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PS26/6: The SM&CR reforms are now live. What should firms be doing next?
When the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published Policy Statement PS26/6 in April 2026, it marked the start...
Consumer Duty in 2026. The FCA raises the bar
The shift firms can’t ignore Consumer Duty isn’t new anymore — but the FCA’s expectations...
The FCA’s claims management message on delivering better outcomes
The FCA’s latest blog examining whether the claims management market is “working” delivers a clear...
What has Consumer Duty really changed in Wealth Management?
Since its introduction in July 2023, the FCA’s Consumer Duty has moved from a major...
Is RegTech simply a buzzword or an absolute necessity for compliance?
In recent years, RegTech—short for regulatory technology—has become a prominent topic in compliance, risk and...
SM&CR Phase 1 Review: What firms need to know
In April 2026, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), alongside the FCA, published its Phase 1 reforms to...
Onboarding Under Scrutiny – The Hidden Risks and Compliance Challenges Facing UK Financial Services Firms
Part 1: The Hidden Compliance Gap: Why onboarding is now a top risk for UK financial services firms Hiring new client-facing or regulated...
Building a resilient, SM&CR-ready onboarding framework for financial services firms
In the first blog in this series, we outlined the common pitfalls and risks that...
Why SM&CR still matters—And what the new reforms mean for you
As regulatory reform takes shape through CP25/21, now is the time to modernise SM&CR, not...
Are you ready for the July 2025 deadline for SEAR Non-Executives?
The regulatory clock is ticking. From 1 July 2025, the Senior Executive Accountability Regime (SEAR) will formally extend...
Making RegTech fit for today’s regulatory demands
The term RegTech was first coined by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2015 who called...
The ‘five Ws’ of Root Cause Analysis: What are they and how can we use them to yield better information?
In our work within the insurance and financial services sector, we are still aware of...
Reviewing the fitness of your T&C arrangements – Part 3
Training & Competence (T&C) has been a regulatory requirement of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)...
Reviewing the fitness of your T&C arrangements – Part 2
Training & Competence (T&C) has been a regulatory requirement of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)...
Reviewing the fitness of your T&C arrangements – Part 1
In my last blog “Nature or Nurture – the role of T&C in a modern...
Nature or nurture? The role of T&C in a modern financial services company
An industry that nurtures active debate over its important issues must surely be a healthy...
Ensuring quality in customer-facing processes: Tracking Consumer Duty outcomes
Most firms will be well progressed with preparations for the first Consumer Duty Annual Report...
Do your price and value outcomes align with Consumer Duty? Here are 5 ways to make sure they do!
As the final implementation deadline for the FCA’s Consumer Duty draws closer, the pressure is...
4 ways the FCA has improved finance for everyone
Cast your mind back to 2021, and you may remember when the FCA laid out...
Corporate Governance At The FCA
In August the FCA published “Corporate governance of the Financial Conduct Authority”, which followed on...
What did the IPSOS Consumer Duty research tell us?
I don’t know about you, but I found the IPSOS survey results on Consumer Duty...
The Consumer Duty Implementation Summit – Ensuring Your Readiness for The Consumer Duty Deadline
There is less than a month to go until firms need to have implemented the...
Consumer Duty: What I’ve Learned So Far & How That Could Help Your Preparations
As we enter the final stretch of preparations for the implementation of the new Consumer...
FCA Review of Consumer Duty Implementation Plans
The FCA is working hard to help firms implement the necessary changes ahead of the...
Consumer Duty: What it will take to deliver Consumer Duty
In this final blog in our series on the new Consumer Duty (CD), I will...
Consumer Duty: Delivering Consumer Support Under Consumer Duty
In this sixth blog in our series on the new Consumer Duty (CD), I will...
Consumer Duty: Delivering Consumer Understanding Under Consumer Duty
In this fifth blog in our series on the new Consumer Duty (CD), I will...
Improvements to the Appointed Representatives Regime – Déjà vu?
The FCAs planned changes to the Appointed Representative Regime take me back in time to...
Consumer Duty: Delivering Price & Value Under Consumer Duty
In this fourth blog in our series on the new Consumer Duty (CD), I will...
Consumer Duty: Getting The ‘Products & Services’ Outcome Right
In this third blog in our series on the new Consumer Duty (CD), I will...
Consumer Duty: What Will Be The Key Challenges For Firms?
In my first blog, I talked about the fact that the incoming CD regulation presents...
Consumer Duty: What Is It & Why Is it Different From Anything That Has Gone Before
At Worksmart, we’re dedicated to helping firms by providing them with practical interpretations of regulatory...
Consumer Duty, Final Rules Have Landed, Now What? – Webinar Polling Results
On 17th August, Worksmart hosted a webinar with Shoosmiths on the incoming Consumer Duty. The...
Diversity and inclusion on company boards and executive management – So, what’s actually changing?
With diversity & Inclusion (D&I) being an important part of the culture in any firm...
FinTech, RegTech, InsurTech, WealthTech How do firms navigate an ever more complex landscape?
In a Sector that loves acronyms, abbreviations, labels and generating “new” and exciting names for...
Regulatory Initiatives Grid 2022 – what is this years’ focus?
It’s that time again! The updated version of the current range of regulatory initiatives in...
Individual Accountability Frameworks – The Regulatory Spotlight turns to Ireland and SEAR
For those UK based organisations that have been closely watching developments from the Central Bank...
SMCR – Haven’t we nailed it yet?
In a time where it is clearly becoming more challenging for compliance teams to keep...
Annual Regulatory Forum 2022 – Singapore
On a misty Friday morning here in the UK, I had the pleasure of attending...
Learning the lessons….. Can things really be different in 2022?
Can things really be different in 2022? Whether you were partying like it was 1999...
What should regulated firms and their teams be looking out for in 2022?
It’s always at this time of year that we seem collectively to draw a line...
The Changing Face of Vulnerability – A Year On
The changing face of vulnerability When Worksmart first asked me if I’d write about 2021...
IAC Singapore – What does your approach to managing your accountability regime say about your commitment to this new regulation?
On Wednesday 17th November, the Worksmart team joined colleagues around the globe to discuss our...
Culture and Conduct Risk Considerations – An Ongoing Journey
How interesting it is to learn that firms seem to be so confident about justifying...
Financial Services Regulatory Initiatives Forum Sets Out the Regulatory Pipeline
When this latest edition dropped into circulation, whilst relieved to see every current regulatory initiative...
Regulatory Round Up Of 2021
In many ways I can’t help feeling that 2021 has been a bit of a...
Shiny Shoes and Progressive People! PIMFA Diversity & Inclusion Awards 2021
I read in an article recently that a diverse and inclusive workplace is one that...
We’re back in person – finally! Global RegTech Summit 2021
Back to face-to-face events – what a treat! At short notice, I stood in for...
What is RegTech?
Over the years RegTech has become the new way in which to describe technology that...
Is your Regulatory Reporting showing you up?
A strange way to start a blog – or is it? For those of you...
ESG – So what is it all about?
As the world of Financial Services grows more complex by the year, especially when you...
FCA Business Plan 2021/22 – A Tech Focused Business Plan
The hotly anticipated FCA Business Plan 2021/22 was finally published on the FCA website on...
The Future World Of Work – Why Personal Development Is Critical To Future Business Success – Part 2
Leading on from my last blog, which I was asked to write as part of...
The Future World Of Work – Why Personal Development Is Critical To Future Business Success
As the world emerges into the post-Covid world, the Investment Association (IA) asked a number...
SM&CR – Tick Box Exercise or Foundation for Cultural Change?
FCA solo regulated firms are now completing the transition of the Senior Managers and Certification...
Trust and Consumer Protection
We often talk about gaining or earning someone’s trust, but the interesting thing about those...
The FCA Walking their Talk
This may not have necessarily have hit your radar, but did you know that since 2016, the FCA has been...
Innovation And Vulnerability – Can They Co-Exist?
My curiosity was piqued this week when I came across two speeches from the FCA...
The FCA’s New Direction – Outcomes Focused Regulation
I think we can all agree that a crystal ball would be about the most...
IAC-Singapore – From The Award-Winning Team At Worksmart
As stronger governance arrangements within organisations and the accountability of senior leaders becomes critical components...
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