CASS Oversight Technical Specialist Review

I am a CASS Oversight Technical Specialist for a Stockbroking company, responsible for providing CASS technical expertise to the wider business, and perform a number of CASS BAU tasks such as diversification of client money, due diligence, and the daily client money calculation. I also complete regular CASS control test plans, maintain the firm's FRC CASS Control framework, complete the monthly CMAR, and am a point of contact for internal and external CASS audits. My job requires me to liaise with a number of internal and external stakeholders as part of the ongoing CASS monitoring by our three lines of defence. I also maintain effective professional relationships with third party banks and custodians with whom the firm hold client money and assets for safekeeping.

Since joining the team I have become CIMA Cert BA qualified and am now studying to complete my IOC level 3 qualification. I have developed my CASS knowledge and am now considered to be a CASS SME by key colleagues within the business. I have developed my presentation skills through participation in a 2-day business course on "delivering business presentations" and was able to put these skills to great use by preparing and presenting five CASS-themed presentations to my Managing Director to prepare him for future interviews designed to prepare the business for an impending FCA visit. I meet regularly with senior managers (Head of CASS, and CF10a) to obtain approval and sign-off for due diligence and the monthly CMAR; this has helped develop my interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.

The programme is great for developing my skills whilst allowing me to complete the necessary business qualification required under MiFID II to continue to work in my current role. Participation in the programme brings the added benefit of access to Kaplan college training days for each module of the qualification; these are incredibly useful in solidifying the course material and putting myself in the best possible position to pass the exam.

I feel very valued by Lloyds Banking Group. I regularly receive positive feedback from my managers (including senior managers who are very encouraging to ensure I reach my full potential and progress as far as possible within the business.) LBG has a fantastic rewards package which rewards colleagues for their hard work. On top of this, our team and business areas have local reward schemes set up which ensure all colleagues are recognised for their hard work and effort.

The programme was initially structured very will with clear expectations and regular communications from the internal business colleague running the administration side of the programme. This has slipped somewhat following that colleague's departure from the firm to a new business area, and there has been something of a decline in the administration of the scheme locally during this transition as the replacement colleague is brought up to speed. Things are starting to turn a corner now though and we should be in good standing to successfully complete the programme before the year end deadline.

The tutor is very supportive, running two-day revision sessions for the exam modules, and being on hand by telephone and email to answer any queries we may have about the course.

My employer is incredibly supportive, providing paid personal development days to attend college revision sessions, take personal revision days, and sit the exam. My employer also arranged for a colleague to run a training session to highlight the benefits of CISI membership so that all colleagues currently enrolled on the course could take full advantage of the benefits of student-hood for the duration of the apprenticeship scheme.

My current salary was sufficient to meet my costs when house sharing with a friend, however the total reward package is at the lower end of the scale when looking at comparable CASS roles in the market. Now that I am living on my own, my current salary and reward package is just barely sufficient to cover my overall costs when factoring in the increased costs of living one incurs when living alone.

Yes, there are plenty of networking events put on by both my employer and by CISI for me to meet other members of the industry. My employer also actively encourages giving back to the community, and provides each colleague one paid day a year to partake in a "day to make a difference", allowing colleagues to give back by volunteering in any number of ways.

Yes

The Group is a great place to work, with agile working actively encouraged, and plenty of opportunities for progression. Whilst not being the most competitive of reward packages at lower employment grades, the business does have some unique perks which are not commonly found elsewhere, and also boasts a very generous colleague pension scheme. Lloyds Banking Group has a vision to be the best bank for customers, and works hard to embed the right values and behaviours in its staff to meet this vision. The bank has consistently been recognised as one of the best UK employers for inclusion and diversity, being a top 5 firm within the Stonewall 100 list for the last few years running (and the highest rated private company on the list).

The Group focusses heavily on Values and Behaviours and the application and interview process will lean heavily on this aspect, therefore make sure you prepare answers which demonstrate commitment to these values. The Group is keen to offer agile working, so don't be afraid to ask about how you maximise your work-life balance.