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BANKERS TUTORIAL · DBF · EXAM-PLANNING GUIDE

Study plan: Maker-checker control and segregation

Explain why preparing and authorising a transaction should involve distinct responsibilities, and test whether a second approval is independent, informed and supported by sensible access permissions.

01 / 03Learn with a clear direction

2 min read Original learning material · Prepared 14 Oct 2026

This is an original preparation plan, not a new examination announcement. Check dates, stages, eligibility and application instructions in the issuing authority’s current notice.

01 / UNDERSTANDING

Plan your preparation

Practise one access-and-approval map after studying operational risk. Include exceptional staffing situations and refer to current authorised policy instead of inventing informal workarounds for convenience.

02 / UNDERSTANDING

The concept in context

A maker prepares a transaction or record, while a checker independently reviews the relevant details before authorisation. The control separates duties so that one person cannot easily introduce and approve an error or misuse. Its value depends on the checker’s actual work and the permissions enforced by the system.

03 / UNDERSTANDING

A worked learning case

Original educational case. At a busy branch, the maker enters a beneficiary change and asks a colleague to approve quickly. The colleague compares the request and verified account details before release, catching a transposed digit. The benefit comes from that independent comparison. If both staff share one password, the approval trail can no longer reliably show who performed which step.

ORIGINAL EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE

Try it before you check.

Original practice: Does sharing checker credentials with the maker preserve the intended segregation of duties?

Show the answer and reasoning

No. It undermines independence and accountability.

The maker can then act under both roles, defeating the purpose of separate preparation and review. The audit trail may also misattribute who approved the transaction. A workflow diagram showing two names is insufficient if access practices permit one person to control both stages without an independent, authorised check.

Two traps to watch for.

  • Counting two logins as effective review despite shared credentials.
  • Approving after release and describing it as preventive checking.

YOUR TOPIC-SPECIFIC LEARNING MAP

Build your next study session

  1. Map preparation, verification and release permissions.

  2. List the evidence an independent checker must compare.

  3. Explain how shared credentials damage the audit trail.

Explain the idea, apply it to a new situation, then check what changed in your reasoning.

BANKERS TUTORIAL · SOURCE NOTES

Keep the source alongside your notes.

Official links provide subject context and authoritative reference material. This guide’s explanation, scenario and question are original Bankers Tutorial learning content.

  1. iibf.org.in https://iibf.org.in/diploma-banking-finance
  2. www.rbi.org.in https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=1021

For DBF preparation, check the current official notice before relying on changing dates, rules or examination requirements.

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