The Financial Conduct Authority Chief Executive has published a speech this week titled “A reform-minded regulator”, setting out how it intends to adapt to a faster-moving market environment. The direction of travel is clear. The FCA is positioning itself to be more responsive, more flexible, and more aligned with UK growth while maintaining high standards. Key themes from the speech: Regulation must evolve alongside faster, more volatile markets A stronger focus on supportin

The FCA has just highlighted weaknesses in due diligence across firms in a recent supervisory review (via AML Intelligence). Not a data problem.An interpretation problem. Firms are still: Over-relying on automated tools Missing complex ownership structures Failing to challenge red flags Treating due diligence as a one-off check 👉 The FCA’s message is clear:Due diligence must be ongoing, connected, and judgement-led. That’s where most firms fall short. They have the data — bu

FCA Authorisations Update: 2025–26 Q2 – What You Need to Know The FCA has released its Q2 service-metric performance, showing a mixed picture across authorisations: 🔹 Most applications are still being processed within statutory deadlines, but some areas remain under pressure due to case complexity and increased scrutiny. 🔹 Higher-risk and more complex applications are taking longer, reflecting the FCA’s continued focus on robust assessments, operational resilience, fina

The FCA’s latest thematic review highlights major shortcomings in how UK firms assess financial-crime risk. Many Business-Wide Risk Assessments (BWRA) and Customer Risk Assessments (CRA) are still too generic, poorly evidenced, or disconnected from real-world controls. Key gaps identified include: • Risk assessments not tailored to the firm’s actual products, customers or exposure. • Weak links between BWRA findings and monitoring/testing. • Senior management focusing heav

FCA Warns: Weak Risk Frameworks Won’t Cut It — Time for Smarter Oversight and AI-Driven Insight The FCA’s latest multi-firm review has highlighted major weaknesses in how regulated firms assess and manage risk. The regulator found that many firms: Still use underdeveloped risk frameworks that don’t reflect their size or complexity Fail to stress-test liquidity risks or model realistic scenarios Overlook group-level interdependencies, missing how parent companies or affiliates

Companies House Reform Update — 1 Million Verified Already Over one million people have already verified their identity ahead of the upcoming Companies House changes — a major milestone as the UK strengthens corporate transparency. From 18 November 2025, all new and existing company directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) must verify their identity with Companies House — either through GOV.UK One Login or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Why it

📢 Big Changes Coming to Companies House! From 18 November 2025, all UK company directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs)...

🚨 3,500 dead people listed as UK company directors — a shocking revelation from Companies House records. A recent investigation has...