter expert at a critical stage of the system migration.
The hire possessed the rare dual-system expertise (City Financials and Kyriba), delivering immediate value and successfully securing a contract extension.
The swift hire avoided an estimated £50–70k in potential delays, internal secondment disruption costs, and unnecessary consultancy uplift fees.
The entire process was completed rapidly, with a shortlist delivered in 48 hours and the hire finalised within 20 working days.
The specialist's immediate integration and delivery of strong early value validated the strategic decision to hire an external expert.
“I engaged with Goodman Masson when in need of a Treasury Ops contractor to support our team whilst we implemented a new TMS. They listened closely to our requirement, and not only presented some great CV’s for the Treasury Ops role, but also took the initiative to show us some TMS implementation specialists too. Ultimately we decided that a TMS specialist was the better direction to go. Goodman Masson quickly re-shortlisted against this requirement, narrowed down two for final stage, and helped us close our preferred option. Overall, my experience with Goodman Masson has been great, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to any businesses requiring BAU, or specialist TMS contractor support.” – Group Treasurer
48 Hours: Time from mandate to first shortlist delivery
20 Working Days: Time from mandate to accepted offer
£50 - 70k: Estimated cost savings avoided in potential delays and consultancy uplift fees.
Want to learn more about how we can support your hiring needs? Get in touch with our Treasury team here
Securing a rare dual-system expert to bridge City Financials and Kyriba, accelerating a critical treasury platform migration.
