Making a difference

Front, Middle, Back Office Operations

Recent events have shown that fundamental failings in internal controls can result in severe financial losses or even insolvency in financial institutions. Robust controls need to be in place to ensure transactions are undertaken in accordance with appropriate strategies, policies and procedures of the bank.

This front, middle, back office training course provides participants with a thorough view of how to run a successful treasury operation, systematically taking participants through the front, middle and back office functions. The course emphasises identification of risks and application of effective controls.

Who should attend
Treasury and operating managers, risk professionals and other middle to senior management staff in commercial banks, central banks and other financial institutions. The course will also benefit regulators, compliance staff and internal auditors.

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

• discuss the key financial instruments and their role in the financial markets
• apply a systematic approach to achieve an efficient and effective front, middle and back office
• identify and review risks and formulate appropriate controls
• design an efficient treasury structure
• develop management and team-building skills

Course profile
The treasury function

• Overview of front, middle and back office responsibilities
• The dealing process

Financial markets and instruments

• Principal financial markets, primary & secondary
• Foreign exchange, interbank deposits, bonds, derivatives

Treasury Front Office

• Trading limits
• Trade capture
• Know Your Customer
• Decision support

Risk management

• The COSO framework, identification and assessment of risks
• Market risk, operational risk and risk management tools
• Business continuity: plans and procedures

Operational structures

• Segregation of duties
• Reporting lines and controls, delegation of authority

Middle Office

• Roles and responsibilities
• Reporting on risks and results

Back Office operations

• Payment methods
• SWIFT products, CHAPS, CHIPS and EBA
• Confirmation and settlement process
• Transaction workflow

The course on Treasury Management increased my knowledge of treasury management as well as giving me extra insight into risk management and a better understanding of how to manage your staff better. The lecturers/speakers were well informed and delivered their materials perfectly. They were also willing to take the extra time to give further explanations so that everyone would fully comprehend the issues being discussed. I very much appreciate Crown Agents giving me the opportunity to be a participant of this program and will definitely be looking forward to being invited to other financial management or foreign exchange courses.

Mr Abdou H Ceesay
Senior Foreign Exchange Officer
Central Bank of the Gambia, The Gambia

The course improved my understanding of treasury activities and has helped me to improve our internal controls.

Mr Nelson Kwame Obiri
Accountant
Volta River Authority, Ghana