Making a difference

Back Office Management

The back office plays a vital role in the accurate recording of positions and the verification and timely settlement of deals. The management of the back office provides many challenges. This course will address a range of issues including risks and control, operational structures, payment methods, including workflow management, SWIFT in practice and management reporting.

The programme will systematically take participants through the activities of the back office function, with an emphasis on the identification of risks and implementation of appropriate controls.

Who should attend
Managers and staff of central and commercial banks, ministries if finance and other financial institutions who are involved in the establishment or the running of a treasury back office and control of operational risk and are interested in latest best practices.

How you will benefit
By the end of the course you will be able to:

• review and assess the current structure of the back office, including reporting lines, and make recommendations for improvement
• identify risks in back office operations an formulate and implement appropriate controls
• contribute to improving management information reporting
• demonstrate knowledge of payment methods and payment workflow management
• implement latest methods and best practices within the back office

Course profile
The treasury function

• The role and the aim of treasury
• Front, Middle & Back Office
• Introduction to instruments
• Foreign exchange deals
• Interbank deposits
• Bonds and derivatives

Operational structures

• Independence from treasury
• Reporting lines and controls
• Staffing

The confirmation and settlements process

• Instruments' requirements
• Settlement process risk
• Transaction workflow

Operational risk and risk management

• The risk spectrum
• Risk management and risk management tools
• Counterparty selection
• Basel II implications

Payment methods

• CHAPS, CHIPS, Fedwire, TARGET and EBA
• Reports for management information
• What to report, when and how to report it

Straight Through Processing

• Technology requirements
• Benefits/problems

Payment Workflow Management

• The STP value chain
• Cost drivers v/s value enhancers
• Operational excellence in payment processing

SWIFT

• Best practice for use
• SWIFT products and services