Carlos Aguilar - Senior Cash Manager Treasury - Corporate, Booking.com

How did you get into the Treasury profession?

“I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Management. During my studies, I served as Treasurer for my student association and I really enjoyed the experience. My first role after graduation was in the Treasury department of a large Mexican corporation. After some years, I moved to Belgium to complete my MBA and I relocated to the Netherlands to continue my career in Treasury.

What appeals to you about the Treasury profession?

“I am drawn to the dynamic challenge of optimising liquidity. I value the collaborative aspect with diverse stakeholders, like tax, legal, and other departments. I like to proactively solve problems, whether it’s managing debt, process optimisation or resource allocation.”

What are your main Treasury tasks?

I work mostly in cash management where I oversee daily cash liquidity, cash concentration, management reporting, money market investments and payment settlements. My tasks also involves optimising cash flow processes, ensuring compliance and improving forecasting accuracy.

What challenges in your Treasury career do/did you encounter?

My biggest challenge has been adapting to the Dutch Treasury industry. Where I come from, many Treasury practices still rely on older technologies and manual processes. Very few companies use TMS, BI, or data analytics; Excel is often the primary source of truth. In contrast, here in the Netherlands, the Treasury field is more advanced and up-to-date with the latest technological developments, constantly seeking to improve and automate processes.

Why is Treasury such an interesting field to work in?

Treasury is truly a niche area of Finance where you can see a clear career path unfolding. What I find most appealing is that your work has a direct, tangible impact on the organisation’s success. It also involves a lot of collaboration with various departments, which broadens your perspective, and there are always significant opportunities for growth.

What would be your piece of advice to young Treasurers?

Keep learning and stay proactive. In Treasury, there’s always an opportunity to automate a process or improve an existing one. Make sure you also dedicate time to networking and exchanging ideas with your peers.

Is there anything you would like to share with DACT members?

I am very happy to be appointed as a new board member of the DACT and my goal is to bring fresh ideas, give a voice to Young Treasurers and support the amazing team we have created.

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