Explain post-settlement activities and their importance.
Reconciliation
Definition: The process of comparing the firm's internal records with statements from the custodian, depository, or clearing entity, to confirm that securities and cash positions match exactly.
Why it matters: Any mismatch is caught early and corrected, preventing errors from carrying forward into future trades and reports.
Reporting
Definition: Preparing and submitting records of settled trades to regulators, internal management, and clients, as required.
Why it matters: Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements such as those set by SEBI, and keeps clients and management informed of completed activity.
Accounting Updates
Definition: Reflecting the settled trade in the firm's or client's books — updating cash balances, security holdings, and profit or loss.
Why it matters: Keeps the client's portfolio and account accurate, and ensures financial statements reflect the true position after settlement.
Handling Corporate Actions
Definition: Events initiated by a company that affect the securities held by investors, such as dividends, bonus issues, stock splits, or rights issues.
Post settlement role: Once a client holds a security after settlement, the firm must track and apply any corporate action correctly to the client's holding, such as crediting a dividend or adjusting the quantity after a bonus issue.
Example: If a client holds shares of a company that announces a 1:1 bonus issue, the client's holding must be updated to reflect the additional shares credited.