Talent is a hot topic in finance and treasury circlesthese days as executives fret about how to attract and retain theemployees they need.

The buzz about talent reflects the changing set of skills thatare required as finance and treasury seek to become more strategic, and as the economy's recovery leadsfinance teams to think about hiring, even as it may encourageemployees to look for other opportunities.

Lynne Schneider, senior research director at the Hackett Group,a business and technology consulting company, noted that in recentyears, finance budgets have been cut repeatedly or at best haveremained flat. “Finance departments didn't have money for raises,they didn't have money for learning and development,” Schneidersaid.