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Third-party validation is the final step on the Client Protection Pathway. During this step, financial service providers who have been working to address gaps in their client protection practices have a third party evaluate and confirm their state of practice. These evaluations may be conducted by organizations such as rating agencies, or by a team of two individuals.
Cerise+SPTF recommends that the selection of third-parties be undertaken carefully. To assist you with your selection, Cerise+SPTF has developed resources outlining the professional and ethical standards to which we believe external reviewers should be held, along with the qualifications we believe they should possess.
Interested in third-party validation? Check out these helpful resources.
Our core recommendations for selecting third parties that use the industry’s client protection standards and who are aligned with best practices of validation.*
For financial service providers (or the impact investors who fund them) to use when seeking to hire a third party provider to carry out an external validation.
A list of experts who are trained and qualified** in our tools and methodology and can conduct assessments of your client protection and/or SEPM practices.
*Please note that Cerise+SPTF has not investigated or confirmed compliance by the third-parties with the Guidelines and Client Protection framework, nor does it recommend, endorse or make any representations regarding any third-party. The Cerise+SPTF Standards are a public good and may be downloaded here.
Notes on the Resources
* Cerise+SPTF has not investigated or confirmed compliance by the third-parties with the Guidelines and Client Protection framework, nor does it recommend, endorse, or make any representations regarding any third-party. T
** Cerise+SPTF’s intensive, ongoing training courses build expertise and credibility in client protection evaluation. Those who complete the highest level of our training (Step #3 – the qualification process, which consists of personalized coaching on a real client protection assessment) become Qualified Client Protection Auditors and join our SEPM Pros Network.
Provisional status with oversight and training from Cerise+SPTF
Provisional status for 2023 with oversight and training from Cerise+SPTF
Cerise+SPTF grants “Approvals” to organizations who want to conduct client protection certifications. An “approved certification body” is a structured and registered organization which possesses the robust systems to ensure impartial decision-making, the capacity to perform client protection certifications, and whose client protection certification methodology is aligned with the Universal Standards. This ensures the quality and comparability of the results of certifications.
Because they are entrusted with the significant responsibility of judging a financial service provider’s client protection systems, the Certification Bodies themselves are subject to rigorous evaluation and monitoring by Cerise+SPTF’s Approval Committee. As such, they comply with our Terms and Conditions.