The 2026 AFP^® Treasury Benchmarking Survey, sponsored by PNC Bank, is based on original research gathered from survey data provided by treasury practitioners and reflects how treasury teams are operating today. It examines the priorities and challenges of the treasury department as well as skill gaps, structure, staffing, talent and leadership development, along with the policies used to manage key treasury functions. The findings provide a practical benchmark for how organizations are building stronger, more effective treasury functions.  

Download the Survey Report: AFP Members have access to the Comprehensive Report. Not an AFP member? You can still access the Key Highlights or purchase the report for $295.

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Explore: Key Findings | What You'll Learn | Who is This Report For? 

Key Findings:

• For the first time, treasury teams list AI/automation among their top 5 priorities (cited by 30% of respondents).  But even as organizations pursue AI and technology adoption, AI opportunities and risks (cited by 38% of respondents) and automating manual processes with AI (35%) are among treasury’s most challenging tasks.
• Bank relationship management remains one of the most widely used treasury skills (noted by 86% of respondents), followed by communication (78%) and critical or strategic thinking (75%).
• Treasury maturity continues to advance. Forty-four percent of organizations describe their treasury functions as established, up from 36% in 2024, reflecting continued professionalization and growth across the treasury function.
• Cash and liquidity forecasting remains treasury's most frequently cited challenge (cited by 49% of respondents), despite continued investment in technology and process improvements.
• Treasury departments continue to operate with lean staffing models. Among all organizations, nearly half (46%) report having fewer than five treasury staff members, underscoring the importance of technology transformation and efficiency.

Register for the Companion Webinar

Charting the Future of Treasury: Insights from the 2026 AFP Treasury Benchmarking Survey

Oct 20 | 3-4:00 PM ET | 1.2 CTP/CCM, FPAC or CPE Credits

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What You’ll Learn:

The report provides practical benchmarks and insights to help treasury professionals evaluate their current operations and prepare for future demands:

• Understand the most pressing challenges facing treasury professionals today, including cash forecasting, talent development, and leadership effectiveness.
• See how organizations structure treasury governance and develop policies for cash, payments, liquidity, investments, debt, and risk management. 
• Benchmark how treasury teams are structured, staffed and managed across peer organizations. 
• Identify the skills and competencies treasury professionals need to succeed in an increasingly complex, technology-driven environment. 
• Explore how treasury departments are preparing their people, processes and technology for future demands.

Who Is This Report For: 

The 2026 AFP^® Treasury Benchmarking Survey Report: People and Policies is designed for treasury and finance professionals who want to evaluate the effectiveness of their treasury function and identify opportunities for improvement.

This report will be especially valuable for:

• Treasury practitioners seeking to benchmark their department against peer organizations.
• Treasury leaders responsible for staffing, organizational design, and CFOs and finance executives evaluating treasury performance and investment priorities.
• CFOs and finance executives evaluating treasury performance, capabilities and investment priorities.
• Professionals developing treasury talent, leadership pipelines, and workforce planning.
• Organizations assessing treasury maturity and planning for future growth and transformation.

Press Inquiries

Press Release: AFP Survey: AI Priorities Rise Across Treasury Teams While AI Related Challenges Grow

If you are interested in referencing data from this report in marketing materials, etc. please contact Anissa Holm, Research Manager. 

Contact [email protected] or call 301.907.2862 for more in-depth information, to read the full report or to arrange an interview with AFP Research.

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Questions about this subject?

Contact Tom Hunt
Director, Treasury Practice

Please fill out the form below to gain access to the report (Members will be sent a link to the Comprehensive Report & non-members will be sent Key Highlights with options to purchase the full report):