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FX Initiative Blog

Actionable insights on foreign exchange risk management from FX Initiative.

Preparing FX Risk Policies

Preparing FX Risk Policies (Video): Explore how global firms such as Apple formally plan clear parameters and guidelines for managing foreign currency risk. This video is a preview of FX Initiative’s FX Risk Management course as part of Learning Objective #2.

 

To learn more, start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.

 

Fortifying the FX Global Code


Fortifying the FX Global Code: The FX Global Code explains the set of global principles of good practice in the foreign exchange (FX) market, and was introduced by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Markets Committee in May 2017. To date, over 500 market participants have signed Statements of Commitment to the FX Global Code.

The FX Global Code aligns with the foreign exchange (FX) risk management best practices FX Initiative teaches to FX market participants, including FX sales teams and treasury professionals. The goal of the FX Global Code is to promote fairness in FX trading, and FX Initiative encourages our audience to learn about and benefit from the code in 2023.

 

Ready to learn more about FX risk management best practices? Start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.

FX Global Code Compliance


Complying with the FX Global Code: The FX Global Code explains the set of global principles of good practice in the foreign exchange (FX) market, and was introduced by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Markets Committee in May 2017. To date, over 500 market participants have signed Statements of Commitment to the FX Global Code.

The FX Global Code aligns with the foreign exchange (FX) risk management best practices FX Initiative teaches to FX market participants, including FX sales teams and treasury professionals. The goal of the FX Global Code is to promote fairness in FX trading, and FX Initiative encourages our audience to learn about and benefit from the code.

 

Ready to learn more about FX risk management best practices? Start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.

Fortifying the FX Global Code


Fortifying the FX Global Code: The FX Global Code explains the set of global principles of good practice in the foreign exchange (FX) market, and was introduced by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Markets Committee in May 2017. To date, over 500 market participants have signed Statements of Commitment to the FX Global Code.

The FX Global Code aligns with the foreign exchange (FX) risk management best practices FX Initiative teaches to FX market participants, including FX sales teams and treasury professionals. The goal of the FX Global Code is to promote fairness in FX trading, and FX Initiative encourages our audience to learn about and benefit from the code in 2021.

 

Ready to learn more about FX risk management best practices? Start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.

Teaching Treasury Management Topics

To keep learning alive and accessible to all during the COVID-19 pandemic, WindyCityWebinars.org is an innovative student led and sponsor driven project in development with DePaul University and the Chicago business community.

As we plan our summer learning series, we are working with speakers and sponsors to create a training agenda focused on treasury management best practices. To participate, we are now accepting presentations on the following topics:

  • Banking & Relationship ​Management: Corporate banking challenges & opportunities.
  • Fraud & Compliance: Compliance, internal controls, regulatory requirements, etc.
  • Investments & Liquidity Management: Portfolio returns, investment goals, budgeting, funding.
  • Treasury Management Essentials: Treasury trends, best practices, and integration options.
  • Banker Topics: ​Banker and financial service provider best practices.
  • Insurance Solutions​: Business risk and insurance strategies for success.
  • Professional ​Development: Career planning and skills to enhance your marketability.
  • Treasury ​Technology: FinTech, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, etc.
  • Corporate Finance: Financial planning & analysis, and capital structure.
  • International Treasury Management: Global payments, cash management, and trade.
  • Risk Management: Foreign currency & interest rate risk management.
  • Working Capital Management: Working capital efficiency and maximization tactics.

For credentialed professionals, learning sessions may be eligible for continuing professional education (CPE) credit. CPE credit is issued by FX Initiative, a member of the NASBA National Registry of CPE Sponsors, in fields of study including: 

  • Accounting
  • Auditing
  • Behavioral Ethics
  • Business Management & Organization
  • Business Law
  • Communications & Marketing
  • Computer Software & Applications
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Information Technology
  • Management Services
  • Personal Development
  • Personnel/Human Resources
  • Production
  • Regulatory Ethics
  • Specialized Knowledge
  • Statistics
  • Taxes

To share your treasury management thought leadership with our audience of students and professionals, we invite you to submit an outline of your presentation, proposed topic, or educational idea to our team at info@windycitywebinars.org.

We welcome business leaders and corporate sponsors to contact us about contributing the success of this student led learning initiative. To get involved in our project or learn more about how to help, please email support@fxinitiative.com.

 

February 2020 Newsletter

Explore our February newsletter and discover the latest blog posts and insights from FX Initiative on currency risk management. We help finance, accounting, treasury, and sales professionals stay up to date with new training content, CPE webinars, and helpful tips & resources.

Scale the learning curve quickly and easily with our foreign exchange risk management training, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples and events at FXCPE.com. Start Training >

 

Complying with the FX Global Code


Complying with the FX Global Code: The FX Global Code explains the set of global principles of good practice in the foreign exchange (FX) market, and was introduced by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Markets Committee in May 2017. To date, over 500 market participants have signed Statements of Commitment to the FX Global Code.

The FX Global Code aligns with the foreign exchange (FX) risk management best practices FX Initiative teaches to FX market participants, including FX sales teams and treasury professionals. The goal of the FX Global Code is to promote fairness in FX trading, and FX Initiative encourages our audience to learn about and benefit from the code in 2020.

 

Ready to learn more about FX risk management best practices? Start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.

How to Implement Internal Controls for FX Risk Management

Internal control (IC) involves everything that controls risks to an organization. IC relates to operational effectiveness and efficiency, reliable financial reporting, and compliance with laws, regulations and policies. When it comes to hedging foreign exchange risk and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), management should be able to understand, assess, and conclude on the adequacy of internal controls over financial reporting as it relates to currency risk management.

In general, a minimum of three personnel are required for sufficient internal controls since the trading, accounting, and confirmation duties should be segregated. For example, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) could be responsible for confirmation and authorization, the controller could be responsible for accounting and record keeping, the treasurer could be responsible for trading and custody. Furthermore, the Board of Directors could be responsible for oversight and approval, and in the event that an exception to the Policy is warranted, the CFO could be responsible for approving any exceptions.

While specific internal controls will need to be tailored to the specific needs of an organization, some key questions that should be addressed include:

  1. Who has the authority to execute trades?
  2. How will trades be executed and what process should be followed?
  3. How and when are trades confirmed and compared?
  4. Are the trading, accounting, and confirmation duties segregated sufficiently?
  5. Who has the authority to authorize policy exceptions, and trade ticket or accounting discrepancies?

It is critical to include internal controls as an essential component of an effective Foreign Exchange Risk Management Policy because it outlines in detail the specific processes to be followed. The Internal Controls section of a Policy should address the key questions above by stating internal controls have been set forth to segregate the trading, accounting, and confirmation processes. Continuing the example using the CFO, controller, and treasurer, internal controls could apply to the following FX Risk Management related tasks:

  • The Treasurer will be responsible for recommending hedging strategies, and the Controller and Chief Financial Officer will be responsible for approving the proposed strategies prior to trade execution.
  • The Treasurer will be responsible for selecting counterparty foreign exchange service providers in accordance with 'Counterparty Guidelines', and the Controller is responsible for approving the selected counterparty prior to trade execution.
  • The Treasurer is responsible for executing approved hedging strategies and subsequently recording the transaction in the appropriate general ledger account within 24 hours. The Controller is responsible for confirming that the financial reporting surrounding trade execution matches the trade confirmation received by the counterparty service provider within 72 hours. If a trade confirmation is not received within 72 hours, the Controller is responsible for obtaining the confirmation directly from the counterparty service provider, mediating any disputes between the Treasurer and the counterparty service provider, and alerting the Chief Financial Officer of any pertinent issues.
  • The Treasurer will prepare a cash reconciliation at each month end related to all underlying positions and derivative transactions, both inflows and outflows, that occurred throughout the period. The Controller will cross check the cash reconciliation with all trade confirmations to ensure cash balances reflected on the accounting records match the economics of the underlying positions and derivative transactions settled throughout the period.

These are just some of the many ways organizations engaged in foreign exchange risk management should be considering internal controls as part of their currency hedging program and formal Policy. Keep in mind that policies and procedures are never perfect, and should be viewed as a process that is responsive to change and capable of continuous enhancement. By starting sooner rather than later, practice, experience, and results will contribute better information to the internal control process allowing for changes to be made to the foreign exchange risk management program in the future.

If you are interested in learning how internal controls are integrated into a foreign exchange risk management policy, FX Initiative's currency risk management training has a course on FX Risk Management that walks you through a real-world scenario using the Foreign Exchange Risk Policy Drafter to illustrate step-by-step the process of segregation of duties and how it relates to personnel and reporting. World class organizations know that proactive prevention is the best approach to long-term compliance and sustainability, so take the FX Initiative and improve your internal control process by subscribing today!

Ready to learn about Internal Control and FX Risk Management? Click here to get started >

Cheers,

The FX Initiative Team
support@fxinitiative.com