Karen Sloan is head of payments and cash management at HSBC Corporate Banking, Ireland. Sloan spends most of her day discussing treasury and cash management topics with both local and international colleagues, while maintaining close relationships with Irish and international clients. She says client activity is at a high at the moment as a result of the Single European Payment Area (SEPA), which she says is a unique opportunity for clients 'to re-engineer their bank account and liquidity management structures to streamline processes.'

Early advice given to Jonny Quigley back in 1991, to 'find a good firm to work for, put your head down, work hard, be patient, and if you are talented enough you will get noticed and opportunities will come along' has seen him rise through the ranks to his present role as senior vice president, sales & business development at Northern Trust, Dublin.