Course Overview

The ACI Dealing Certificate is a foundational programme that enables candidates to develop a solid working knowledge of the structure and mechanics of major foreign exchange and money markets, master the fundamental mathematics applied in these markets, understand core products including cash, forwards and derivatives, and build the basic skills essential for effective participation in treasury operations.

The ACI Dealing Certificate serves as the industry ‘benchmark’ qualification for treasury professionals and for those whose roles require a comprehensive understanding of how the treasury function operates within their organisation. It represents the essential first step on the pathway toward achieving the prestigious ACI Diploma qualification.

This course functions as a comprehensive preparation programme, carefully designed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and practical skills to pursue the certification examination with confidence, should they choose to do so in the future.

Agenda

Day — 1 BASIC INTEREST RATE CALCULATIONS

• FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
  • The principles of the time value of money and its application in financial calculations
  • Day count conventions and day basis methodology used in market calculations
  • Simple interest calculations and their practical application in treasury operations
  • Interest rate conversions and the techniques for adjusting rates across different bases
  • Bond basis and money market basis conventions and how they differ in application
  • Yield curves and their role in understanding market expectations and pricing securities
• CASH MONEY MARKETS
  • Value dates and end-to-end conventions governing settlement and cash flow timing
  • Working with fractions, basis points, and dealing on bid-offer spreads in practical trading scenarios
  • Discount instruments and their characteristics, pricing, and applications in the money market
  • Yield instruments and how they are structured, priced, and traded in cash markets
  • Commercial paper as a short-term funding instrument and its role in corporate financing
  • Repurchase agreements (repos) and their use in managing short-term liquidity and collateral

Day — 2 FOREIGN EXCHANGE

• Value dates and end-to-end conventions that govern settlement timing and cash flow management
• Understanding fractions, basis points, and the mechanics of dealing on bid-offer spreads in market transactions
• Discount instruments and their key characteristics, pricing methodologies, and practical applications
• Yield instruments and how they are structured, priced, and traded within cash market operations
• Commercial paper as a short-term funding tool and its role in supporting corporate liquidity management
• Repurchase agreements (repos) and their function in managing short-term liquidity needs and collateral arrangements

Day — 3 FORWARD-FORWARDS, FRAS AND MONEY MARKET FUTURES & SWAPS

• Calculating forward interest rates and understanding their significance in pricing derivative instruments
• Forward Rate Agreements (FRAs) and how they are used to hedge or lock in future interest rate exposure
• Short-term interest rate futures and their role in managing interest rate risk in treasury operations
• Interest rate swaps and how they enable organisations to exchange interest rate obligations and manage exposure

Day — 4 OPTIONS & PRINCIPLES OF ASSET & LIABILITY MANAGEMENT

• OPTIONS
  • Call and put options and the different option styles available in financial markets
  • Intrinsic and time value concepts and how they combine to determine option pricing
  • Straddles, strangles, and synthetic long and short asset strategies using options for risk management
  • Option Greeks and their use in measuring and managing option price sensitivity and risk exposure
• PRINCIPLES OF ASSET & LIABILITY MANAGEMENT
  • The meaning and core concepts of Asset & Liability Management (ALM) within treasury operations
  • Risk factors present on both the asset and liability sides of the balance sheet and their interconnections
  • Gap management techniques for addressing interest rate and duration mismatches in the balance sheet
  • Asset and liability management techniques used to optimise the balance sheet structure and manage risk
  • The interaction between bank capital, leverage, and both economic and regulatory capital requirements
  • Formulating Liquidity Stress Test Scenarios and their application in ALM strategy and decision-making

Day — 5 PRINCIPLES OF RISK & THE NEW MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT

• PRINCIPLES OF RISK
  • Market, credit, and operational risk and the distinct characteristics and impacts of each within treasury operations
  • Risk mitigation strategies using limits and Value at Risk (VaR) methods to control and monitor exposure
  • Netting arrangements, documentation standards, and capital adequacy requirements that support sound risk management
  • Continuous Linked Settlement (CLS) and Straight-Through Processing (STP) as operational risk mitigation tools
• THE NEW MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT
  • The code of conduct and practice standards governing over-the-counter (OTC) market transactions and relationships

Post-Course

• Three (3) x hour-long Executive Coaching sessions at monthly intervals following Course Completion

Target Audience

• Senior Executives and C-level Leaders
• HR Directors and Organisational Development Managers
• Leadership Coaches and Mentors
• Change Management Specialists
• Managers and Department Heads
• Business Unit Leaders
• Talent Development and Leadership Development Professionals
• Employee Engagement and Culture Managers
• Strategic Planners and Decision Makers
• HR Business Partners
• Team Leaders and Supervisors involved in change initiatives
• Organisational Psychologists and Behavioural Experts
• Business Advisors

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to implement a successful strategy that enables you to:

• Identify and understand key characteristics of great leadership.
• Develop behaviours and habits that build credibility and influence.
• Analyse and evaluate leadership styles using real-world benchmarks.
• Recognise core traits that enable effective leadership in complex environments.
• Cultivate and apply growth-oriented mindsets.
• Adapt leadership behaviours through cognitive flexibility.
• Implement strategies to maintain leadership stability.
• Recognise and manage personal leadership triggers.
• Use techniques to sustain focus and clarity under pressure.
• Strengthen key dimensions of executive presence: credibility, clarity, and composure.
• Ensure alignment between self-perception and external signals of leadership.
• Utilise verbal and non-verbal techniques to enhance leadership impact.