Auditing the Dealing room (Demystifying Treasury and Capital markets operations)

Course objectives

At the end of the course participants will…

• understand more fully the business transacted in your institution's Treasury and Capital markets dealing rooms
• following on from the Allfirst loss disclosures and the Ludwig report last year, be more aware of the use and misuse of the Foreign exchange, Money market, Bond and Derivative markets
• be able to identify potential risks before they adversely effect overall performance
• interpret regulatory requirements, Central Bank codes of conduct, financial market conventions and understand the rationale behind in-house rule books and compliance regulations
• appreciate the relevance of trading limits, accounting processes, P & L procedures and other internal risk management controls
• guarantee continuing responsible, effective audit of all market activities

Participant profile

Lywood David International Limited’s Auditing the Dealing room course is designed specifically for financial institution internal auditors, perhaps themselves not having had personal exposure to the financial markets. The course alerts participants to potential dangers in dealing, enabling prompt identification of risks and ensuring recommended management controls are in place, well understood and respected by all involved - from dealer through back-office personnel to the highest level of senior management.

Presenters

Phil Parker and Steve McGann

The regular presenters on this course are possibly in a unique position to ensure that course participants will be able to fulfil these objectives. See their pen portraits on the About Us/Our Team page.

The Course

The Auditing the Dealing room course, now extended to five full days, contains important information for your institution’s audit, compliance and risk management personnel. It seeks to address the overall environment of discipline vital to the control of trading activities and risks at every stage in the dealing, processing, settlement and accounting cycles.

In particular the course looks at the lessons to be learnt from LBI Lugano, Barings, Allfirst, NAB and other frighteningly similar recurring dealing room problems. It covers a wide range of Treasury and Capital market activities of which the internal auditor / risk manager must be fully aware when approaching the dealing room audit and management control functions.

The Auditing the Dealing room course is popular with Central Bank Banking supervision departments and has been presented in overseas centres on several occasions both on behalf of the Central Bank for the benefit of local commercial banks and on an in-house basis at the request of individual client institutions. If this approach is favoured please contact the company direct.

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Treasury Operations Health Check

Course objectives

At the end of this course participants will…

• appreciate the various types of dealing operation available in the financial markets, and the means employed by a typical bank to control and monitor the same through organisational structures, accounting records and management information processes
• be aware of how and where concealed and/or fraudulent market transactions have caused problems in institutions in recent years and recognise danger signals at an early stage
• understand better the operational and market risks involved in day-to-day dealing operations
• be able to confirm to senior management the suitability and on-going conformity to industry best practices of their institution’s Treasury control functions, accounting systems and management information reportage

Participant profile

Lywood David Interntional Limited’s Treasury Operations Health Check is a workshop intended to give participants the ability to assess the suitability of their own institution’s current structure and control procedures, providing guidance on the organisational and procedural functions recommended in the ACI Model Code and local regulators’ codes as best practice. Participants should be back office, processing/settlement personnel and any other financial institution personnel associated with Treasury dealing operations who want to ensure they are up to speed with the controls required in today’s financial markets.

Treasury operations Health check - a workshop

This Treasury operations Health check is a workshop seeking to identify the risks and highlight the necessary processing, accounting, management information and in-house P&L reporting procedures for institutions active in the Treasury marketplace.

Using recent problems experienced by financial institutions as case studies, participants are encouraged to discuss market and operational risks arising from transactions and the means available for their monitoring and control.

The overall aim is to ensure that all necessary control techniques are clearly understood by participants who will thus be more comfortable when managing the various operational and control functions “beyond the dealing room” with the intention of ensuring avoidance of any similar loss situations occurring in the future.

The Presenter

Phil Parker. See his pen portrait on the About Us/Our Team page.

Download the Adobe .pdf file of course flyer

Introduction to Treasury Dealing Operations

Course objectives

At the end of the course participants will…

• understand Treasury products and dealing operations
• be more aware of links between today’s Treasury cash and derivative markets
• appreciate market risks, codes of conduct, position control and P&L procedures
• approach the electronically delivered level 1 ACI Dealing and/or Settlements Certificate examination with confidence

Participant profile

Participants on this course can be bank or Corporate trainee dealers and in-house or external dealing support staff such as financial control personnel, software suppliers, systems development and / or risk management personnel - in fact anyone with a desire to increase their understanding of the markets and an institution’s Treasury dealing operations. The overall aim is to give participants a greater depth of market knowledge enabling them to perform their duties more confidently and to greater effect.

The Course

Lywood David International Limited’s Introduction to Treasury Dealing Operations course is consistently highly praised by participants and training managers alike.

To achieve the above objectives, great emphasis is placed on Understanding risks and the identification of various products (FX, money market and short term Treasury derivatives) used to manage these risks. The course will increase participants’ overall appreciation of basic dealing techniques and risk awareness, and, for candidates for the ACI level 1 qualifications, sessions deal with all syllabus topics with use made of WINFOREX, the unique PC based study aid. (details on the website).

The final session of the Introduction to Treasury Dealing Operations course is a memorable session using WINDEAL for Spot FX - the highly realistic PC based dealing simulation product developed by our associate company Multimedia TradeWind Limited. This permits hands-on experience of Spot FX dealing, enabling participants to appreciate and manage risk in its most dynamically identifiable form - with zero cost to the bottom line!

The Presenter

Phil Parker. See his pen portrait on the About Us/Our Team page.

Download the Adobe .pdf file of course flyer

Introduction to Capital markets - Bonds and their derivatives

Course objectives

At the end of this course participants will…

• have a sound working knowledge of the UK domestic and eurobond markets
• understand the basics of bond pricing and trading
• appreciate credit risks and ratings in the markets
• be aware of the bond and other derivative instruments together with their dealing techniques

Participant profile

Lywood David International Limited’s Introduction to Capital markets (Bonds and their derivatives) course is designed to place emphasis is on the Practical side of the markets with theoretical sessions reinforced by case studies which are designed specifically to enable the participants to understand each concept discussed.

This three day course is specially designed as basic entry-level training for staff who are new to banking, securities trading and/or investment management or who are involved in a peripheral function such as support services or IT but need to broaden their understanding of the Capital markets and the instruments traded.

The Presenter

Steve McGann. See his pen portrait on the About Us/Our Team page.

Download the Adobe .pdf file of course flyer

Introduction to Capital markets (Equities and their derivatives)

Course objectives

At the end of this course participants will…

• have a sound working knowledge of the UK and major international equity markets
• understand the basics of valuing companies, looking at a company’s P&L account and balance sheet
• appreciate share valuation methods and be able to use and calculate indices
• be aware of equity derivatives pricing and dealing techniques together with regulations governing their use

Participant profile

Lywood David International Limited’s Introduction to Capital markets - Equities course is designed to ensure that your people can deliver these objectives.

The emphasis is on the Practical with theoretical sessions reinforced by case studies which are designed specifically to enable the participants to understand each concept discussed. Your staff will develop a fundamental understanding of the role of the equity markets, the institutions involved and how investment decisions are reached.

This two day course is specially designed as basic entry-level training for staff who are new to banking, securities trading and/or investment management or who are involved in a peripheral function such as support services or IT but need to broaden their understanding of the markets and the instruments traded. Training takes place away from the office which allows participants to concentrate on increasing their understanding of concepts discussed without the pressures of day-to-day routines.

The Presenter

Steve McGann. See his pen portrait on the About Us/Our Team page.

Download the Adobe .pdf file of course flyer

Accounting for Treasury transactions, risks and profits

Course objectives

At the end of the course participants will…

• appreciate the various types of dealing operation available in the financial markets, and the means employed by a typical bank to control and monitor the same through accounting records and management information processes ?
• have a basic knowledge of the generic accounting procedures needed to support a Foreign Exchange, Money Market and Treasury Derivatives dealing operation ?
• understand better the operational and market risks involved in day-to-day dealing operations ?
• be aware of the position of a Treasury Division within a financial institution’s structure, and what bearing the Division's business has on the institution as a whole ?

Participant profile

Lywood David International Limited’s Accounting for Treasury transactions, risks and profits course is designed specifically for personnel who need to know more about their institution’s Treasury dealing operations, risk identification processes, accounting records and management information requirements. Participants should be connected with Treasury dealing operations, financial control, risk management, IT systems development or other support areas for their institution’s Treasury function.

The Course

Lywood David International Limited’s Accounting for Treasury transactions, risks and profits course (three full days) is consistently highly praised by participants and training managers alike. It is designed specifically for personnel who need to know more about their institution’s Treasury dealing operations, risk identification processes, accounting records and management information requirements. Participants should be connected with Treasury dealing operations, financial control or other support areas for their institution’s Treasury function.

The course gives participants the opportunity to discuss with an experienced practitioner the financial market operations undertaken by institutions, the associated market and operational risks and proven procedures, including generic accounting processes and management information systems, for controlling and monitoring the same.

The more technical market risks involved in certain Foreign Exchange, Money market and Derivative instruments and dealing techniques are also discussed in detail during the course, with the aim that such techniques are more clearly understood by personnel who will thus be more comfortable when processing, developing systems or accounting for such activities undertaken in their institution’s Treasury dealing rooms.

The course is fully supported by PowerPoint presentations and comprehensive accompanying text and spreadsheets detailing the various deal date to maturity entries required for the Treasury products covered over the three days.

The Presenter

Phil Parker. See his pen portrait on the About Us/Our Team page.

Download the Adobe .pdf file of course flyer

Asset and Liability Management - a practical course on Cash and interest rate risk management

Course objectives

At the end of the course participants will…

• understand the concepts and practicalities of Asset and Liability management
• be better able to identify and evaluate cash flow and interest rate risk
• maximise profit potential in the cash markets / cash settled financial instruments
• be better placed to identify and take advantage of interest arbitrage opportunities
• be comfortable in the use of short term Treasury derivatives (STIR Futures and FRAs) in interest rate risk management

Participant profile

Participants on Lywood David International Limited’s Asset and Liability Management course can be financial institution of Corporate Treasury dealers, middle office (risk management) personnel, financial control or from systems development areas. The course is appropriate for anyone working closely with dealers or Treasury systems with a desire to increase their knowledge and understanding of these most important financial markets.

The Course: Asset and Liability management - a practical course on cash flow and interest rate risk management is designed to ensure that your personnel can achieve these objectives.

The emphasis is on the Practical with theoretical sessions reinforced by case studies and hands on experience of WINDEAL for Money market - an interactive PC based dealing simulation developed by Tradewind Design in association with our sister company Multimedia TradeWind Limited. The simulation enables participants to experience the reality of trading the cash markets including financial instruments together with short term Derivative products which can be used for either risk management (hedging) or trading purposes.

Course content covers basic ALM procedures from the highest management levels (ALCO) down to practical day to day dealing functions. The course is structured to ensure that participants develop fundamental ALM skills such as risk awareness / evaluation, product pricing and position management - skills so often overlooked in today’s technology reliant environment. The aim is to make such skills instinctive - thus giving dealers more time to focus on effective and profitable trading strategies. For other financial institution personnel the aim is to provide a deeper insight into the dealers’ world. Don’t let your personnel miss this unique training opportunity.

The Presenter

Phil Parker. See his pen portrait on the About Us/Our Team page.

Download the Adobe .pdf file of course flyer

A Technical Approach to FX trading

Lywood David International Limted’s Technical Approach to FX trading course introduces the various types of charts available for use in the foreign exchange markets and allow participants to develop their abilities to trade using the most popular doctrines and methodologies. The course is additionally of use to treasury marketing executives, financial control and systems development personnel supporting the dealing operation. Corporate treasury personnel will also benefit from attendance by the very different view of the markets and dealing transactions given during presentations and practical exercises on the course.

Course objectives

At the end of this course participants will

• understand technical analysis and how it is used in assessing market trends
• be more aware of price drivers in the foreign exchange markets
• be able to make the most of trading opportunities identified by chartists’ theories
• be better disciplined in setting profit and stop loss levels

Participant profile

Participants on this course can be junior and trainee dealers with a desire to know more about technical analysis and the impact chartists’ theories can have on exchange rates and market trends. The course is also beneficial to financial institutions’ economists and research staff. Risk management personnel and those involved in dealing systems development and anyone wishing to increase their understanding of this most important aspect of financial markets trading can also benefit. Participants will develop fundamental skills such as trend appreciation, pattern recognition and have a much greater appreciation of the various forecasting methodologies using charts.

The Course

The Technical Approach to FX trading course features sophisticated technical analysis software with a comprehensive FX database to demonstrate charting techniques.

The aims of the course are to teach the fundamentals of the use of charting in the day to day activities of a financial institution's market involvement away from the day to day pressures of the job. Concepts are discussed and great emphasis is put on “learning by doing”. Through a range of case studies and practical exercises using PC based WINDEAL dealing simulation software, participants are encouraged to identify charting techniques appropriate to their needs and interpret and apply them in their trading.

The Presenter

Steve McGann. See his pen portrait on the About Us/Our Team page.

Download the Adobe .pdf file of course flyer

Practical Dealing course - Foreign Exchange

Do you need your dealers to:

• appreciate market conventions, pricing and dealing techniques ?
• be better placed to take advantage of spot and forward FX trading opportunities ?
• understand market risks, P&L procedures and other necessary management controls ?
• be confident in approaching the ACI Education examinations ?

Lywood David International Limited’s Practical dealing course - Foreign exchange, presented by Phil Parker, is designed to ensure that your people, both bank and corporate treasury personnel, can deliver these objectives.

The emphasis is on the Practical with theoretical sessions on spot and forward foreign exchange dealing reinforced by classroom exercises, case studies and hands on experience of the markets through WINDEAL for Spot FX, a PC based dealing simulation developed by Tradewind Design in association with our sister company Multimedia TradeWind Limited.

Participants are given an opportunity to experience market situations confronting dealers and react accordingly. Even if not actually dealing themselves, this knowledge will enable them to perform their day-to-day duties with more confidence and to greater effect.

Participant profile

Participants on this course can be trainee dealers, dealing support staff, systems development personnel, corporate treasury executives and candidates for the ACI Diploma examinations - anyone with a desire to increase their knowledge and understanding of the spot and forward foreign exchange market.

Each will develop fundamental dealing skills such as risk evaluation, product pricing and position management - skills so often taken for granted - or seemingly not required in today's hi-tech dealing environment. The reduction in profitable market opportunities since the absorption of twelve European currencies into the Euro makes it even more important that these skills become instinctive. Don’t let your personnel miss this or other of the company’s Treasury skills programme training opportunities.

The Presenter

Phil Parker. See his pen portrait on the About Us/Our Team page.

Download the Adobe .pdf file of course flyer

ACI Education programme

ACI ACADEMY

The Lywood David International Limited ACI Clinic is a unique approach to training towards ACI Education qualifications. With minimum pass marks per topic now required in all ACI Education examinations, candidates for these industry standard qualifications now need a much broader understanding of Treasury and Capital markets issues than before. Years of experience in one particular dealing discipline must now be matched with a similar grasp of the wider range of products and dealing techniques covered in the full ACI syllabuses. See www.aciforex.com for full syllabus details.

Participant profile

The ACI ACADEMY, with all sessions delivered in English, is targeted specifically at candidates for ACI Education (English language) examinations. All level 1 and 2 syllabus topics are covered sequentially in seperate formal courses.

Participants on the company's previous ACI Education training programmes have found the experience invaluable in their preparations for the ACI qualifications. Attendance on the ACI ACADEMY is an opportunity not to be missed and, with their own complimentary copy of WinFOREX 'Lite', participants can continue their personal revision after the event.

The Presenters

Phil Parker, Muj King and Steve McGann. See their pen portraits on the About Us/Our Team page.

Course objectives

At the end of the course particiapnts will…

• have a sound working knowledge of Foreign exchange, Money and Capital markets and their associated Derivatives pricing, hedging and trading techniques
• be able to approach the electronically delivered ACI Education examinations with confidence and ensure high marks in these industry standard qualifications
• be more aware of the Model Code and market best practices as promoted by ACI - the Financial markets Association

The ACI ACADEMY

The formal training sessions making up the ACI ACADEMY are designed as training and revision modules to complement the individual candidate’s own examination preparations. (ACI recommend 40 hours study time for the Operations Certificate, 50 hours for the Dealing Certificate and 120 hours for the Diploma). With a large amount of overlap in the ACI Dealing Certificate and ACI Diploma syllabuses, the first three days of the formal courses cover topics common to both examinations with the final two days dedicated to specific ACI Dealing Certificate / ACI Diploma topics and/or level 1 Mock examinations. The ACI Operations Certificate course tracks the ACI level 1 syllabus and is separately presented over three days in the ACI ACADEMY.

The format of all ACI ACADEMY sessions is a mix of presentations and practical exercises including intensive use of WinFOREX - the unique PC based study aid for ACI Education qualifications giving participants vital first hand experience of the skills required to approach the electronic delivery exams with confidence. A complimentary copy of the appropriate Module of WinFOREX 'Lite' software is included in the full course participation fees. This can be upgraded to the full WinFOREX product at a special discount. Comprehensive training notes and hard copy workpapers/revision material are provided to all participants and a Mock (trial) exam features at the end of the level 1 formal courses to provide each with a fair assessment of his/her personal preparedness for the examination proper.

The 3 day Settlements Certificate, 4½ day Dealing Certificate and 5 full day Diploma course formats have been proven to work with a near 100% pass rate (including many Distinctions and Passes with merit) being achieved by candidates from many different cultural and language backgrounds following attendance on previous similar training events.

The formal training has also been presented on a FIXED PRICE basis on behalf of a number of ACI / Forex Associations in their local centres including ACI Sweden, ACI Ireland, ACI Croatia, ACI Slovakia, Forex Polski, ACI Israel, NFEA Moscow, FMA Kuwait, Qatar Forex and Forex Tunisie, with similar courses presented on an open basis in Prague, Dubai and Doha. The company has also worked with financial institutions in London and overseas centres delivering training courses for all ACI level 1 and level 2 syllabuses. Please see the Services for ACI / Forex Associations page elsewhere on this website.

Download a flyer for ACI Dealing Certificate course

Download a flyer for ACI Operations Certificate course

Download a flyer for ACI Diploma course