Chatham scales its capital markets expertise with OpenAI

Chatham Financial ⁠ (opens in a new window) advises clients on complex capital markets decisions, where accuracy and auditability are paramount. As AI capabilities advanced, the firm saw an opportunity to turn proven processes into governed, repeatable workflows and software, reducing the time spent on routine execution, so its experts can focus more on client needs.

Today, Chatham uses Codex to build internal and client-facing tools and GPT‑5.6 to power AI features. This work spans employee-built applications, its next-generation capital markets operating system Chatham Onyx, and its reengineering consulting service Process Zero, which accelerated trade validation from 30 minutes to under 4.

Through Process Zero, Chatham reengineers workflows around outcomes. For each workflow, the firm identifies the minimum inputs and evidence required, determines where human judgment is essential, and decides how AI and AI-built tools should support the work.

Chatham plans to extend the application to additional trade types and automate more of the workflow while maintaining appropriate controls and professional oversight.

These applications increasingly support client-facing workflows. One helps teams review maturing-cap trades and prepare pricing workbooks and client communications. Others support workflows such as producing fixed-income rate sheets, preparing hedging dashboards, and reviewing trade confirmations. Chatham professionals bring the market context, client understanding, and judgment to evaluate the work, refine it where needed, and determine what reaches the client.

Trade validation is an early example. Chatham’s Controls and Data Integrity team protects the accuracy of transaction data by validating that each system record reflects what the client authorized and what was executed.

Using Codex, Chatham developed a trade validation application that gathers supporting transaction evidence, compares key terms, and flags discrepancies for review. Chatham is comparing the app’s results with those of experienced reviewers.

Chatham’s client-facing AI work grew from its own operating experience. Chatham’s employees use ChatGPT and Codex in research, analysis, drafting, software development, and other daily activities. AI has become a practical tool widely adopted across the firm.