 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Course Overview
The ICMA Executive Education’s OCP Certificate is a second-level (intermediate) qualification that places strong emphasis on developing practical skills based on a thorough understanding of the main operational processes for cash markets securities (equities, bonds and equity-linked).
The training programme aims to develop the candidate’s ability to follow the lifecycle of a securities transaction from clearing and settlement through to asset servicing. Candidates who gain this qualification are therefore recognised to have achieved a level of professional competency that ensures they can quickly adapt and add value to the business of any financial institution.
As a second-level qualification, the OCP Certificate syllabus requires that the candidate should already have some familiarity with the below listed topics (note that Background Reading is provided on the below topics for those who wish some reading on any of the topics):
• Fundamental Numerical Skills
• Basic Accounting Concepts
• Forms and Types of Securities
• The Securities Marketplace
• Definitions and feature of the main types of Corporate Action
Regulatory and operational risk issues will form an integral part of the course.
In March 2008, the Operations Certificate Programme (OCP) became the first “Recommended Exam” to be added to the UK’s Financial Services Skills Council’s (FSSC) Wholesale Banking / Operations list. The OCP has also met the FSSC’s Key 6 “Appropriate Exam” standards for Activity 16 - Overseeing on a day-to-day basis safeguarding and administrating investment (or holding of client money) and Activity 17 - Overseeing on a day-to-day basis administrative functions for managing investments.
This is the second of ICMA’s Executive Education programmes to have met FSSC exam standards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The OCP covered a lot of areas I work in, so it has certainly helped me directly in my job. It is pitched at the right level providing a good overview of the sector and yet at the same time getting down to the important detail. Tutors were easy to follow and were happy to answer questions on their own or in class. I have already recommended it to my colleagues!"
Diane Wood, Capital Markets Settlements, HSBC
"The programme has helped my career progress. I was in need of developing my Capital Market skills, especially REPO, securities settlements, clearing and custody. The debate I had with attendees from different areas of the world made me understand the business in depth. The training programme is one of the best I have attended in my career. Words can't describe the knowledge I have gained. I really thank ICMA for conducting such event."
Ahmed Al Refaei, Wholesale Operation Center, National Bank of Abu Dhabi
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Target Audience
The OCP Certificate is intended primarily for two types of candidate; firstly, operations practitioners within their first two years in the industry and, secondly, the more senior staff and managers who would benefit from a broader knowledge of the operational functions of the securities industry.
Candidates will come from organisations involved in both the sell-side and buy-side of the industry plus Central Securities Depositories, International Central Securities Depositories, Global Custodians, Stock Exchanges and Regulators.
The training course is open to ICMA members and non-members.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Course Content and Format
The course delivery is in lecture style by one or more members of the training faculty and is interspersed with a settlements simulation model and group exercises. Time is set aside for course review and examination revision.
The training sessions are listed below:
1. Overview of the Financial Markets
2. The Main Financial Securities
3. The Role of the Front-Office
4. The Role of the Middle-Office
5. Reference/Static Data Management
6. The Trade Life Cycle - Pre-Settlement
7. The Trade Life Cycle - Settlement & Fails Management
8. Case Study/Summary: Settlements
9. The Role of the Custodian (CSD, ICSD & Global Custodian)
10. Safe Custody
11. Settlements Simulation Exercise (part i)
12. Settlements Simulation Exercise (part ii)
13. Corporate Actions (part i)
14. Corporate Actions (part ii)
15. Securities Lending & Borrowing
16. Case Study/Summary: Custody & Corporate Actions
17. Cash Funding
18. Reconciliation (Securities & Cash)
Case studies from industry participants will be included.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Programme Director and Speakers
The OCP is a professionally-taught programme using trainers with both practitioner experience and training expertise both gained over many years in the securities industry. The members of the faculty are:
1. Keith Dickinson
Keith is Programme Director for the Operations Certificate Programme (OCP). His career spans a 35 year period formerly in operations management, both on the banking as well as the fund management side, and latterly the training business. His training covers a wide variety of operational topics and delivered courses internationally. Keith is the author of three books and one of the early holders of the AIBD Certificate (now the OCP Certificate).
2. John D. Evans CFA
John is a full-time member of the academic staff of the ICMA Centre, University of Reading and is also the Programme Director for the centre's MSc Investment Management. He is Programme Director for the ICMA IFID and Foundation Course certificate programmes. Prior to academia, John spent twenty years in the fixed income market on Toronto, New York and London in areas of research, origination and sales and trading.
3. Mike Simmons
Mike is an independent training consultant and has been involved with the capital markets and operations throughout his career, focusing originally upon securities settlement and more recently on the broader aspects of operations (e.g. derivatives, trade finance, payments, corporate finance and corporate lending). Mike is also the author of two books on the subject published by Wiley Finance, including the book Securities Operations: A Guide to Trade and Position Management, published in 2002, which all candidates are provided with a copy of.
4. Neil Schofield
Neil Schofield is a Visiting Fellow at the ICMA Centre and specialises in interest rate markets though also teaches all of the major asset classes and their respective derivative products from foreign exchange through to commodities. He lectures on both the MSc degrees at the Centre and also with ICMA Executive Education.
Neil holds a BSc in Economics from Loughborough University and an MBA from Manchester Business School. He was elected as a Fellow of the IFS School of Finance (formerly the Chartered Institute of Bankers) in 1999.Neil is author of the book ‘Commodity Derivatives’ published by Wiley in November 2007. He is currently writing a second book “Relative Value in Financial Markets” to be published in 2010. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Details of the next seminar
(only one OCP per annum)
Montreux, Switzerland - have a look at the city.
(direct train from Geneva Airport, duration approx. 70 mins)
March 29 to 4 April, 2009
Registration deadline: March 13, 2009
Costs:
Included in the course fee is accommodation in a private room at the Fairmont Montreux Palace Hotel from Sunday, March 29 with check-out on Saturday, April 4. Also included is all meals, coffee breaks and materials and supplies. There is a welcome reception on Sunday the 29th starting just before dinner.
£3,000.00 for Members and £3,900.00 for Non-Members
2 to 4 candidates - 5% discount each*
5+ candidates - 10% discount each*
*Please note that discounts are applied by way of a refund to the organisation when registration has closed and the final number of candidates from the firm has been determined.
Please use our online registration to register for this training seminar.
Should you have any queries about the seminar please contact:
Keith Dickinson
Programme Director, Operations Certificate Programme
k.dickinson@icmacentre.ac.uk
+44 (0)1535 631 459
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OCP certificate holders
The names of the successful candidates from previous examinations are included in our list of Certificate holders.
|
|
|
|
|