Ruth Prickett, Author at Compliance Week

Ruth Prickett

Ruth Prickett graduated from Cambridge University with a BA hons in History and has specialized in business and finance journalism for the past 20 years. She was editor of Financial Management, the magazine for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, for many years before relaunching and editing Audit & Risk magazine for the Chartered IIA. She has written for a wide range of specialist business titles and drafted white papers and reports for clients including HSBC and Vodafone.

ESG/Social Responsibility

EU simplifies chemicals regulations, but legal and reputational pressures around hazardous chemicals are rising

by Ruth Prickett May 21, 2026May 21, 2026

The EU Parliament has agreed to simplify European chemicals regulations to boost
competitiveness, but compliance teams should note that the MEPs voted to retain
some rules to protect consumers and the environment.

Third Party Risk

U.K. financial firms urged to prepare for operational and third-party incident reporting changes

by Ruth Prickett May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

Financial services firms in the U.K. must prepare now for new reporting rules aimed to promote operational resilience in the face of increasing global threats.

Sanctions

EU’s 20th Russian Sanctions Package extends compliance to third parties and anti-circumvention measures

by Ruth Prickett May 18, 2026May 18, 2026

The EU has intensified its focus on sanctions circumvention and the supply of Russian oil in a clear signal that the energy crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz will not weaken its efforts to sever Russian cashflows.

Regulatory Policy

EU publishes major overhaul of M&A guidelines to encourage mega-mergers

by Ruth Prickett May 14, 2026May 14, 2026

The EU has published guidelines for the biggest overhaul of rules governing mergers since 2004. However, commentators are warning that loosening the M&A code may create new risks and still not deliver the “mega companies” that proponents seek. And EU officials appear divided. Where does this leave compliance teams?

Banking

U.K. tightens debanking rules as compliance teams in banks walk a regulatory tightrope

by Ruth Prickett May 11, 2026May 11, 2026

Closing a U.K. bank account against the wishes of the customer has just got more complicated. From April 28, banks and payment service providers must comply with new rules governing when and how they close an existing customer’s account.

AML

Most FS firms expect to miss EU AML deadline amid data and due diligence challenges

by Ruth Prickett May 5, 2026May 15, 2026

Two-thirds of financial services firms will not be able to meet the requirements of the EU anti-money laundering package when it comes into force in July 2027.

Accounting & Auditing, Artificial Intelligence, Finance, Top Stories, United Kingdom

Auditors who use AI cannot blame the tech for mistakes, says U.K. regulator

by Ruth Prickett April 30, 2026April 30, 2026

The U.K.’s audit regulator has issued what it says is the world’s first guidance on the use of generative AI and agentic AI in auditing. This sets out where AI should and shouldn’t be used in auditing, and why audit firms will not be able to blame the tech if it goes wrong.

Finance

U.K. Targeted Support narrows advice-guidance gap, raises compliance stakes

by Ruth Prickett April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

The U.K.’s Targeted Support Scheme, intended to provide millions of people with a newly created category of affordable regulated financial advice, went live on April 1. The U.K. government billed the scheme as a “once in a generation” change that will help millions to navigate their financial lives more effectively.

Regulatory Enforcement

Chocolate bars: Investigations into Ferrero are a lesson for compliance on EU antitrust commitments

by Ruth Prickett April 24, 2026April 24, 2026

Chocolate companies are in the sights of EU antitrust regulators. Ferrero, maker of Kinder, Ferrero Rocher, and Nutella, has revealed that it was the target of “dawn raids” by the European Commission in two EU member states.

Artificial Intelligence

U.K. joins global trend for AI-enabled regulatory supervision

by Ruth Prickett April 23, 2026May 15, 2026

The U.K. financial regulator is expanding its remit and planning to deploy AI to manage its increased workload. This is part of a global trend and has significant compliance implications.

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