Q1: Tell us about your career path and what particular experience has been most valuable to you along the way
To jumpstart my professional career, I pursued an accounting degree at the University of Ulster. I went on to qualify as an accountant (Chartered Global Management Accountant) whilst working at British Airways (“BA”). At BA, early in my career I got to travel and work overseas, including a six-month work assignment in East Africa. Working abroad taught me the importance of respecting different cultures and clear communication, as well as exposed me to the intricacies of working remotely vis-a-vis from a head office.
Following BA, I ventured to become Controller of a futures and options trading company, working both in London and New York. Thereafter, I moved back to Dublin, Ireland, to assume the role of Treasury Controller for a global multinational, Tyco International. Having already developed an understanding of derivatives, this last role further deepened my fascination with treasury, and gave me first-hand insights into corporate treasury.
Tyco International subsequently spun off its healthcare and electronics divisions. I moved to Zurich, Switzerland, to work for Covidien, its healthcare division, supporting Treasury, Tax, Emerging Markets, and Supply Chain for International as part of the Controllers group. Subsequently, I took on the Boston-based role of Vice President & Assistant Treasurer. When Covidien combined with Medtronic via an inversion merger, I relocated to Minneapolis, where I continued to serve as Vice President & Assistant Treasurer.
At present, I am Vice President & Treasurer of GoDaddy.
Thus far in my career, I have been very fortunate to work with impressively smart people, and innovative and challenging companies. The variety of projects, not only treasury-specific, but also M&A, divestitures, and spin-offs of divisions, in which I have been involved, have expanded my professional boundaries and global mindset.
Recently, I began advising a Seattle-based technology and finance transformation firm on the leading edge of aligning finance and treasury with technology solutions, foraying into the burgeoning aviation finance and aircraft leasing industries.
Q2: What is the biggest challenge you currently face?
GoDaddy has grown tremendously and continues to expand its global footprint to empower entrepreneurs everywhere. The greatest challenge in my role is to ensure the Treasury team and their processes keep up with the speed of this growth, and always stays ahead of the curve. My goal is to ensure the Treasury team is established to meet the next stage in GoDaddy’s evolvement. In addition, with the volatility and political concerns globally, this has an impact for every global company, and likewise on Treasury – from not only foreign exchange risk, but local economics, tax, and regulatory.
Q3: How is the performance of your treasury group measured?
Treasury is an evolving and developing function at GoDaddy. In terms of the Treasury’s team performance, I could not highlight a specific set of performance indicators. Rather our performance is measured based on the success and delivery of Treasury being evident as both strategic and support to the company.
Q4: What takes up most of your time?
It depends on the day, and what the priority is. I don’t necessarily have a particular task which takes up most of my time. I suppose like most people, it is staying on top of my inbox, as well as managing relationships and the team.
Q5: How has technology changed treasury?
Treasury has undergone a significant transformation over the past two decades, particularly due to technology with advancements in straight-through processing and direct interfacing. Fifteen years ago, these were just mere concepts as most treasury tasks were performed manually using Excel. Today, having information readily available at any time, anywhere in the world, generates significant efficiencies. These changes have enabled the Treasury function to evolve – from previously being seen as extension to Accounting to now a strategic function in its own right.
Disclosure and disclaimer
More, collapsedFor Professional Clients and Eligible Counterparties only.
This document is issued by HSBC Bank plc (“HSBC”). HSBC is a member of the HSBC Group of companies (“HSBC Group”). Where this document refers to “you” it refers to you or your organisation.
The sales and trading department of HSBC may make markets in instruments or products to which this material relates. Accordingly, recipients should not regard this document as an objective or independent explanation of the matters contained herein.
This document has not been prepared in accordance with regulatory requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is not subject to the same prohibitions relating to dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research. Information contained herein should not be regarded as investment research for the purposes of the rules of the Financial Conduct Authority or any other relevant regulatory body.
HSBC has based this document on information obtained from sources it believes to be reliable but which have not been independently verified. Opinions expressed may differ from the opinions expressed by other divisions of HSBC, including its research department. Opinions and estimates expressed are our present opinions only and may change at any time without notice. In addition, the analysis provided is not sufficient to inform an investment decision. Any charts and graphs included are from publicly available sources or proprietary data. Where information is from public sources, HSBC accepts no responsibility for its accuracy.
Any indicative trade details provided should not be regarded as complete or as representing the actual terms on which HSBC may trade. Figures included in this document may relate to past performance or simulated past performance (together “past performance”). Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Reproduction of this document, in whole or in part, or disclosure of any of its contents, without prior consent of HSBC, is prohibited. This document is not intended for distribution to, or use by, retail clients as defined in the Financial Conduct Authority rules, or any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution would be contrary to law or regulation. HSBC is under no obligation to keep current the information in this document.
This document is for information purposes and convenient reference. You are solely responsible for making your own independent appraisal of, and investigation into, the products, investments and transactions referred to in this document and you should not regard any information in this document as constituting investment advice. Neither HSBC nor any of its affiliates is responsible for providing you with legal, tax or other specialist advice and you should make your own arrangements in respect of this accordingly.
The issue of this document shall not be regarded as creating any form of adviser/client relationship, and HSBC may only be regarded by you as acting on your behalf as financial adviser or otherwise following the execution of an engagement letter on mutually satisfactory terms. Except in the case of fraudulent misrepresentation, neither HSBC nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors, employees or agents accepts any liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use of all or part of this material.
This document is a “financial promotion” within the scope of the rules of the Financial Conduct Authority Issued and approved for publication to Professional Clients and Eligible Counterparties only by HSBC Bank plc.
Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority Registered in England No. 14259 Registered Office: 8 Canada Square, London, E14 5HQ, United Kingdom Member HSBC Group DISC1015MCTIUK.
Join our Linkedin group to get an unparalleled view of macro and microeconomic events and trends from a bank that is a leader in both developed and emerging markets.