ACI Operation Certificate Examination Clinic Programme

About Examready

Download/view ACI Operation Certificate Info

Examready is a BANKSETA Accredited, financial markets consulting entity that provides both consulting and training solutions to the global financial services sector.

Examready specializes in the areas of Trading, Compliance, Risk, in-house & graduate programmes and Client Relationship Management (CRM), throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Examready’s Head office is located in Johannesburg with a satellite office in the London. Over the past few years, Examready has successfully grown its consulting and training arms in Africa, the Middle East & Asia and its product brand is now well established in these markets.

Examready is deemed a market leader in the industry. This has been achieved through its unique programme design, ability to interlink hard & soft skills and its state of the art trading simulation models, which combined, result in an exclusive product delivery to the client’s delight.

This International Learning & Development Model has propelled Examready to the forefront of consulting & training within the Global Financial Market sphere!

For further information about us, please peruse our website on www.examready.com

INTRODUCTION

complete every transaction. The Operations Department provides a vital service to the Front-Office by ensuring that all funds flow in a timely and correct manner and that all the necessary documentation is completed.

Taking into consideration the wider job function of the Operations Staff, this examination has been designed to provide a benchmark for competency in all aspects of the operation and settlement processes. It aims to test candidates’ knowledge of the underlying instruments involved in the international financial markets, the processes for efficient settlements and related basic financial calculations. Candidates should also be able to demonstrate appreciation of the scope, importance and the role of the Operations Department, particularly in ensuring an autonomous service to the Front-Office.

In particular, this programme is designed for:

• Recent entrants to the Operations Department (Back-Office);
• Other trading room support areas;
• Internal and external auditors;
• Compliance and risk officers;
• Product Control;
• Vendors.

In addition to the topics outlined below, candidates will be expected to be up-to-date with the latest developments that affect the Operations Department.

Section 1 - Overall financial market and front to end treasury view

Overall Objective:To describe the roles of each participant within the financial market and to provide an understanding of how Treasury Trading and Sales, Middle-Office and Operations have to be structured in the risk management context. To give an understanding of how the whole transaction process management can be optimised as well as to explain the importance of providing a quality, customer-orientated service to both internal and external clients.

At the end of this section, candidates will be able to:

Describe the roles of dealers, brokers and operations officers. • Understand the reasons for segregation of duties and separate reporting lines.
Depict the workflow of a transaction, encompassing all aspects of the settlements process from deal capture through to management and exception reports.
Explain the importance of Straight Through Processing (STP) related to timely processing, risk, cost and accuracy, as well as the possible ways to improve STP.
Explain the necessary quality management measures necessary to ensure a high quality customer-orientated service.

Section 2 - Deal capture, trade entry and confirmations

Overall Objective:To explain the payment and confirmation process that follows deal capture and trade entry; list the problems that can arise if mistakes are made; describe how different clearing and payment systems can impact on risk; show an understanding of the correct source of trade information.

At the end of this section, candidates will be able to:

• Understand the usefulness of confirmations.

• Explain the importance of checking and matching confirmation processes.

• Describe the use of automation in the confirmations procedure.

• List the different types of SWIFT messages and their usage.

• State the different steps between deal entry and the trade confirmation.

• Describe the different ways in which trade information can be generated.

• Be aware of how the segregation of duties should be applied in trade generation and capture.

• Know how the trade information received from the Front-Office should be validated.

Section 3 - Settlement, netting and clearing

Overall Objective:To explain the importance of the different settlement and payment systems as well as the use and handling of the correspondent network and accounts.

At the end of this section, candidates will be able to:

Understand the use of correspondent banks, nostro / vostro accounts.
Explain cut off times for payment with good value or short dates.
Define the different types of domestic and international payment systems.
Describe different types of settlements such as delivery versus payment, netting and Continuous Linked Settlement (CLS).
Expand upon the CLS system and parties involved.
Understand the use, functioning and advantages of bilateral and multilateral netting procedures.

Section 4 - Reconciliations and investigations

Overall Objective:To explain the methodology used to match at least two different records, using the same information to identify and investigate differences and taking corrective action when necessary. To explain the way how to proceed to settle outstanding items.

At the end of this section, candidates will be able to:

Detect mismatching figures (importance of timely identification).
Interpret mismatching figures.
Control incoming and outgoing flows.
Calculate and agree brokerage, including the checking of discounts.
Identify the different moves to resolve an outstanding item step by step.
Resolve and close outstanding items.

Section 5 - Treasury systems and data management

Overall Objective:To explain the essentials of a treasury system, the data management for treasury operations as well as the basic accounting of treasury operations.

At the end of this section, candidates will be able to:

Explain the different ways of financial communication and transfer transactions.
Describe the different types of static data.
Define the standard settlement instructions management (usage, maintenance and advantages).
Outline standing data files and tables.
Understand the management of customer data within the different systems as well as the basic procedures to ensure the “know your customer” principles.

Section 6 - Risk management, controls, compliance, documentation

Overall Objective:To explain the importance of having strict procedures and controls in place to ensure that no unauthorised or incorrect payments are made and to protect the business from related risks. To describe the purpose of documentation in settling financial transactions.

At the end of this section, candidates will be able to:

Understand the dangers involved with third party payments and describe the controls that can minimise those risks.
Outline operational risk, and how it can arise.
Explain settlement and delivery risk, and how they can be minimised.
Understand the need to maintain up to date recording of holiday and settlement files.
List the due diligence procedures for account opening.
Explain the relevant regulatory guidelines and recommendations for best practice such as the Model Code.
Describe the Disaster Recovery (DR) and Business Continuity Plan (BCP) principles.
Identify key documentation issues.
List the major types of Agreements.
Expand upon the different risks and have a general understanding of risk models.
Explain the importance of regulatory policies and compliance.

Section 7 - Foreign exchange

Overall Objective:To describe the characteristics of foreign exchange instruments and specific responsibilities and settlement processes associated with them.

At the end of this section, candidates will be able to:

Define the features of foreign exchange instruments (spot, forward, swap).
Explain the settlements process for foreign exchange instruments.
Describe relevant responsibilities, cycle processes and incorporated controls.
Outline the characteristics of value today and value tomorrow outrights.
Calculate settlement / close out amounts correctly.

Section 8 - Money market

Overall Objective:
To explain the characteristics of the major money market instruments, specific responsibilities and settlement processes associated.

At the end of this section, candidates will be able to:

Define the characteristics of the major money market instruments.
Describe the trade life cycle and controls for money market instruments.
Understand the main money market benchmark fixings.
Explain the settlements process for the major money market instruments.
Calculate settlement and close out amounts as well as the related penalty fees.
Define the characteristics of major short-term securities instruments.
Appreciate the use of repos in the liquidity management of a bank.
Describe the trade life cycle and controls for short-term securities instruments.

Section 9 - Derivatives

Overall Objective:
To explain the specific features of exchange-traded and Over The Counter (OTC) derivative markets as well as the characteristics of optional and non-optional derivatives, including the specific responsibilities and processes associated with them.

At the end of this section, candidates will be able to:

Recognise the differences between exchange-traded and OTC derivative markets.
Explain the characteristics of the plain vanilla derivative instruments (FRAs, futures and swaps).
Define the features of Non-Deliverable Forwards (NDF).
Calculate reset / fixing rates and margins for plain vanilla derivative instruments such as swaps, total return swaps, FRAs, IRS, CIRS and futures.
Reconcile correctly financial futures positions and margin calls with the clearing agent.

Section 10 - Short-term bonds and notes

Overall Objective:
To explain the characteristics of short-term debt instruments, notes and bonds as well as the specific responsibilities and processes associated with them.

At the end of this section, candidates will be able to:

Define the features of the major short term fixed income securities such as commercial paper, treasury notes and bonds.
Outline bond market indicators and indexes.
Distinguish coupon bonds from zero coupon bonds.
Differentiate, within the corporate debt products, instruments such as junk bonds, bond indentures, callable bonds, convertible bonds and floating rate bonds.
Describe the trading characteristics on exchanges, OTC, on secondary markets as well as on third and fourth markets.
Explain the securities issuing process by corporates.
Outline the relevant responsibilities, cycle processes and incorporated controls.
Calculate settlement / close out amounts correctly; understand the price / yield relationship.
Describe the reconciliation of securities held, the use of custodians as well as the delivery of securities.
Explain the collateral management for bank liquidity.

Examination Procedure
Format:The examination duration is 2 hours and consists of 80 multiple-choice questions. Some questions will require the use of a basic calculator. This will be provided on screen or, alternatively, candidates may bring into the examination a HP 12C, 17B or 19B.

Minimum score levels per topic basket will apply. Score levels for each of the 10 topic sections is as follows:

#	Topic section	Questions related to the topic	Minimum of correct answers	%
1	Overall financial market and front to end treasury view	5	2	40,0
2	Deal capture, trade entry and confirmations	8	3	37,5
3	Settlement, netting and clearing	10	4	40,0
4	Reconciliations and investigations	10	4	40,0
5	Treasury systems and data management	5	2	40,0
6	Risk management, controls, compliance and documentation	10	4	40,0
7	Foreign exchange	8	3	37,5
8	Money market	8	3	37,5
9	Derivatives	8	3	37,5
10	Short term bonds and notes	8	3	37,5
	Total	80	Average	38,8

Grades
Pass 50,00 % - 64,99 %
Merit 65,00 % - 74,99 %
Distinction 75,00 % and higher

COURSE INSTRUMENT REQUIREMENT
A financial calculator is required and Examready recommends the HP17bII+ Platinum. Learners/Delegates who wish to purchase a calculator may inquire with Examready.

DURATION & DATES:
The clinic runs over four- days and lectures will take place in house via PowerPoint presentation. All learners will receive a set of the course material.

The clinic dates are 24th to 26th February 2011

ASSESSMENTS
All learners will write both a pre and post assessment.

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE
All learners who attend and successfully complete the clinic will receive a certificate of attendance from Examready (Pty) Ltd.

COURSE MATERIAL
Examready (Pty) Ltd will provide all clinic material to learners before training commences, in accordance with our blended learning preparation cycle. Learners will be required to have financial calculators on hand during the clinic.