T+1 Settlement & Utility Model Transformation
2nd March 2026 ·
Albany Beck supported a leading Financial Market Infrastructure in delivering T+1 settlement readiness while evolving its SSI utility framework beyond legacy ALERT processes. As compressed timelines increased systemic risk, the organisation required structured impact assessment and controlled integration of enhanced utility pathways. Deploying post-trade SMEs, data specialists and senior programme leadership, we strengthened SSI controls, improved non-standard instruction handling and embedded a more resilient, utility-enabled settlement model aligned to T+1 reform.
Challenge
The transition to T+1 compressed post-trade timelines, increasing settlement risk, liquidity pressure and exception volumes, particularly where legacy SSI validation relied on manual processes and traditional ALERT models. The FMI needed to assess how enhanced utility solutions could support non-standard instructions and accelerated affirmation, while maintaining market stability and meeting fixed regulatory deadlines.
Approach
Albany Beck established a structured T+1 transformation workstream combining domain expertise with disciplined programme execution. Post-Trade and Settlement SMEs led detailed mapping of current-state SSI validation, exception handling and affirmation workflows. Business Analysts and Data Specialists assessed control gaps, data ownership and enrichment logic under compressed timelines. A senior Programme Manager and PMO function formalised governance through milestone tracking, risk oversight, cross-stakeholder workshops and executive reporting, ensuring alignment across operations, technology and external utility partners.
Solution
Change was delivered through structured SSI impact assessment, utility integration and phased implementation. We analysed validation breakpoints and manual risk exposure under compressed T+1timelines, identifying control gaps across sourcing, enrichment and exception management. Settlement workflows were redesigned to improve straight-through processing and strengthen non-standard instruction handling, supported by enhanced governance, performance MI and coordinated release management. Technology and operational changes were sequenced through disciplined programme oversight to ensure regulatory readiness and maintain market stability throughout transition.
Outcomes
T+1 readiness was achieved within mandated timelines, with strengthened SSI governance and reduced settlement exception exposure. Non-standard instruction handling improved materially, lowering operational friction across custodians and clearing participants. Settlement resilience was enhanced under compressed cycles, and the FMI established a scalable utility-enabled framework to support ongoing market reform and structural evolution.