2024 Public Sector Perspectives

Looking to the future While Global Treasury has achieved much of the vision set out in its 2008 blueprint – including a layered hedging program – it still has several unfulfilled ambitions. One goal is to develop long-term forecasts that are updated on a quarterly basis. To reduce the potential strain on WV offices associated with this objective, Global Treasury is partnering with Global Finance to overhaul the many forecasting processes across the organization. Together, they plan to develop a single unified process that can distribute data across the organization using such tools as Microsoft PowerApps and PowerBI. With a robust and reliable long-term forecast, Global Treasury then plans to automate the identification of risk exposures and calculation of hedging layers, which would be routed to and from its trading platform via its TMS. In addition, Global Treasury is starting to leverage PowerBI for its own benefit, not just to provide senior management with real-time reporting of the department’s performance but also to provide its clients with greater visibility and transparency of outstanding contracts and remaining exposures. “Data makes our operations more transparent and allows better questions, and accountability,” says Ramji. “Within Treasury, we are seeking to be part of this process by making our data available across the broader World Vision financial ecosystem.” While Global Treasury is now reaping the benefits of achieving much of what Powers and Ramji envisioned in 2008, they recognize that WV, financial markets, and technology are very different now. They continue to focus on the future and the next challenge and recognize the necessity of becoming comfortable with the rapid pace of technological innovation. Indeed, Global Treasury is enthusiastic about the potential of APIs to increase automation and efficiency across all of its processes. “We constantly scrutinize these sorts of opportunities because we recognize that rapid changes in technology have the potential to disrupt treasury in an unprecedented way,” says Ramji. “Historically, technologies such as treasury management systems were beyond the reach of many GDOs. But falling costs and easier integration mean that the benefits they offer are within reach for all organizations.” Powers adds: “For the sake of our operational objectives – helping the most vulnerable in society – we need to work smarter and technology is key to that.” Underpinning Global Treasury’s past and future success is its willingness to push the boundaries of technology : it has adopted a bold approach compared to many other GDOs and especially given its constrained budget. Citi Perspectives for the Public Sector 73 72 World Vision’s Global Treasury: A Tool Supporting Transformation