Corporate Treasury Outsourcing – A Function Best Left to the Experts? An Analysis of Corporate Treasuries in Sweden

Abstract

As corporations attempt to streamline their operations to keep pace with a competitive global market place, the range of activities that are seen to be part of the core competencies is becoming narrower. Corporations are beginning to outsource activities that are closer and closer to their core competencies and the treasury department is one of these. The purpose of this thesis is to analyse how a third-party provider provides outsourced treasury services to corporations and how would this differ for different companies. Multiple-case studies are used as our chosen method where Skandia Capital (SCAP) is our case study for a treasury outsourcing services provider. Corporations’ treasuries will be examined to determine how they could benefit from treasury outsourcing to SCAP. The findings suggest that from a provider’s perspective, different solutions will be required for different corporations. A successful outsourcing relationship will need to evolve with time where the provider and corporation are partners in risk management rather than just a buyer and seller of a service.