All Financial Conduct Authority articles
-
ArticleFCA drive to reduce its investigation costs likely to add to compliance burden for smaller firms, warn experts
The U.K. financial regulator’s move towards “impactful deterrence” could see smaller and mid-size firms come increasingly under the spotlight as the watchdog aims to tackle market-wide concerns instead of primarily focusing on large players capable of doing the most harm.
-
ArticleIf financial services firms don’t want more AI rules, comply with existing regs, experts warn
The U.K.’s financial regulators have long maintained that AI use by banks, insurers, and other financial services firms is already regulated under existing rules, but such assurances are increasingly being questioned.
-
ArticleU.K. listed companies must adapt to new sustainability reporting regime by 2027
Sustainability reporting rules for U.K. listed companies are set to change. The U.K. financial regulator has launched a consultation laying out its proposals, which aim to align the reporting regime with the international ISSB standards.
-
ArticleU.K. financial regulator cuts cases to focus on investigations that achieve results
The U.K. financial regulator has dropped 100 investigations without action over the past three years, but compliance should expect a refocus of resources rather than a retreat from enforcement.
-
ArticleDecision time for compliance as U.K. CCI regime ditches formulaic reporting to engage investors
A new U.K. Consumer Composite Investments regime comes into force on April 6 and will apply to all firms that manufacture or distribute CCI products to retail investors in the U.K. This includes some firms that are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
-
ArticleU.K. insider trading case highlights benefits to self-reporting suspicious activity
The U.K. has recently initiated a series of comprehensive crackdowns on financial fraud, particularly in the financial services sector. A recent enforcement action highlighted the effectiveness of one of the Financial Conduct Authority’s lesser-known weapons in its fight to combat insider trading—the Suspicious Transaction and Order Report (STOR).
-
ArticleSFO head to step down as speculation grows over future of agency
Nick Ephgrave, director of the U.K.’s main anti-corruption enforcement agency, the Serious Fraud Office, will retire at the end of March—about halfway through his appointed five-year term. Experts say he leaves the agency in a lot better position than he joined it in September 2023.
-
ArticleTop of mind compliance topics in 2026: Finance, immigration, supply chains and sustainability
What will you be doing in the coming year? We asked experts in a range of sectors to gaze into their crystal balls and highlight one legal development or compliance topic that will be critical for compliance teams in 2026. This is an edited version of what they told us.
-
ArticleU.K. sets out strategy to combat bribery and corruption
The U.K. is introducing tougher safeguards and compliance checks in its latest drive to cut down on financial crime and stem the flow of dirty money that continues to be laundered by British businesses, facilitated by accountants and lawyers.
-
PremiumEU financial firms must prepare now for new rules on critical third-party arrangements
European banks and financial institutions must prepare now for stringent new rules on third-party suppliers.
-
ArticleU.K. outlines AI sandbox plan as regulators weigh compliance risks
The U.K. has set out a new blueprint for AI regulation, which aims to slash bureaucracy and ramp up the safe adoption of new and emerging technology to unlock potential and boost investment.
-
PremiumU.K. proposed changes to AML supervision
The U.K.’s financial services regulator will take a more central role as part of the government’s plans to simplify—and improve—efforts to clamp down on money laundering and terrorist financing.
-
ArticleHow to promote a positive compliance culture – and why behavior matters.
No matter what compliance managers do, people continue to disregard rules. Sandro Boeri, president of the U.K.’s Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, says a new mandatory standard for internal audit teams can help.
-
ArticleU.K. enforcement appetite over off-channel comms grows as U.S. wanes
The U.K’.s financial regulator has given a strong indication that financial firms’ use of unauthorized devices and apps is under scrutiny and that policies around off-channel communications need to be tightened up.
-
ArticleU.K. proposes streamlining regime meant to hold fin serve executives to account
When growth slows, governments often cut rules to attract investment, as the U.K. has in its financial services sector, which contributes 8.8% of GDP, but easing the “compliance burden” raises concerns about oversight, governance, and prioritizing profits over safety.
-
ArticleU.K. extends bullying and harassment rules to 37,000 financial services firms
Serious bullying and harassment count as misconduct in regulated financial services firms, per a July 1 clarification by the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which said non-financial misconduct rules now applied only to banks will extend to 37,000 more firms starting September 1, 2026.
-
ArticleU.K. updates pension and asset manager rules, but internal auditors flag governance gaps
Will “taking an axe to” red tape and onerous reporting commitments free up trillions invested in U.K. pensions and increase the value of assets managed by regulated financial services firms?
-
ArticleFCA drops ‘naming and shaming’ approach – except in ‘exceptional circumstances’
The UK’s financial regulator has had a rough ride over the past couple of years as its strategy to “name and shame” firms it opened investigations into was widely slammed by the industry and lawmakers over concerns that companies could be unfairly maligned.
-
ArticleCrypto firms brace for tighter UK oversight as FCA plots integration with financial markets
Trying to put rules in place to oversee an industry that has grown largely outside of regulation is not without serious challenges. But the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) latest consultation aims to attract industry views about how some key aspects of crypto trading should be regulated ahead of planned ...
-
PremiumUK’s deregulation drive raises compliance risk, say top lawyers
The United Kingdom’s latest effort to encourage regulators to pare down rules to attract companies and investment as a way to stimulate the economy has received mixed reviews from lawyers.