Role of Credit Rating Agencies in Securitization

The credit rating agencies play a major role in the securitization process is to help investors to make informed decisions regarding investment in the underlying securities.   As guardians of the public through their research, analysis, and grading of various risks, rating agencies are expected to protect investors against taking excessive credit risk. The ratings allow institutions such as insurance companies and pension funds, who are prohibited to invest in securities rated below investment grade by their respective regulators, to actively participate in the securitized market as investors. Investment grade rating conveys information to the investors that the underlying instrument will pay coupon interest and principal according to the terms of the indenture. Rating agencies play a pivotal role in the securitization process as the ultimate appraiser of the underlying pool of collateral. In their process of appraising and evaluating the likelihood of default by subjecting the cash flows of Continue reading

Financial Manager – Roles and Responsibilities

Ever since the 1900s and even after the Great Depression in the 1930s, the primary role of a finance people was only a descriptive discipline on bookkeeping which means accurately recording all transactions related to the payment of suppliers, billing of customers, and handling of cash passing through the accounts department and issuing periodic financial statements. Until the late 1960s increased competition in industries forced financial managers to shift their focus towards evaluating investment opportunities and making decisions on the choice of assets and liabilities necessary to maximize the company’s value. The 1970s and 80s were a period of increased international competition, CEOs became concerned with operational efficiency to cope with the fast-growing market, this included the accounting functions which were streamlined and required to reach out to become a profit center for the whole organization. This transitional shift was gradual and finance manager’s roles are no longer stuck solely Continue reading