About StackAdapt
StackAdapt, the programmatic-advertising platform founded in Toronto in 2014, has grown past 1,200 people—and its treasury complexity grew with it: 35+ accounts across 3 banks, multiple currencies, multiple entities. For Alex Manoukian, VP of Tax & Treasury, that complexity translated into hours. Deciding where liquidity should sit and how hard idle cash should work is the job; logging into portals and tagging transactions by hand just to see the position was the tax he paid first.
Their platform is known for its advanced machine learning capabilities, helping brands understand customer behavior and run highly effective, data-driven campaigns. With operations spanning multiple currencies, legal entities, and 35+ accounts across 3 banks, the StackAdapt finance team was looking for ways to improve manual workflows and streamline complexities.
The Challenges
1. Too many banks, too much busywork
For Alex Manoukian, VP of Tax & Treasury at StackAdapt, and his team, just getting started each morning meant wrapping their minds around: 3 banks, 35+ accounts, 2 payment providers, and more.
“Even something as simple as daily positioning can’t be done simply by logging into a single bank. Logging into three different bank portals… it all adds up and takes time.” — Alex Manoukian
It was tedious, repetitive work, and it kept them from focusing on more valuable, strategic initiatives.
2. Manual cash positioning files led leadership to question their confidence
“During our review process, we identified a few areas where our internal daily cash positioning files could be refined. It prompted us to take a closer look and ensure we had full confidence in the numbers.” — Alex Manoukian
Relying on spreadsheets for daily cash positioning was not only time-consuming, it also left room for potential human error. It became clear that StackAdapt needed a faster, more reliable solution.
3. Forecasting bottlenecks led to idle cash not being utilized
To forecast cash flow, the StackAdapt team had to pull data from three banks, manually tag each transaction, and feed it into a spreadsheet. The process was so demanding that forecasts only ran once a week.
That inefficiency didn’t just slow things down, it limited how often the team could forecast and, accordingly, the accuracy of the output.
“The time consuming nature of forecasting led us to miss opportunities.” — Alex Manoukian
Without up-to-date projections, StackAdapt’s team played it safe. Parking excess cash in low-yield accounts rather than putting it to better use. It was a conservative approach, and the trade off was in missed potential.
The Solution
Searching for ways to leverage technology to improve, StackAdapt turned to Nilus to transform their treasury operations.
A real time view of 35 accounts in seconds
“I can go in there, and, in a couple seconds, have a real-time view of everything.” — Alex Manoukian
StackAdapt’s entire cash position is now viewable in one real-time dashboard. Leadership no longer needs to wait for reports or worry about data gaps.
Additionally, Manoukian has more trust in the data as the risk of potential errors associated with manual processes have been eliminated.
95% of transactions automatically tagged with AI
Nilus automatically tags over 95% of incoming and outgoing transactions, eliminating hours of repetitive work. What used to take 30 minutes now takes mere seconds, freeing up valuable time for deeper analysis.
Manoukian is particularly pleased with how accurate automated tagging is.
“The tagging is huge. There’s a lot of concern about a machine being able to accurately tag data, and I was skeptical, but we’re at over 95% in just a couple weeks and it’s getting better and better.” — Alex Manoukian
With automated tagging, StackAdapt is saving significant time updating their budget versus actuals in their cash forecast, allowing the team to shift to more strategic work.
30+ hours saved, strategy gained
“Saving even 6–8 hours a week is significant. That’s time we’re using to move strategic initiatives forward, and I’m seeing it already.” — Alex Manoukian
Manual work is down dramatically for StackAdapt as Nilus automates processes that used to take hours every week. Now, analysts and managers have more time to drive strategic projects.
Less cash buffer, higher returns
With accurate, real-time insight into cash positions and more accurate forecasts, StackAdapt is able to make smarter decisions about where to put cash and when.
“We’re fortunate to be a cash flow-positive organization, but that also means we have a responsibility to put that cash to work efficiently. A tool like Nilus ensures our liquidity isn’t just sitting idle. It helps us make informed decisions on where to deploy funds for the best return.” — Alex Manoukian
Nilus helps StackAdapt increase earnings from idle cash.
Ready for the future with an AI driven, strategic, solution
With Nilus, StackAdapt has a partner that will help them grow and evolve with new technology.
As StackAdapt scales, Nilus will scale with them to maintain performance. Manoukian is confident that Nilus will continue to innovate as new possibilities emerge in treasury management.
“Being totally blunt, I’m skeptical about AI, but that’s part of my job to stay open-minded about what is possible. Because if I’m not doing it, our competitors are doing it, and I want to make sure we’re not left behind.” — Alex Manoukian
Conclusion
“Before, cash positioning and forecasting were inefficient and manual. Now, we’ve optimized our process and unlocked new opportunities.” — Alex Manoukian
With Nilus, StackAdapt replaced time-consuming manual workflows with real-time visibility, AI-powered automation, and trusted forecasting. Treasury operations are now faster, more accurate, and strategically aligned with business goals. What once took hours of repetitive effort now happens automatically, freeing the team to focus on what matters most. As StackAdapt grows, Nilus will continue to evolve with them, delivering the speed, flexibility, and innovation needed to stay ahead.
Want to see how Nilus can transform your treasury operations? Book a product tour.
