SureVu: Your Shield Against the Menace of Failed Trades in the Era of CSDR’s Settlement Discipline Regime

Failed-Trades-in-the-Era of-CSDR-Settlement-Discipline-Regime

In the tumultuous world of asset management operations, where every trade counts, the spectre of failed trade management looms large. In the wake of the Central Securities Depository Regulation (CSDR) settlement discipline regime, the consequences of failing trades are something firms need to address. Efficiencies and controls within Asset management firms are in the spotlight, and without a vigilant guardian, the risk of non-compliance is a concern. Enter SureVu – the software system designed to help you avoid failed trades rather than manage them.

The Perils of Failed Trade
The CSDR settlement discipline regime has heavily impacted the landscape of securities trading. With more stringent measures in place, financial penalties for failed trades may escalate to previously unseen levels with the arrival of the T+1 settlement cycle. Firms failing to meet their settlement obligations face penalty fees and a harmed reputation.

Where governance and controls are key, ignorance is not bliss; it’s a dangerous gamble.

The consequences of failing trades are not limited to financial losses; they extend to the credibility and professionalism of an asset management firm.

SureVu: The Beacon of Assurance
A proactive solution that identifies and addresses potentially failing trades before they snowball into avoidable costs.

Early Warning System
SureVu acts as an early warning system, instantly notifying asset management firms of potential failing trades, managed via real-time SWIFT update messages from custodian banks. Its real-time monitoring ensures that you stay one step ahead, shielding your firm from the issues of settlement failures. By better managing pending trades, clients have seen up to a 75% reduction in failed trades, which is essential to meet stricter settlement processing times as part of the T+1 settlement date changes.

Compliance Assurance
With the industry-based controls imposed by the CSDR, compliance is non-negotiable. SureVu is designed with the settlement discipline regime at its core, ensuring that your firm adheres to the rules and sidesteps the pitfalls that can lead to unnecessary financial costs.

Know the Cost
Custodians report penalty fees on a daily basis and SureVu helps firms reconcile them monthly. Users stay well-informed about the status of trades throughout the entire trade lifecycle, minimizing the chances of trades not being matched before the settlement date.

Conclusion
Asset Managers must reflect operational excellence and the time for complacency has long passed. SureVu is the shield that stands between you and the increasing threat of larger penalties with the change of trade cycles from T+2 to T+1. Embrace the confidence that SureVu brings to the table, and let your firm navigate the future with certainty and resilience.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised here, please contact us at resources@corfinancialgroup.com or click here to learn more about corfinancial’s post-trade settlement solutions, Salerio and SureVu.

Salerio: Defeating the Clock in Post-Trade Processing – Your Imperative Solution in the Age of T+1 Settlement

Defeating the Clock in Post-Trade Processing

In the relentless race against time in the operational world of asset management, the ticking clock of the T+1 trade processing arrival can be your greatest adversary. The post-trade processing landscape is evolving, and the consequences of falling behind are dire. In the business-critical environment, Salerio emerges as the indispensable guardian of your firm’s efficiency and success. Without it, the cost of lagging behind is a haunting reality.

The Threat of the ‘T+1 Arrival’: A Race Against Time
Shifts towards more T+1 settlement cycles are reshaping the fabric of post-trade processing. The demands for speed, accuracy, and compliance have never been higher. Asset management firms find themselves at a crossroads, where manual processes and outdated systems are becoming obsolete relics in the face of a ticking clock.

“Automate for Acceleration” – Automation for faster and error-free post-trade processes.

The consequences of missing T+1 deadlines are severe, ranging from financial penalties to reputational damage that can harm a firm’s standing in the industry. Falling behind is a palpable concern, and without a solution like Salerio, the risks are significant.

Salerio: Your Unassailable Fortress in the T+1 Era
Salerio is not just a solution; it is the imperative answer to the challenges posed by the arrival T+1 in several trading regions, with more to come. This cutting-edge software system is engineered to automate and streamline post-trade processing, ensuring that your firm not only meets but surpasses the demands of the accelerated settlement cycles.

Automated Efficiency:
Salerio eliminates the shackles of manual processing, ushering in an era of unparalleled efficiency. It automates complex post-trade workflows, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring that your firm operates at the speed imposed by T+1 trading. No longer will you be tethered to time-consuming, error-prone processes that put your firm’s operational costs on the line.

Real-Time Visibility:
In the T+1 era, information is power. Salerio provides real-time visibility into post-trade activities, enabling your firm to make informed decisions swiftly. With a comprehensive overview at your fingertips, you can navigate the complexities of post-trade processing with confidence; never being blindsided by unforeseen challenges.

The Reality for Those Without Salerio
For those without Salerio, T+1 is fraught with problems. Picture a scenario where every second counts, and the absence of automation leaves your firm mired in the inefficiencies of outdated processes. The fear of missing T+1 deadlines, of incurring financial penalties, and tarnishing your firm’s reputation becomes a real issue for concern.

In the fast-evolving landscape of post-trade processing, the time for complacency is over. Salerio is your shield against the impending storm. Don’t let the ticking clock dictate your fate – embrace the transformative power of Salerio and be a frontrunner in the race against time. The future of post-trade processing belongs to those who embrace innovation – make Salerio your ally in conquering the operational challenges of the changing T+1 era.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised here, please contact us at resources@corfinancialgroup.com or click here to learn more about corfinancial’s post-trade settlement solutions, Salerio and SureVu.

Are your trade processing systems fit for purpose?

Not fit for purpose showing an ice cream cone

David Veal, Senior Executive at corfinancial®, outlines why trade processing systems in the buy-side arena may no longer be fit for purpose.

Wealth Management

The T+1 settlement cycle is due to be instigated in May 2024, and efficient trade processing systems are critical for the smooth operation of any financial institution. However, when such systems fail to address demands for accurate, efficient, and fast-paced processing, it can have far-reaching consequences for an organisation. This article dissects key factors that can lead to the failure of a trade processing system being fit for purpose, with a focus on common technical and operational issues. 

Root causes of problems with dated trade processing systems

Technical issues
Inadequate infrastructure:
 one of the primary technical issues that contribute to the failure of such systems is outdated and inadequate infrastructure – Dated systems often struggle to handle an increasing volume of trades, leading to performance bottlenecks and frequent outages.

Integration challenges: the lack of integration with other critical systems, further exacerbates technical shortcomings – This results in a disjointed workflow and hinders real-time decision-making.

Scalability problems: many in-house systems can fail to scale effectively with the growing demands of the business. As a result, increasing numbers of trades lead to delays, inaccuracies, and ultimately economic and reputational costs from failed trades.

Operational issues
Inefficient processes:
 poor or manually orientated operational processes play a significant role in the failure of many trade processing systems. Manual data entry, redundant workflows, and a lack of automation lead to errors, delays, and increased operational costs.

Inadequate training or intuitive functions: lead to suboptimal utilisation of a system’s capabilities and an increased risk of errors.

Insufficient monitoring and alerts: the absence of robust and timely alerts means that potential issues are not identified and addressed in a proactive manner. A reactive rather than proactive approach further exacerbates the impact of operational challenges.

Needing more people: reducing operating windows, where exception management is not maximised, results in a need for ‘more hands on deck’, in order to beat the clock. Changing working hours for operational staff can be challenging and costly.

Implementing changes
Organisations need robust solutions to address the technical, operational, and procedural challenges that lead to failures associated with ineffective systems. Two prominent platforms that have demonstrated effectiveness, governance, and controls in trade processing management are Salerio and SureVu from corfinancial.

Salerio is a trade management platform known for its ability to streamline trade processing operations and enhance efficiency, addressing technical issues that plague trade processing systems.

Here is how Salerio can serve as a solution:

  1. Scalable infrastructure: designed to handle high volumes of trades, ensuring that the system can adapt to the evolving needs of the business without compromising performance.
  2. Seamless integration: Salerio offers seamless integration with other critical systems, including OMS and position-keeping platforms. This integration fosters a cohesive workflow, enabling real-time decision-making and reducing the risk of disjointed operations.
  3. Automation and workflow optimisation: by automating manual processes and optimising workflows, Salerio minimises errors and delays associated with inefficient operational procedures, leading to increased operational efficiency and reduced costs.

SureVu is a failed trade management solution designed to enhance an organisation’s adherence to industry standards and regulations. In the wake of the new Settlement Discipline Regime (‘SDR’) introduced by the CSDR, SureVu plays a pivotal role in failed trade avoidance, rather than failed trade management activities still adopted by many firms.

SureVu provides governance to reduce the risk of settlement discrepancies. Its intuitive interface empowers users to avoid settlement failure rather than manage it, enabling high levels of STP.

Solving the problems
By integrating Salerio or SureVu into the operational framework, organisations can easily address the root causes of previous system failures.

Salerio’s technology addresses trade matching and processing issues, while SureVu helps firms avoid settlement failure as opposed to managing it after the fact. As part of a core middle office solution, these systems provide a comprehensive approach to trade management, fostering a resilient trade processing operation for sustainable growth when replacing dated solutions.

Salerio and SureVu resolve operational headaches and fears of a costly operational team that are destined to be a reality in the second half of 2024 cost-effectively and comprehensively. Salerio and SureVu do it well… and that includes the price.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised here, please contact us at resources@corfinancialgroup.com or click here to learn more about corfinancial’s post-trade settlement solutions, Salerio and SureVu.

Responsible Investing – Putting Theory into Practice

Financial data sets

This article follows an assessment of Responsible Returns – Meeting Client Utility, seen here. BITA Risk® part of the corfinancial® Group, considers how to put all the theory around Responsible Investing into practice.

In the last article, we looked at maximising the client utility through using ESG data to aid the investment process through avoiding risks and seeking opportunities, incorporating client preferences in portfolio management, and stewardship. Being able to illustrate this to the client is key, through portfolio centric reports demonstrating the application of these processes to their portfolio. The key to success, is bringing together six sets of data within a single system, to maximise the use of each data set and the value that it can create, while reducing manual processes and re-keying.

  • One or more data vendor services
  • The firm’s investment and RI narratives at issuer level
  • The firm’s voting and active management actions
  • The firm’s screening criteria
  • Client preferences
  • And every portfolio’s positions

This applies, regardless of the firm’s chosen taxonomy and data vendors, and indeed should support multiple ones allowing reporting across TCFD, SDR, SFDR, SDG, SASB and PLSA, as appropriate and required.

BITA Risk’s ESG Manager delivers on the need collate this data, to provide robust, detailed and easy to understand responsible investment analytics at holding and portfolio level.

For the Central Investment Team, it provides model portfolio and research list, on-going monitoring against specified criteria as well as detailed exposure and what-if analysis. Regulatory TCFD reports are on-demand for all portfolios at any date, as are exposure trend reports. Asset narratives can be loaded for use in reporting across client portfolios, as well as disseminating information to investment managers.

ESG risk and opportunity analysis can be reported for any portfolio, including models and recommended lists, and not only be reported on at a point in time, but monitored on a daily basis with exception reporting.

To aid clients, preferences can be recorded to match either to a pre-determined set of screening criteria, or client specific requests. These typically align with the data vendors metrics, enabling both a great depth of granularity, as well as standard definitions of the preferences aligned to the ESG, ethical, product exposure and climate change data. For example, IMs in one of our charity focused investment managers can select from over 400 metrics when aligning client requirements.

Not only are these preferences recorded as structured data that can be shared with order management and reporting systems, but the client portfolios are monitored for conflicts with them daily, along with exception reporting.

It automatically applies the following data sets to the holdings of any client portfolio; one or more ESG and carbon data services, the firm’s own scores and narratives and the firm’s voting and active management actions. Combining this with firm’s central screening criteria and client preferences in on-going monitoring, provides powerful insight, automated checks and controls, as well as valuable reporting.

We are currently working on the collation of data on a firm’s voting and stewardship activities, which will then be applied to a client’s portfolio on the basis of activities relating to assets held during the reporting period, further demonstrating a firm’s capabilities.

BITA Risk’s ESG Manager delivers ESG, Ethical Restriction, and climate data, management and reporting tools to IMs, demonstrating a firm’s Responsible Investment approach as applied to each client portfolio. In this way, we feel the tools to mitigate ESG risks, seek ESG opportunities, personalise the portfolio, and demonstrate the firm’s stewardship role are delivered, helping improve client communication and maximise their utility.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised here, please contact us at resources@corfinancialgroup.com or see more information on our solution here.

Responsible Returns – Meeting Client Utility

ESG and financial balance

This article follows a high-level assessment of Responsible Investing by Daryl Roxburgh, seen here. In aiming to maximise client utility, BITA Risk® part of the corfinancial® Group, considers three key questions associated with the challenges of implementing Responsible Investment: 

  1. There has been much debate as to whether ESG is good or bad for performance. ESG is a very broad set of disparate metrics and like any other metric for assessing investments, they are useful, but will not be applicable for all sectors all of the time in terms of driving performance – How can they be best used?
  2. The balance required between achieving return and meeting responsible objectives varies significantly across clients, as does personal perception as to what a responsible objective is. From a wealth manager’s perspective, this could become a logistical nightmare, but it does not need to be – How can these preferences be managed?
  3. Many firms have thought long and hard about ESG and have created considerable research and insight. This creates a positive point of differentiation for the fund manager, as long as this is demonstrated to the client – How can this be capitalised upon?

Investors, particularly younger ones, now hold ESG standards to be as important as performance; a recent survey by asset management firm Amundi and the Business Times found that 82% of Gen Z and close to two-thirds of young millennial investors have exposure to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investments. Combined, Gen Z and Millennials account for 43% and 49% of the US and global population, respectively.

This trend is only set to continue, particularly as more wealth transfers to these cohorts.

The adoption of SFDR disclosure regulations in the EU has also helped to move awareness up the agenda. Fund managers are required to disclose how sustainability risks are considered in the investment decision-making process.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development sees the market for ESG-mandated investments reaching U$160 trillion by 2036, rising significantly from U$30 trillion in 2018.

But how can fund managers actually demonstrate that they have woven ESG and climate factors into their research processes and considered them in the same way that they would incorporate things like risk and suitability?

The key, we think, is to support the investment manager and client and make a good outcome more likely by putting in place a robust analytics and tracking system. This should focus on the ESG factors of a portfolio together with traditional risk and fundamental analytics, in the context of the client’s risk and suitability profile and financial objectives.

We think of this in three processes and report sections, which will drive investment returns and meet client objectives, as well is improving client communication and demonstrating the actions of the firm.

 

One: Risks and opportunities:

A firm should determine which ESG factors are considered as risk and opportunity signals – and this will vary by sector. In many cases, these are already embedded in the investment selection process. Their use should be extended into an ongoing process making use of data monitoring and management to provide individual client portfolio reviews and warnings, if an investment’s score has changed or there is a conflict with the client’s mandate. This should equip the investment manager to demonstrate to the client how the firm’s responsible investment process has been applied to risk management and return generation within their portfolio. This also adds the ability to flag any issues and take evasive action as soon as possible – again this comes down to being able to show that the best outcome was sought in good time for the investor.

Indeed, ongoing testing of ESG factors against the client mandate alerts to foreseeable harm that can be mitigated or documented.

Through identifying and managing these return risks and opportunities and reporting a firm’s view of individual investments in the context of the client’s portfolio, the firm demonstrates a true value add and improves the investment narrative for the client.

 

Two: Personal preferences:

The demonstration of the firm’s approach to responsible investment will partly mitigate the challenge of too many client-specific preferences. Where clients require further restrictions, these should be precise and confirmable and link to the metrics that a firm can access. This structured data could then be used to automate portfolio reporting and monitoring against the client preferences and provide checks and balances in the investment process.

ESG reporting should be more than a compilation of figures and measurements. There must also be context around ESG efforts to provide perspective to the client. By recording preferences in this way, the narrative could be focused on the client’s particular interests.  Adhering to an existing ESG framework is important at this stage, as it provides guidance and best practices for how the organisation should structure and convey the report and its data.

By following basic steps around data capture and careful matching of client ESG needs, the investment manager would gain much better insight into the client’s needs and objectives and could measure against those parameters at any time.

 

Three: Stewardship and actions:

Being able to successfully show how ESG data has been incorporated into the investment process, which, together with client preferences are monitored on an on-going basis, could only be positive for the wealth manager’s reputation. The next step is demonstrating the firm’s active investment approach. What has it done to push responsible agendas within the invested companies, how has it voted and been active.

This third process and report section, really underlines the wealth manager’s commitment to responsible investing. By relaying to the client what actions the firm has taken in respect of investments the client has held, would further strengthens the investment narrative.

However, it also has another positive effect; that of influencing positive change within the corporate world. Indeed, the influence of any wealth manager is not to be underestimated and can act as a force for change – companies that do not behave in line with expectations can expect disinvestment and suffer financial loss as well as damage to their reputation. That is no laughing matter! Think Uber – it has fallen out of favour due to numerous accusations of sexual harassment and discrimination within the company, as well as negative attention over the poor treatment of drivers. VMware meanwhile saw its reputation dip, off the back of a lawsuit alleging fraud and financial impropriety and sexual harassment. And Boohoo’s reputational damage has been intertwined with concerns about the company’s business practices and labour conditions at its suppliers.

Ultimately fund managers that want to be successful into the future need to equip themselves with the right data, tools and reports to accurately describe both the firm’s integrated approach and implementation of the client’s parameters when it comes to Responsible Investing. They need to be able to prove investments match that on an ongoing basis. Doing so requires a systematic approach, accurate data and dynamic tracking so as to be able to demonstrate that the Responsible Investing was taken care of as much as the Return on Investment. In doing this, the firm would add to the client utility through Responsible Investing, rather than just meeting regulatory targets.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised here, please contact us at resources@corfinancialgroup.com or see more information on our solution here.

Our final piece on this topic, Responsible Investing – Putting theory into practice, will reflect on how companies can resolve many of the requirements raised in this article.

The impacts of TCFD on the wealth management space

Climate-related financial risks

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the importance of climate-related risks and opportunities for the financial sector. The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) has emerged as a crucial framework that enables organisations to evaluate and disclose their climate-related financial risks. This article aims to explore the impacts of TCFD on the wealth management space, highlighting how BITA Risk can assist wealth management firms in navigating this evolving landscape. 

The TCFD was established in 2015 by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) to enhance transparency and improve the understanding of climate-related risks and opportunities in the financial sector. The framework provides recommendations for voluntary, consistent climate-related disclosures across four key areas: governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets.
Impacts of TCFD on wealth management

Enhanced risk assessment and management
With the TCFD framework, wealth management firms gain a structured approach to identify, assess, and manage climate-related risks. By integrating climate risk considerations into their investment decision-making processes, firms can more effectively safeguard their clients’ investments against climate-related threats. TCFD-aligned disclosures provide investors with the necessary information to understand and evaluate the potential impact of climate risks on their portfolios.

Investor demand and preferences
As climate change gains increased attention, investors are increasingly interested in aligning their investments with sustainable and climate-conscious strategies. According to a 2020 survey conducted by Morgan Stanley, 85% of individual investors expressed interest in sustainable investing. TCFD-aligned reporting allows wealth managers to meet this demand by providing transparency and evidence of their commitment to sustainable investing practices. By doing so, wealth management firms can attract new clients, retain existing ones, and stay competitive in an evolving market.

Regulatory landscape 
Regulators worldwide are actively incorporating TCFD recommendations into their policies and regulations. For instance, the European Union’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) requires financial market participants to disclose the integration of sustainability risks, including climate risks, into their investment decision-making processes. Similarly, other jurisdictions are following suit, creating a global push towards climate-related financial disclosures. Compliance with TCFD recommendations positions wealth management firms favourably in meeting evolving regulatory requirements.

Long-term value creation
By integrating TCFD into their operations, wealth management firms can unlock long-term value-creation opportunities. Climate change can impact asset valuations, profitability, and business models across industries. Through TCFD-aligned disclosures, wealth managers can identify investments that are well-positioned to capitalise on the transition to a low-carbon economy. By focusing on companies with sustainable practices, wealth management firms can generate positive returns for their clients while aligning with broader environmental objectives.

BITA Risk: assisting wealth management firms
BITA Risk, a leading provider of risk management solutions, offers comprehensive tools to support wealth management firms in complying with TCFD recommendations and navigating the associated challenges. Here is how BITA Risk can assist:

1. Climate risk analytics:
BITA Risk provides analytics to assess climate-related risks across investment portfolios. By leveraging vast amounts of climate and financial data, the platform enables wealth managers to identify and quantify the potential impact of climate risks on investment returns. These insights empower wealth management firms to make informed decisions, optimise asset allocation, and mitigate risks associated with climate change.

2. Scenario analysis:
BITA Risk’s platform enables wealth managers to conduct scenario analysis, a critical component of TCFD recommendations. Scenario analysis helps firms assess the resilience of their investment portfolios under different climate-related scenarios, such as transition and physical risks. By stress-testing portfolios, wealth managers can identify vulnerabilities and adjust their strategies, accordingly, ensuring the long-term resilience of their clients’ investments.

3. Reporting and disclosures:
BITA Risk offers reporting capabilities that facilitate TCFD – disclosures aligned with the CET and IA templates. The platform generates comprehensive reports that highlight climate-related risks, governance frameworks, and sustainability strategies. By streamlining the reporting process, wealth managers can efficiently produce high-quality disclosures that cater to the evolving needs of regulators, investors, and other stakeholders.

Conclusion
The TCFD framework has significantly influenced the wealth management space by fostering improved risk assessment, meeting investor demands, navigating regulatory requirements, and driving long-term value creation. Wealth management firms can leverage solutions like BITA Risk to effectively implement TCFD recommendations. By embracing the TCFD framework and incorporating climate-related considerations into their operations, wealth management firms can enhance their risk management practices, attract clients, and capitalise on the opportunities presented by the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised here, please contact us at BITARisk@corfinancialgroup.com or see more information on our solution here.

T+1 settlement – The imperative for automated solutions in the securities market

T+1 global transactions

By Samil Aslam, Research Analyst at corfinancial®

Efficient settlement processes are crucial to the smooth functioning of the securities market. The introduction of T+1 settlement, where trades are settled one business day after the transaction, has gained significant attention in recent months. This shift from the T+2 settlement lifecycle has presented both opportunities and challenges for market participants. To navigate these complexities and streamline operations, automation has become essential. In this article, we delve into the impact of T+1 settlement and highlight the need for automated solutions, regardless of the global region introducing the change. 

The significance of T+1 settlement
T+1 settlement has brought about several advantages that contribute to a more efficient market. By reducing the settlement period, it minimises counterparty risk and provides quicker access to funds, enhancing liquidity. It also reduces the need for participants to tie up capital for an extended period, allowing them to deploy it more effectively. Additionally, shorter settlement cycles reduce market participants’ exposure to potential market risks, resulting in a more stable and secure trading environment.

Data and statistics have consistently shown that shorter settlement periods, such as T+1, can significantly impact market volatility. Studies indicate that shorter settlement cycles can reduce the scope for speculation and market manipulation, thereby enhancing market integrity and increasing market efficiency.

With the implementation of T+1 settlement, market participants face the challenge of adapting to a faster-paced settlement process. Manual settlement procedures that rely on cumbersome paperwork, manual reconciliation, and communication between various parties are increasingly becoming inefficient and error-prone. To address these challenges, automation is essential.

Settlement failure and non-compliance with the settlement discipline regime can harm an asset management firm’s reputation. These incidents may be perceived as a lack of operational robustness or failure to meet regulatory requirements. Negative publicity could result in a loss of client trust, potential outflows of assets under management, and damage to long-term business relationships.

Increased operational complexity and costs
The settlement discipline regime introduces new requirements and procedures, such as mandatory cash penalties and transaction reporting obligations. Asset management firms need to adapt their existing processes and systems to ensure compliance, which often involves significant operational changes. The additional complexities can strain internal resources and require substantial investments in technology and infrastructure.

Asset management firms may also face increased operational costs due to potential penalties for settlement fails. The additional expenses associated with compliance can impact profitability and potentially lead to higher fees for investors.

The move to T+1 is undoubtedly a step forward for the industry, but key questions remain for middle office or operational teams:

  • Will your operational practices easily adapt to the pressures of T+1 deadlines?
  • Does your trade processing technology enable you to proactively avoid trades from failing?
  • Is your platform scalable enough to adapt to the demands of same-day processing activities?
  • Are you prepared for custodians to change their Service Level Agreements?
  • Are you prepared for your operating day to be extended?

Salerio and SureVu: automated solutions for efficient settlement
Salerio and SureVu are cutting-edge technologies that streamline the settlement process, reducing risks and increasing operational efficiency. Salerio is an automated post-trade management solution that ensures timely and accurate reconciliation of trades, automating the matching of trades across multiple platforms. By eliminating manual intervention, Salerio reduces settlement failures and minimises the risk of trade discrepancies.

SureVu, on the other hand, is an advanced tool that provides real-time insights into the settlement process. It leverages data to monitor trade statuses and proactively identifies settlement issues. With SureVu, market participants gain comprehensive visibility into their trades, enabling timely interventions and minimising settlement failures.

Automation eliminates manual errors and reduces the time spent on manual reconciliation, freeing up resources for more strategic tasks.

All of which address the bullet point questions raised above.

Conclusion
The introduction of T+1 settlement has ushered in a new era of efficiency and reduced risk in the securities market. However, to fully harness the benefits of shorter settlement cycles, market participants must embrace automation. Solutions like Salerio and SureVu offer the necessary tools to streamline post-trade processes, minimise settlement failures, and enhance overall operational efficiency. By leveraging automation, market participants can navigate the complexities of T+1 settlement with confidence, fostering a more robust and secure securities market for all stakeholders. Automation eliminates manual errors and reduces the time spent on manual reconciliation, freeing up resources for more strategic tasks.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised here, please contact us at resources@corfinancialgroup.com or click here to learn more about corfinancial’s post-trade settlement solutions, Salerio and SureVu.

Reporting on responsible investing, ESG, ethical, carbon and stewardship – Why do you need it?

Responsible investing, ESG, ethical, carbon and stewardship

Daryl Roxburgh – President and Global Head BITA Risk®, part of the corfinancial® Group, investigates reporting on responsible investing, ESG, ethical, carbon and stewardship, why do you need it and how do you do it?

Responsible Investing (RI) reporting by private wealth managers is rising in importance as society as a whole takes more interest in how invested companies behave, their impact and what they, as investors, can do to influence them. Expectations around behaviour regarding these issues have risen exponentially in the recent past, and so has the general understanding of climate change risks. As a consequence, wealth managers need to describe and demonstrate that they are seeking positive change through RI and minimise their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks.

As interests rise, so too have the terminology and the metrics to measure RI. Within the financial domain, this has been driven by investors and regulators, as well as companies themselves, who recognise that a successful future is inextricably linked with all the elements of RI. Indeed, in many cases, client utility is not just linked to investment performance; it is also linked to RI.

BITA Risk thinks of RI – and therefore, management and reporting – in four groups:

  1.  RI risks – identifying which portfolio investments face risks due to climate change, social media, and environmental taxes. This may also include ethical exposures in controversial areas and general involvement in controversies. Climate change and carbon metrics fall into this group too.
  2. RI opportunities – whether new emerging technologies to counter or adapt to climate change or existing products and services that can easily adapt.
  3. Client preferences – the things that are particularly important to the client. Whereas points one and two above are a fundamental part of investment management, client preferences are an additional layer and may cover ESG, ethical and product factors as both positive and negative screens.
  4. Stewardship – what is the wealth management firm doing to demonstrate its active role in driving the issue of RI in the firms invested in. This demonstrates value add.

This data needs to be at the investment manager’s fingertips for a client portfolio to make it an integral part of the investment process, as well as in reporting.

Most, if not all, investors would like to have ESG and RI data and measurements included as a standard part of the reporting process woven through it, like with other metrics. This is particularly pertinent when it comes to the next generation of investors who consider RI performance to be on par with performance – and rightly so.

The regulator, too, is another key driver of ESG reporting. The EU implementation of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) in March 2021 effectively created three fund designations (Article 6, Article 8, and Article 9) based on the level of the investment manager’s incorporation of ESG characteristics in the investment decision-making process. This is matched in the UK by SDR and TCFD, which brings a detailed level of carbon and climate reporting. These regulations require certain disclosures from investment managers about the implications of sustainability risks on both their funds and firms.

The dovetailing in demand from investors and regulators alike has led to vast improvements in RI metrics and frameworks to at least attempt a common set of standards that is meaningful to all and means that investment management companies are comparing like with like when it comes to different companies and match that to investor profiles. What has to be remembered is that ESG assessments are aligned with the research methodology of a data vendor, and these are 1) not necessarily the same, and 2) when aggregating detailed factors up to an overall score, the weighting and methodologies can be very different. So, it should not be surprising when different vendors have different scores, they may not be measuring the same thing.

Indeed, RI represents an opportunity for investment management firms to distinguish themselves from competitors and provide something meaningful and actionable to their clients. Alignment with client goals as well as risk and suitability frameworks are key, making investment returns and RI crucial going forward.

Getting ESG reporting right is important. It affords investment managers the chance to enhance their investment decision engine, fine-tune customer reporting capabilities, and augment their internal stewardship processes to meet and potentially exceed client expectations. RI of all types is needed in increasingly equal measure and a robust reporting tool is crucial! In our second article in this series, we will look at how to make this work in practice, dealing with data and giving investment managers the key tools.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised here, please contact BITA at BITARisk@corfinancialgroup.com or see more information on our solution here.

Consumer Duty – how BITA Risk can help

Risk
Wealth Management

Getting good client outcomes should not be down to luck, but the result of following a defined data analysis and exception management process to test outcomes against targets and act on alerts to potential outcome spoilers.

Following our recent article on Consumer Duty – seven steps for successful outcomes, Daryl Roxburgh – President and Global Head BITA Risk® part of the corfinancial® Group presents how BITA Risk helps firms address Consumer Duty demands.

Getting the right outcomes should be the result of following the core principles that makeup Consumer Duty. 

Understanding the client
This means looking at the client’s affairs from more than just a risk and suitability standpoint. True understanding of the client means looking at multiple aspects considering: risk, objectives, constraints, capacity for loss, knowledge and experience, and ethical and ESG preferences. In some cases, this will require a degree of investor education. BITA Wealth Profiler® provides the ability to map the client profile and match it to the firm’s investment proposition. Ongoing monitoring and automated proposals should follow; all data should have been integrated and analysed to reach that point and the risks of the proposed investments would be fully explained.

Foreseeable harm
Foreseeable harm should be considered at the overall portfolio and individual investment level. Harm can be considered as causing the portfolio to miss the client’s objectives, very often measured against the firm’s central investment model or a defined benchmark. BITA Wealth Monitor® helps mitigate foreseeable harm through continual automated assessment of positions and portfolios, along with where the risks are acceptable. Quantitative risk checks at portfolio and asset level, portfolio construction and investment policy tests, pre and post-trade, alert the user to exceptions on every portfolio, every day, not just a random periodic sample. Where there is a known reason for the exception this is documented in the system, providing a full audit trail. With over 50 tests available in BITA Wealth Monitor, including value, there is coverage for a wide range of investment approaches.

Consistent outcomes
The use of BITA Wealth Monitor to mitigate against foreseeable harms has been proven to lead to greater consistency of performance outcomes. The extension of the Monitoring suite and analytics to performance and ex-post risk analysis enables insight and understanding of systemic issues within the client base, such as outlier portfolios, managers, mandates or groups of clients.

Early risk and deviation identification allow for early action. BITA Wealth manages all of this at a granular level, with standard reasons and free text justifications making up actionable structured data.

Management information and oversight
Finally, getting all the data analytics together to be able to understand the client, provide consistent outcomes and identify foreseeable harm means that managers glean greater insight. This can be in terms of client vs peer group and model, performance and risk analysis, or manager vs peers, risk and return analysis. It requires daily, enterprise-level monitoring of portfolios across all foreseeable harms for all businesses, locations, teams and managers and makes for a better level of costs and charges review across the client base.

Using BITA Wealth gives consistency of client assessment and means matching to the investment proposition is much more accurate. This together with the ongoing portfolio monitoring BITA Wealth provides, should lead to consistent client outcomes within an expected range that are relative to the benchmark as well as recorded explanations where there are factors that might prevent a positive outcome. In this way, managed data leads to delivered Consumer Duty.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised here, please contact us at BITARisk@corfinancialgroup.com or see more information on our solution here.