Employee Stories

Building the future of cash management

Mahesh Kini
Global Head, Cash Management

In a few words – what does your function do within Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), and what value does it deliver? 

Cash Management sits at the heart of global commerce. We provide the infrastructure that enables clients to move, manage and optimise money seamlessly across markets, currencies and time zones. 

For the bank, cash management anchors deep, long-term client relationships. Cash Management is at the heart of our client franchise and a key enabler of our ambition to be the super connector bank for global clients. In 2025 alone, we processed 1.4 billion payments, with 98% of the Bank’s payment flows running through the cash management rails. It’s both a core engine of today’s performance and a platform for future growth. 

What differentiates working in CIB at Standard Chartered? 

Our network across Asia, Africa and the Middle East gives us a front-row seat to the rapid evolution of treasury, payments and digital finance. Complementing this is our strong Cash Management franchise across the Americas and Europe, enabling us to connect clients across the world’s largest trade and financial corridors. Together, this creates unique opportunities to shape the future of cross-border commerce through innovative client solutions. What truly sets us apart is the depth of our client partnerships. We don’t just deliver products—we help clients transform their operating models, digitise treasury and payment flows, and navigate an increasingly interconnected financial ecosystem. Combined with our collaborative and international culture, this provides an exceptional environment to build a meaningful career while working on some of the most exciting opportunities in global banking today.

This positioning highlights Standard Chartered’s unique differentiator: deep roots in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, combined with a strong Cash Management presence in the US and Europe, making it a truly global cross-border banking partner.

What leadership behaviours and culture do you want colleagues to experience most? 

At its core, leadership starts with trust, clarity and curiosity. Banking is evolving rapidly, and our teams need the confidence to challenge thinking, adapt quickly and stay close to what clients will need next. That requires a culture where people are constantly re-skilling themselves, they feel empowered to challenge conventional thinking, innovate and continuously learn. 

Collaboration is equally critical. The best outcomes are delivered when product, sales, coverage, technology, operations, compliance and risk come together with a shared focus on client value. 

Above all, I want colleagues to feel they are building long-term careers here, where they are supported to grow, take on stretch opportunities and play a role in shaping the future of the franchise. 

What key opportunities have shaped your career here? 

Joining Standard Chartered as Global Head of Cash Management in 2024 came at a pivotal moment – both for the business and for the industry more broadly. 

With three decades of experience across multiple geographies, cultures, institutions in Transaction Banking, this role has offered me the most opportunity to build on a strong franchise while shaping its next phase – strengthening client solutions, scaling our platform and positioning the business for future payment, liquidity and digital models. 

Some defining moments include,  

• The creation of SC PrismFX – Joint Venture (JV) with Markets, which has shown industry first performance, 

• Integration of Digital Channel Solutions (DCS) team into core product within transaction banking, enabling the creation of an omnichannel strategy,  

• Defining a clear strategy and setting priorities for digital assets in cash management through an integrated payments approach, laying the groundwork to enable value transfer capabilities for our clients,

• Introducing Product Lifecycle Management (PLC) methodology globally in cash management that is designed to provide a framework for product managers to have end to end accountability of their individual product suite. It helps to bring greater discipline on ideation, development, introduction, commercialisation and refresh or retirement of products.  

• I’m most excited about the future of our business in the new cash management organisation that will support our global clients in shaping their treasury and payment solutions in a world that’s increasingly becoming 24×7 enabled with data and artificial intelligence.    

What would you say to external talent about opportunity and success in CIB? 

Now is an exciting time to build a career in banking. The industry is being reshaped by AI, tokenisation, alternative payment models and rapidly changing client expectations. In CIB, we’re close to these shifts and have the opportunity to actively shape what comes next. 

Success today goes beyond technical expertise. It requires curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking. It also demands the ability to operate across complexity, multiple markets, regulatory environments and evolving client needs.

At Standard Chartered, you gain global exposure while working on meaningful, real-economy challenges. Whether it is enabling cross-border commerce, modernising payments or supporting clients’ digital transformation, the work has tangible impact.

Mahesh Kini

Global Head of Cash Management, Corporate & Investment Banking, Singapore

For those who are motivated by learning, ownership and the opportunity to help redefine banking, this is a highly rewarding place to build a career.