A Day in the Life of Miden’s Chief Treasury Officer
At Miden, financial infrastructure isn’t just about codes and APIs. Behind the numbers, well-balanced sheets, and innovative products is a team making calculative decisions to keep the engine running, and growing.
One of the key people driving this engine is Richard Ize, the Chief Treasury Officer at Miden.
Let’s step into his shoes for a day.
In a recent interview with the brand and marketing team at Miden, Richard pulled back the curtain on what it means to lead treasury operations at a fast-moving fintech company, and how his role helps shape Miden’s financial strength from the inside out.
“Treasury covers everything from cash management and liquidity planning to banking relationships and financial risk.”
According to Richard, the goal is to build a solid financial structure that:
- Supports day-to-day operations
- Drives long-term growth
- Ensures revenue generation
- Maintains the company’s overall financial stability
While the treasury team often works behind the scenes, especially in startups where product, engineering, and growth tend to take center stage. Richard gives us a rare inside look at what a typical day in his role looks like, from the moment he gets out of bed to when he finally logs off.
“The first thing I do is review the liquidity position of the entire company across all our accounts and holdings.
I need to know our daily cash position: how much we currently own, how much is locked, how much is free for operational use, covering expenses, investments, and trading.”
His day is filled with meetings across teams: finance, product, settlements, and compliance. He also conducts market surveillance and responds to real-time economic shifts.
“Everything I do is market-driven. Our decisions on whether to invest, hold, or trade are guided by what’s happening in the economy and the foreign exchange landscape.”
Richard also stays in constant contact with external stakeholders.
“These stakeholders include who we buy from, who we sell to, who we invest with, and who we keep funds with.”
For many of us, the first thing that comes to mind when we hear treasury is kolo — the Yoruba name for a piggy bank. But clearly, it’s far more complex.
When asked to share something about treasury operations that most people outside his team wouldn’t know but should, he said:
“People think treasury is all about moving money between banks, but it’s also about managing financial risk,” Richard replied with a hint of amusement.
“Growing up, people always trusted me to hold their money. Even in high school, classmates gave me their savings because they knew I’d manage it well. That sense of trust and responsibility has shaped how I approach my work today.”
He offered a practical example:
“Let’s say we raise money in USD, but most of our operations are in African countries using local currencies like Naira or Cedis.
The question becomes: what form should we keep the money in? You have to factor in external influences like oil prices or geopolitical tensions that could affect currency value.”
There’s a lot more to treasury than meets the eye. When asked what he would do if you wasn't doing treasury he replied:
"Probably a software programmer, tech still has a big part of my heart".
At the end of our chat, Richard had parting advice for anyone looking to pursue a career in treasury:
Start by building good money habits. Learn how to manage budgets, track spending, and make thoughtful financial decisions.
Look for real-world experience. Intern or work in a role where you handle money or support finance teams. This could be in banking, accounting, or even at a startup.
Understand the basics of treasury. Learn how companies manage their cash, plan for the future, reduce financial risks, and work with banks and investors.
At the heart of every ambitious company lies a treasury team quietly powering growth and people like Richard Ize to ensure that engine never skips a beat.
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