Back Office

Back office

Brokerage house clerical operations that support, but do not include, the trading of stocks and other securities. All written confirmation and settlement of trades, record keeping, and regulatory compliance happen in the back office.

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back office

The physical location within a business where records are kept and processed. In the case of a brokerage firm, the back office includes the section where individual account records are kept, checks are processed, and security certificates are sent. Also called operations department.

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Back Office

The various administrative and support offices of a company, especially a financial services company. The back office departments handle internal accounting, compliance with government regulations, legal matters, settlements, and clearing services. While they do not generally deal with clients, they are necessary for the smooth function of the office. See also: Front office, Middle office.