What Are Peer Groups?

Peer groups bring together treasury and finance professionals to share their knowledge and experience within a unique forum that combines meetings, benchmarking studies and online discussions.

Each peer group is focused on a specific industry and has a stable group of participating companies, typically no more than 25-30. Members contribute to the development of the meeting and research agenda and take turns hosting the events. Experienced NeuGroup peer group leaders support the groups with a structured facilitation process and dedicated extranet websites. Because of the groups’ relatively small size and practitioner focus, the peer group model fosters a frank discussion, an interactive format and long-term networking relationships.

Unlike events sponsored by vendors or organized by industry associations, peer groups provide an opportunity for members to build a network to measure, compare and improve their treasury and finance management based on direct input from fellow practitioners.

What Makes Peer Groups Unique?

Traditional benchmarking surveys present information out of context. Information and research are stronger and more reliable within the context of peer-to-peer discussions, backed by pre-meeting surveys, individual interviews and post-meeting reports.

Unlike events sponsored by vendors or organized by industry associations, peer groups provide an opportunity for members to build a network to measure, compare and improve their treasury and finance management based on direct input from fellow practitioners.

This alternative meeting format has multiple advantages:

• No crowds and no sales pitches. The NeuGroup's peer groups offer practitioners an alternative to overcrowded and vendor-dominated industry events.
  
  
• High-level peers. Members are guaranteed that their peers around the table bring an equal level of experience and work scope.
  
  
• Full participation. Members commit to contributing to and attending the semi-annual events. Their active participation increases the value for all members, as they learn from and mentor their peer companies.
  
  
• A structured approach to sharing knowledge. While grassroots associations bring practitioners together, The NeuGroup peer groups benefit from a structured approach to sharing knowledge. The extensive and collaborative meeting preparation ensures that the meeting and related content are timely, relevant and practical. Our expert meeting logistics coordination guarantees a smooth experience and ample opportunity for offline networking.
  
  
• An experienced team of leaders. Experienced NeuGroup peer group leaders manage the research process. Group leaders work closely with the members to keep the agenda and timeline on target, collect and analyze benchmarking data and moderate the meetings to maximize participation. The NeuGroup team has decades of combined treasury and finance research experience. We are not only subject-matter experts, but also advocates of the treasury profession.

Senior Executive Groups for Functional Heads
Treasurers' Group of Thirty Peer Group The Bank Treasurers' Peer Group Tech20 Treasurers' Peer Group The Internal Auditors' Peer Group
Regional Groups
Latin American Treasury Managers’ Peer Group European Treasurers' Peer Group
Functional Groups (Treasury)
FX Managers' Peer Group FX Managers' Peer Group 2 Corporate ERM Group	Global Cash and Banking Group Treasury Investment Managers' Peer Group

How Do They Work? 

Each peer group typically follows a six-month cycle in planning and arranging its meetings, with the following steps as a guideline: 

• Step 1 -- Developing the agenda. The NeuGroup peer group leader works with the members to design a relevant meeting agenda through online polls and individual interviews.
  
  
• Step 2 -- Collecting benchmarking information. Based on topics selected by the members, the peer group leader drafts a pre-meeting survey to collect pertinent information and identify members who can present case studies to launch session discussions. Once the survey is finalized with input from the participants, the members complete the survey in advance of the meeting to provide relevant benchmarking information.
  
  
• Step 3 – Attending the meeting. The process culminates with a 1-2 day event, typically hosted by one of the participating companies. The meetings give members a chance to network, view benchmarking research and share best practices with each other.
  
  
• Step 4 – Capturing and accessing peer group knowledge. After the meeting, the peer group leader captures key takeaways in a post-meeting report. The NeuGroup’s team posts the report and related content items such as presentation, benchmarking tables and profiles of member companies on each group’s dedicated website. This content is accessible to members only. Group members can also use an online forum to stay in touch between meetings and seek immediate feedback and advice on pressing matters.

Who Should Join? 

Parties interested in joining one or more of our peer groups should contact The NeuGroup. One of our peer group leaders will quickly get in touch with you to match your interest with the right group and poll existing members to ensure that there are no competitive conflicts or other issues.

Once existing members approve, The NeuGroup peer group leader will initiate a member profile interview and quickly incorporate the newcomer into the ongoing meeting-planning process.

Fees: To cover research, organization and facilitation, the NeuGroup charges an annual membership fee of $3,000-$3,750. To subsidize membership fees, meeting sponsors are selected with member input to help underwrite the cost of facilitation.

Participants must agree to the terms in any group agreement regarding confidentiality.

* Subject to change.

Sponsorship 

To supplement member fees and to benefit from outside subject-matter expertise, The NeuGroup invites organizations to sponsor individual group events based on agenda topics and the members’ recommendations.

Because of each group’s uniquely interactive and member-driven format, sponsorship is very different from the typical seminar or conference sponsorship. Sponsors are selected on their ability to provide value to the discussion through active participation and technical expertise. Often, sponsors are recommended by group members. (Group members reserve the right to conduct a closed door session without the sponsor present.)

Sponsorship lets the sponsor organization demonstrate its ability to add value in the process. Sponsor organizations are recognized for their support of the group meeting, and The NeuGroup works closely with the sponsor participants to help them leverage this support to further their relationships with group members and others interested in finance or treasury management (e.g., readers of our publication, International Treasurer).

The sponsoring organization can send up to four representatives to each session. The NeuGroup works closely with the sponsoring organization to explain the peer group format’s value and the interactive dynamics of the event. We also help the sponsor’s experts identify and develop a brief presentation on one of the key agenda items.

While sponsors get an exclusive “seat at the table,” their participation in the forum helps both sides. Service providers gain access to the real challenges of their client base. Input from practitioners helps shape future product and service innovations to address corporate concerns.

Tour Our Peer Groups

Senior Executive Groups for Functional Heads
	Treasurers' Group of Thirty Peer Group		Tech20 Treasurers' Peer Group
Key discussion topics: Latest trends in capital markets and financing structures Bank relationship Trends in alternative risk finance Liquidity management architecture Capital structure optimization		Key discussion topics: Stock buybacks & innovative structures for cash utilization Treasurers as senior advisors Investing excess cash Subsidiary capitalization Rating agency relationship
	The Bank Treasurers' Peer Group		The Internal Auditors' Peer Group
Key discussion topics Using hybrids and securitization to optimize the balance sheet Dynamic capital management Net interest margin management Investment portfolio management		Key discussion topics Internal audit’s role in ERM Tools & techniques for risk assessment & prioritization Audit committee communication Fraud prevention
Regional Groups
	Latin American Treasury Managers' Peer Group		European Treasurers' Group
Key discussion topics: Pooling and effective liquidity management Local financing/investment alternatives Banking solutions: global vs. local/regional Latin American country and sovereign risk Treasury structure - Centralization vs. decentralization - In-house banks The effects of regulations on cash liquidity Internal vs. external (local) financing Customer & supply chain financing		Key discussion topics: Managing negative cost of carry Managing settlement risk SWIFT/SCORE membership and its application for payment factories Commodity risk management Soft skills for treasury management Credit risk management FX risk management with structural euro strength Treasury operations & systems
Functional Groups (Treasury)
	FX Managers' Peer Group		Global Cash and Banking Group
Key discussion topics: Dynamic hedging strategies FX systems and front-end portals Hedging FX risk in emerging markets Hedge accounting vs. economics Exposure collection and hedging Managing risk in the supply chain		Key discussion topics: Outsourced liquidity infrastructure Running an in-house bank Pay-on-behalf and payment factories Treasury automation
	FX Managers' Peer Group 2		Treasury Investment Managers' Peer Group
Key discussion topics: Dynamic hedging strategies FX systems and front-end portals Hedging FX risk in emerging markets Hedge accounting vs. economics Exposure collection and hedging Managing risk in the supply chain		Key discussion topics: Yield-enhancement strategies Investment management systems Creating the gain/loss budget Alternative assets