Key information
Decision type: Assistant Director
Reference code: ADD2404
Date signed:
Decision by: David Gallie, Executive Director of Resources
Executive summary
This ADD seeks authority to incur expenditure on the services of a treasury management systems consultant to deliver an in-depth review of the existing operational systems and create a system specification for tackling the operational challenges faced by the Group Treasury function.
Once the specification is completed there would be a need to procure the delivery of the system identified.
Decision
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
The Group Treasury Team is responsible for advising on and managing the investments and borrowings of the GLA and its shared service partners. The team also supports the Chief Investment Officer, Assistant Director – Group Finance and Executive Director of Resources in the analysis and appraisal of major capital spending and investment decisions.
Following an internal review in 2018, including an independent report commissioned from Link, the GLA’s treasury advisor, various measures have been taken to resource the treasury function for its increased role and responsibilities. For instance, in order to achieve separation of duties, the Group Treasury team is supported by a Treasury Accountant within Financial Services and an external Custodian, State Street Global Services, who settle, hold, value and report on the GLA’s investments.
The internal audit review also highlighted that the Group Treasury Team currently rely on the use of spreadsheets to support the treasury process. Whilst this approach has been adequate and has supported the treasury function over many years, the inherent risk associated with the use of spreadsheets, together with the growth in the value of the funds under management, supports the need for the consideration of the investment in a treasury management system. This point was also raised in the external review by Link. Previous consideration has been given to using a treasury management system, but it has not been possible to identify an economically viable option.
The GLA has also established a wholly-owned subsidiary, London Treasury Limited (“LTL”) to conduct the investment decision making and advisory aspects of the Group Treasury team’s work within an environment that is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), thereby demonstrating market standards of professionalism, competence and individual accountability. This will also facilitate the expansion of services to London Boroughs who, under the relevant legislation for shared services, cannot delegate investment functions to the GLA itself.
The GLA seeks to appoint a Treasury Management Systems Consultant to provide specialist advice, work with the GLA officers to conduct a review of the current operational systems and create a specification that will define the criteria for tackling the operational challenges faced by the Group Treasury Team. It is anticipated that the cost of the producing a suitable system specification would not exceed £45,000.
An initial review of potential counterparties will identify the most suitable consultant who will ultimately be appointed to provide specialist advice.
The specialist advice will reduce the likelihood of implementing a system that is unsuitable to the needs of the function and ensure the treasury team have a robust operational control framework on which to make decisions. It is envisaged that the consultant will work closely with the group treasury team in establishing a specification for the criteria that reflect the necessary changes that need to be made to meet the business objectives set by management. The consultant may also be used by Housing and Land to assist the development of the loans systems they require. Any additional expenditure in this regard will have to be met from within the overall Housing and Land budget.
The specification for the design of a new Treasury System will facilitate the improvement of operational resilience, data integrity, protection of personal liability for Treasury staff, and other internal controls as recommended by the two treasury reviews.
Under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 as a public authority, the Mayor of London in the exercise of its functions must have ‘due regard’ of the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation as well as to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who have protected characteristic and those who do not.
The Systems Consultant Service is a key element in providing efficient treasury activities which in turn underpins the GLA’s finances and its ability to promote the Mayor’s policies on equality, diversity and social inclusion. There are no direct equality implications arising from this Decision. The appointment of the systems consultant would assist the delivery of pan-London GLA regeneration initiatives, which in turn would help promote the Mayor’s policies on Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, Social Mobility and Social Integration.
None.
Expenditure relating to assessment of the necessary system specification can be met from within the overall Group Treasury budget.
Signed decision document
ADD2404 Treasury Management Systems Specification - SIGNED