Structured Finance Systems features explained
for Investment Banking
Every feature we track for Structured Finance Systems products, with a description of what each one means.
Cash Flow Modeling & Analytics
Tools for modeling, projecting, and analyzing cash flows under various scenarios and assumptions.
- Analytics Metrics Calculation
- Calculation of IRR, WAL, Credit Enhancement, OC/IC ratios, etc.
- Assumption Management
- Supports storage, comparison, and historical tracking of multiple assumption sets.
- High-Speed Cash Flow Engine
- Performance of cash flow calculations for highly complex structures and scenarios.
- Multi-Scenario Execution
- Ability to run and compare results across multiple scenario assumptions (macro, credit, prepayment, default, etc.).
- Output Export Options
- Export results in various formats (Excel, CSV, PDF, XML, etc.).
- Parallel Processing
- Ability to utilize multi-core or distributed computing for faster analytics.
- Prepayment/Default Modelling
- Built-in models or flexible support for prepayment and default curves.
- Stochastic/Monte Carlo Simulation
- Ability to run large numbers of simulation paths for probabilistic analysis.
- Stress Testing
- Formal support for regulatory or internal stress test scenarios.
- Waterfall Transparency
- Clear visualization and breakdown of cash flow allocations and triggers.
Collateral Management
Support for managing asset pool characteristics, roll forwards, performance tracking, and substitution.
- Automated Data Import
- Seamless ingestion of collateral data from multiple sources/formats (loan tapes, XML, etc.).
- Collateral Substitution
- Supports asset replacements, eligibility checks, and exclusion criteria.
- Concentration Limit Monitoring
- Monitoring for regulatory or deal-specific exposure limits in collateral pools.
- Data Audit Trails
- Immutable, timestamped logs of changes to collateral data.
- Data Validation & Cleansing
- Pre-built rules for checking data quality and flagging anomalies.
- Historical Collateral Archiving
- Ability to preserve and retrieve prior versions of the pool.
- Integration with Master Servicer
- Enables secure/integrated feed with third-party or internal servicer systems.
- Loan-Level Tracking
- Tracks individual assets throughout their lifecycle.
- Pool Stratification Reporting
- Ability to generate reports by asset stratification (by FICO, LTV, sector, etc.).
- Real-Time Collateral Updates
- How quickly the system can refresh for new/updated collateral data.
Core Deal Structuring & Management
Features enabling definition, structuring, modeling, and administration of structured finance products, including asset-backed securities, CDOs, CLOs, and similar instruments.
- Automated Deal Maintenance
- Automated annual or periodic updates to deal documents and triggers.
- Collateral Pool Setup
- Support for defining and maintaining pools of assets (e.g., loans, mortgages, receivables).
- Concurrent Deal Support
- Number of deals the system can model and maintain simultaneously.
- Deal Replication/Cloning
- Ability to replicate existing deals with changes for new issuance.
- Dynamic Waterfall Configuration
- Allows customization of cash flow waterfalls with triggers, step-downs, OC/IC tests, and priorities.
- Flexible Deal Structure Modeling
- Ability to create and customize detailed deal structures, including waterfall logic and multiple tranches.
- Limitless Tranche Creation
- Capacity to define a large number of tranches per deal.
- Multiple Asset Class Support
- Capability to handle diverse collateral types (RMBS, CMBS, ABS, etc.).
- Securitization Event Tracking
- Tracks key events and milestones over the lifecycle of a securitization.
- Version Control for Structures
- Track and manage versions of deal setups for audit and compliance.
Integration & Interoperability
System’s ability to securely integrate with bank, regulatory, market data, and third-party platforms.
- Batch Import/Export
- Bulk data upload/download capability for integration with upstream/downstream systems.
- Configurable Data Mapping
- Ability to map and transform incoming or outgoing data structures.
- Custom Integration Toolkit
- Tools and documentation for custom connectors and middleware.
- Event Notification Webhooks
- Real-time push notifications to external systems.
- Legacy System Interfaces
- Adaptors/connectors for legacy banking and risk systems.
- Maximum Simultaneous Integrations
- How many simultaneous integration jobs the system can support.
- Open API Access
- Availability of RESTful or SOAP APIs for external integrations.
- Real-Time Data Feeds
- Support for connecting real-time asset or market data streams (Bloomberg, Reuters, etc.).
- SFTP/FTP Connectivity
- Secure file transfer support for data exchange.
- Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Integrated user authentication with enterprise directories (LDAP, Azure, etc.).
Lifecycle Automation & Workflow
Automated and semi-automated workflows for deal setup, approvals, servicing, and reporting.
- Approval Hierarchies
- Configurable multi-level approval chains for critical actions.
- Automated Notification Triggers
- Automatic notifications for workflow status changes.
- Bulk Upload & Bulk Actions
- Ability to process large sets of records in a single action or file.
- Calendar & Milestone Reminders
- Automatic reminders for key dates/events (e.g., payment dates, investor reporting).
- Custom Workflow Templates
- Bank- or desk-specific processes can be pre-built as templates.
- Exception Handling Support
- Automated detection and routing of out-of-bounds scenarios.
- Task Assignment & Tracking
- Automated routing and monitoring of tasks to users/teams.
- Workflow Automation Engine
- Configurable process flows for deal origination, approval, and servicing.
- Workflow History/Audit
- Logs of all actions taken as part of workflow.
- Workflow SLA Monitoring
- Time alerts/metrics for meeting internal or regulatory service levels.
Reporting & Document Management
Capabilities for generating, customizing, storing, and distributing structured finance documentation and reports.
- Ad Hoc Query Capability
- Allows users to run custom, SQL-type queries on system data.
- Audit-Ready Documentation
- Documentation and reporting built to support external/internal audits.
- Automated Distribution
- Ability for scheduled, secure electronic delivery to stakeholders.
- Automated Watermarking/Branding
- Watermarking and branding for investor and internal reports.
- Bulk Report Generation Speed
- Capacity for generating multiple large reports in parallel.
- Custom Report Builder
- Flexible tools to design and modify analytic, compliance, and investor reports.
- Document Access Controls
- Granular user permissions and encryption for sensitive documents.
- Historical Document Archiving
- Stores versions of investor reports and offering documents for compliance.
- Multi-Format Output
- Supports output in PDF, HTML, DOC, Excel, and XBRL formats.
- Templated Regulatory Reports
- Pre-packaged templates for regulatory submissions (e.g., SEC ABS-EE, ESMA).
Risk Management & Regulatory Compliance
Features that help monitor regulatory compliance and manage portfolio/deal risk exposures.
- Compliance Rule Engine
- Defines, monitors, and enforces internal/external risk, compliance, and eligibility rules.
- ESG Metrics Support
- Capture/report on Environmental, Social, Governance investment criteria.
- Exposure Analytics
- Calculates exposure concentrations, country limits, and counterparty exposure.
- Full Audit Trails
- Comprehensive audit logs for every system interaction and data change.
- KYC/AML Capabilities
- Built-in or connected Know Your Customer / Anti-Money Laundering checks.
- Limitation Breach Alerts
- Automatic alerts for breaches of deal or regulatory limits.
- Regulatory Change Updates
- System updates to automatically reflect major regulatory changes.
- Regulatory Reporting Automation
- Automates the production of required reports (SEC, ESMA, etc.).
- Risk Rating Integration
- Ability to interface with internal or external credit rating models.
- Scenario-Based Risk Analysis
- Ability to run risk analytics under regulatory and custom scenarios.
Security & Data Protection
Ensures data integrity, confidentiality, and security, covering both internal and external threats.
- Audit Logging
- Detailed, tamper-evident logs of system activity.
- Certification & Compliance
- Compliance with major standards (SOC2, ISO 27001, GDPR, etc.).
- Data Masking/Pseudonymization
- Protection for PII during analytics, testing or lower environments.
- Data Retention Policy Configuration
- Customizable rules for retention and deletion of sensitive data.
- Disaster Recovery RPO
- Recovery Point Objective: Age of data that can be lost in a system outage.
- End-to-End Encryption
- Data is encrypted at-rest and in-transit using industry standards.
- Intrusion Detection
- Live monitoring for breaches and suspicious activity.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Requires multiple credentials for user access.
- Regular Penetration Testing
- System is subject to regular third-party or internal security testing.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Granular security based on user roles and responsibilities.
Technical Scalability & Performance
The robustness and efficiency of the system to handle growing volumes and workflows.
- Automated Scaling Rules
- System can auto-scale based on load or time-of-day.
- Disaster Recovery RTO
- Maximum time to restore service after a disaster.
- Elastic Storage
- System can dynamically allocate storage as needed.
- High Availability SLA
- Guaranteed system uptime as a percentage over a year.
- Horizontal Scalability
- Ability to scale across multiple servers/cloud instances.
- Load Balancing Support
- Distributes user and processing load automatically.
- Max Supported Data Volume
- Maximum capacity of transactional and reference data.
- Performance Monitoring Console
- Dashboards for tracking system health, response times, bottlenecks.
- Real-Time Processing Capacity
- Number of real-time calculations or events handled per second.
- Zero-Downtime Updates
- Upgrades or patches can be deployed without taking the system offline.
User Experience & Accessibility
Design, usability, and user support features for both power users and occasional users.
- Accessibility Compliance
- WCAG or ADA compliant for users with disabilities.
- Bookmarking/Favorites
- Users can bookmark frequently used reports/functions.
- Concurrent User Support
- Number of users supported simultaneously without degradation.
- Customizable Dashboards
- Ability for users to tailor dashboards with preferred metrics/views.
- In-App Tutorials/Tooltips
- Guided help, tooltips, and onboarding flows.
- Intuitive Interface
- Modern, consistent, and user-friendly UI.
- Localization/Language Support
- Support for multiple languages/regional settings.
- Mobile Accessibility
- Optimized access for mobile/tablet platforms.
- Session Timeout Controls
- Automatic logout/timeouts for security.
- Theme/Color Scheme Customization
- Customizable UI appearance (dark mode, etc.).