Resources
Knowledge centre.
A short guide to how our material is organised, so you can find the article that answers your actual question rather than browsing a list.
This knowledge centre holds 16+ long-form guides, a defined-terms glossary and an FAQ, all written for UK finance teams rather than a general audience. Rather than one long list, the guides are grouped into four topic clusters below — pick the one that matches what you are trying to do, or start with the three-article path in the "start here" section if this is your first visit.
Short factual definitions live in the glossary, and quick answers to common questions live in the FAQ. The guides below go into more depth than either of those.
- 16 guidesGrouped into four reading paths
- 8 defined termsShort, plain-English definitions
- One FAQGrouped by topic, not one long list
Start here
New to international payments? Read these three first.
This short path covers onboarding, how rates work, and a first look at managing currency risk — in that order.
- 1
What to expect from onboarding to an FX provider
A plain-English walkthrough of the KYC, AML and account-opening steps when a UK business is introduced to a regulated FX provider.
- 2
Currency conversion explained: how rates apply
A clear, jargon-free explanation of how exchange rates work, what a spread is, and how to read the rate you're actually being given.
- 3
Managing FX risk when you don't have a treasury team
Smaller UK businesses can still take a structured approach to currency risk. A short primer on exposure mapping, forwards and practical limits.
Getting started with international payments
Read these first if you are setting up your first overseas payment routes.
Paying overseas suppliers: a UK business guide
How to set up reliable, low-friction payments to overseas suppliers, from choosing a settlement currency to avoiding routing errors.
Read moreReceiving international payments: a UK guide
A practical guide for UK exporters and service businesses on collecting payments from overseas customers efficiently and with minimal deductions.
Read moreCurrency conversion explained: how rates apply
A clear, jargon-free explanation of how exchange rates work, what a spread is, and how to read the rate you're actually being given.
Read more
Managing currency risk
Understanding and managing FX exposure, without needing a treasury team.
Managing FX risk when you don't have a treasury team
Smaller UK businesses can still take a structured approach to currency risk. A short primer on exposure mapping, forwards and practical limits.
Read moreFX risk for importers: what it is and how to manage it
UK importers carry currency risk from the moment they agree a foreign-currency price to the moment they pay. Here's how to think about it properly.
Read moreFX risk for exporters: protecting your margin
UK exporters who invoice in foreign currency carry the mirror-image risk to importers. Here's how to manage it without over-engineering the process.
Read moreForward contracts explained for UK businesses
What a forward contract actually is, when it's useful, and the practical considerations UK businesses should weigh up before using one.
Read more
Operations and payment rails
How payments actually travel, what they cost, and how to run the process day-to-day.
Supplier payments: a practical checklist for UK importers
How UK importers can structure international supplier payments to reduce friction, settle in supplier-preferred currencies and avoid avoidable bank fees.
Read moreSWIFT vs local payment rails explained
A practical explanation of SWIFT and local clearing systems, why it matters which one your payment uses, and what it means for speed and cost.
Read moreInternational payment fees explained
A breakdown of the different costs bundled into an international payment — FX spread, transfer fees and correspondent deductions — and how to compare offers properly.
Read moreMulti-currency accounts explained
How multi-currency accounts work, the practical problems they solve for UK businesses, and how to think about which currencies to hold.
Read moreManaging foreign currency cash flow
How UK businesses with overseas receipts and payments can plan cash flow across multiple currencies without losing visibility or control.
Read more
Compliance and onboarding
What onboarding to a regulated provider actually involves.
Defined terms
Terms used across these guides
- Forward contractLock in an FX rate today for settlement on a future date.
- Spot rateThe exchange rate for a near-immediate currency conversion.
- FX exposureThe risk that a movement in exchange rates changes the value of a future cashflow.
- IBANInternational Bank Account Number — the standardised format for cross-border payments.
- SWIFT / BICThe international code that identifies a bank in cross-border payments.
- KYCKnow Your Customer — the regulated due-diligence required to open an account.
Not sure where to start?
Every guide here is written to be read on its own, but the fastest route to an answer for your specific business is usually a short conversation. Make an enquiry and we will point you to the right guide, or answer directly.
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