Fundamentals of Global Operations Management

This book provides a view of the fundamentals of operations functions and management and is suitable for people working in any organisation in the financial markets. Key issues affecting the industry are discussed and explained, such as operational risk management, traditional and new market environments, mergers, alliances, and integration across clearing and settlement. The author also explores how globalisation and straight–through processing are presenting new challenges in operations management and the changing regulatory environment.

The book offers views and advice on a broad range of subjects and encourages further research by the reader through suggested work sessions. It is ideal for anyone new to or aspiring to become a supervisor or manager.

Contents include:

Operations management Markets Banking, broking and institutional investors Concepts of risk Clearing and settlement Custody Technology Regulation and compliance Client services Operations in the future

Preface.

About the author.

1 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT.

2 MARKETS.

Equity securities.

Debt securities.

Derivative markets.

Foreign exchange and money markets.

Retail and other products.

Other products.

Market and product knowledge.

Market structure and membership.

Products traded.

Structure and characteristics of the products.

Clearing mechanisms, membership and the clearing house role.

Structure of securities clearing and settlement conventions.

Regulation, accounting and tax issues.

Policy, procedures and controls.

3 BANKING, BROKING AND INSTITUTIONAL CLIENTS.

What are the issues for the operations managers in these scenarios?

4 CONCEPTS OF RISK.

Settlement risk.

System risk.

Counterparty and agent risk.

Personnel risk.

Regulatory risk.

Legal risk.

Reputational risk.

Infrastructure risk.

Financial risk.

Disaster risk.

5 CLEARING AND SETTLEMENT.

Fixed rate bonds.

Floating rate notes.

The role of the clearing house.

The concept of margining, collateral and treasury management.

Margin.

Collateral.

Treasury management.

OTC derivatives.

Products.

Swaps.

OTC options.

Settlement of OTC products.

Event calendar.

Communication/Information.

Other settlement issues.

Accounting and regulatory issues.

SwapClear.

SwapsWire.

Summary.

Suggested further reading.

Checklists.

6 CUSTODY.

7 TECHNOLOGY.

8 REGULATION AND COMPLIANCE.

Basel II, Sarbanes Oxley and UCITS Directive.

9 CLIENT SERVICES.

The approach to customer relationships and the client culture .

Structure of client services within the operations team.

Responsibility.

Measuring performance.

Escalation procedures.

Client liaison programmes.

Front–office client team.

Industry issues.

Analysing the competition.

Developing the service.

What are the potential problems in customer relationships?

Managing risk within the customer relationship.

Client visits.

10 OPERATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

Appendices.

A UCITS III: INTRODUCTION.

B EXTRACTS FROM SARBANES OXLEY ACT OF 2002.

C THE G30 TWENTY RECOMMENDATIONS.

D SOUND PRACTICES FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION OF OPERATIONAL RISK (February 2003).

Glossary.

Useful websites and selected further reading.

Index.

David Loader is Managing Director of the London based Derivatives and Securities Consultancy Ltd (DSC). DSC provides various consultancy and educational services to a wide range of financial institutions globally. David has over thirty years experience in the finance industry, particularly in operations, gained in a number of major organisations including SG Warburg Group where he was Operations Director. He is heavily involved in financial education and training, as a Director of Computer Based Learning Ltd (providing e–learning solutions to the financial services industry), and as an author and presenter of training courses for The Securities and Investment Institute.
David is a member of The International Guild of Bankers, The Institute of Directors and The Securities and Investment Institute.