Risk management essentials for banks

The risk management sector has been undergoing an unprecedented evolution as the result of the financial crisis that started in 2008. In particular, financial institutions and regulators alike have become more and more demanding as to what they expect from the risk management function in general and the risk manager in particular. The demands are becoming so important that it has become very hard to combine this role with another function within a bank or an investment firm.

The above has been made even more visible and acute since the advent of the Eurozone’s Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), also known as ‘Banking Union’, where the regulatory and supervisory expectations are particularly high. The SSM may be more visible for so-called ‘significant banks’ but is also applicable to all Luxembourg-based banks regardless of their size.

In this context, PwC’s Academy has thought that it would be useful to summarise in this course the different subjects and regulations applicable today. The key aspects are the likely revision to the expectations in terms in Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) and the introduction of the Internal Liquidity Adequacy Assessment Process (ILAAP).

By the end of this training, the participants will be able to:

• describe the concepts underpinning banking union (SSM, SRM, BRRD, DGSD etc) and how these connect with the Supervisory Review & Evaluation Process (SREP);
• have a good understanding of the supervisors’ expectation in terms of structure and content of both ICAAP and ILAAP;
• identify the issues impacting the firm’s business and be in a position to take appropriate actions.

The training programme has been divided in 4 separate topics:

Essentials of banking union

• Brief overview of the various building blocks of banking union and how these impact banks

Focus on the Supervisory Review & Evaluation Process (SREP)

• The SREP is a highly formalised and regulated process that imposes how supervisors should assess banks in terms of business models, risk control framework, internal governance, capital, liquidity and funding
• This section will elaborate on what exactly is assessed and how banks can best prepare for the exercise

Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP)

• Essentials of Pillar 2 as per CRD IV/CRR
• Reminder of key features of Circular CSSF 07/301 on ICAAP
• Deep dive on how such features are impacted by the SSM’s expectations and how these will lead to a likely revision of ICAAP expectations

Internal Liquidity Adequacy Assessment Process (ILAAP)

• Brief reminder of the ILAAP’s ancestor: circular CSSF 09/403
• Focus on key ILAAP features: structure, contents, guidance based on SREP expectations
• Lessons learned from The Netherlands where an ILAAP has been required from banks for a number of years

This training will be coordinated by Jean-Philippe Maes, Partner at PwC Luxembourg.

Jean-Philippe is a partner in PwC's Regulatory Compliance services. He leads the firm’s banking and PFS risk Advisory team and is the lead advisor for CRD IV/CRR topics.

He has over 15 years of experience in Basel III areas and has helped many banks, investment firms and management companies to implement Basel III and to prepare for Basel IV. He has worked in most dimensions of risk management, from operational risk to internal models, encompassing reporting aspects (such as COREP/FINREP) and governance matters.

Lately, Jean-Philippe has been focusing on risk appetite frameworks and the management of non-financial risks such as climate, conduct or reputational risks.