What Reporting Features Should You Expect from a US based OEMS Provider?

In today’s highly regulated and fast-paced trading environment, reporting capabilities are a critical component of any Order and Execution Management System (OEMS). From compliance with FINRA mandates to operational visibility, the right OEMS provider can make or break your reporting efficiency.

At Trafix, we know that accurate, timely, and integrated reporting isn’t just a value-add—it’s essential. Here’s what your firm should expect from an OEMS partner when it comes to trade reporting and regulatory compliance.

1. Audit Trails: The Foundation of Trade Compliance

Every broker-dealer must maintain accurate trade records. A complete audit trail is the cornerstone of regulatory compliance, enabling firms to prove adherence to FINRA, SEC, and internal controls.

A top-tier OEMS like Trafix:

Delivers end-of-day (EOD) audit trail files via SFTP or secure email
Offers long-term historical access through the front-end interface
Supports easy archiving for regulatory retention

When evaluating providers, confirm that audit trails are automated, timestamped, and tamper-proof—this is non-negotiable for any modern broker-dealer.

2. Clearing & Settlement Reporting: Seamless Connectivity Matters

While most OEMS platforms don’t handle clearing directly, they must seamlessly interface with your clearing firm, or your self clearing infrastructure, to transmit trade and settlement instructions.

Trafix supports both:

FIX Drop Copy for real-time trade routing
End-of-Day file transmission for settlement instruction processing

We work closely with clearing partners to ensure your trades are processed with accurate risk management, stock loan integration, and position settlement. Your OEMS must be able to adapt to your clearing workflow—not the other way around.

3. CAT Reporting: Accuracy and Automation Are Everything

As a FINRA-registered broker-dealer, you’re required to submit Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) reports that document order creation, routing, and execution—down to the millisecond.

Here’s what Trafix provides:

Automated CAT report generation and submission
Proactive monitoring of FINRA CAT portals for errors or mismatches
Optional vendor-driven correction workflows, so you don’t have to chase fixes

Poor CAT performance can lead to regulatory flags or fines. Trafix helps keep your CAT issue rates low and your compliance posture strong.

4. CAIS Reporting: Understanding What’s Required

CAIS (Customer and Account Information System) reporting involves sensitive KYC-level data like Tax IDs and addresses. Since OEMS platforms are typically transactional in nature, and don’t require storage of such sensitive or personal information, not all will handle CAIS requirements.

Here’s the Trafix approach:

We support client account identifiers (FDID mapping) within our OEMS
For sensitive CAIS-level data, we integrate or interface with clearing firms or certified third-party solutions

Even if your OEMS doesn’t natively process CAIS data, a robust platform should integrate easily with the systems that do.

5. 606 Reporting: Transparency in Routing Practices

FINRA Rule 606 requires broker-dealers to disclose how they route orders and whether they receive payment for order flow. While not every OEMS generates 606 reports directly, Trafix:

Captures and exports routing data in industry-standard formats
Offers certified integrations with third-party 606 providers
Even if your OEMS doesn’t natively process CAIS data, a robust platform should integrate easily with the systems that do.

If your firm is subject to 606, ensure your OEMS can easily support data extraction and vendor integration.

6. Trade Recaps: Delivering Clarity to Your Clients

For firms working with buy-side clients, Trade Recap reporting is often essential.

These summaries typically include:

Executed quantity and average price
Notional trade value
Commissions, fees, and disclosures

Trafix offers automated and manual trade recap delivery, with options for:

PDF or email formats
Custom branding, watermarks, and legal disclaimers
Flexible scheduling (EOD, intraday, or on-demand)

7. Commission & Fee Reports

Efficient billing and commission tracking is essential for revenue operations. Trafix supports custom reporting modules for:

These summaries typically include:

Broker commission
Trade-related fee breakdowns
Revenue reconciliation with clearing firms

This reporting gives firms operational transparency and speeds up invoicing and accounting.

Choose an OEMS That Prioritizes Reporting—and Compliance

Your firm’s regulatory profile and client base should guide your reporting needs, but every OEMS vendor should provide

Automated, secure audit trails

Reliable clearing firm integrations

Accurate, proactive CAT reporting support

CAIS and 606 compatibility

Flexible, branded trade recap tools

Built-in or integrated commission/fee reports

At Trafix, reporting isn’t a bolt-on—it’s embedded in the DNA of our platform. Our OEMS is engineered to reduce your operational burden, support compliance, and deliver real-time visibility into your trading activity.