So, the final rules are here and not much has really changed other than the implementation period has been extended slight for live business to July 31st, 2023, and closed book business has until 31st July 2024. Plus (wait for it) firms need to be up and running on their implementation by October ’22! Although any extension is welcome, it’s not long enough in my opinion given the ramifications this all-encompassing regulatory directive brings. Think Operational Resilience which has an implementation and transitional period totalling four years!
When they are not on strike, the FCA are producing promising work. Their new business plan and focus on metrics and outcomes is a case in point. This business plan takes a new form in that it is hosted digitally on a webpage which provides hyperlinks to other relevant resources such as their three-year strategy and excellent Regulatory Initiatives Grid.
With the latest FCA consultation paper for improving regulatory oversight of the Appointed Representative Regime, without a cohesive, coordinated approach, Principle firms governance, risk and compliance (GRC) systems and control audit resources may not be deployed effectively and significant risks maybe missed. This can lead to mis communications and dysfunctions within the Principal firm internal GRC practice, poor reporting, market risk and poor consumer outcomes across AR activities. With the FCA’s new proposals, based on a background of poor consumer outcomes at the hands of ARs, Principals and their ARs now need to employ RegTech to gain clear and accurate data analytics across all activities to ensure they comply in order they can continue to compete. This blog looks at the key themes and how RegTech can support Principal firms and their ARs.
As we enter a new year, it provides us with an opportunity to review the past years activities and look ahead at what is to come. Indeed January is named after the Roman god Janus, who had two faces so he could see the past and future. What Janus may have told us from a regulatory perxpective.is the FCA are 'one one' with their future vision and learning from the past when it comes to firms regulation data and compliance analytics.
The ongoing focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment highlights the financial services industry's ongoing instrumental role in the transition to net-zero, through its ability to mobilise capital and engage with investors, companies and citizens.
This is a topic that often comes up across social media and conferences that focus on FinTech developments within retail financial services industry. There is no doubt with the fast growing digital ‘fourth revolution’, we are witnessing rapid build and deployment of tech throughout industry products and services.
Let’s start with the top three challenges firm’s face when it comes to GRC management.
We currently have a festival of football with the UEFA European Championship, and you can be assured that each national team coach will be using data analytics to assess their own and opposition teams and players strengths, weaknesses and winning formations.
As of May 2021, RegData completely replaced Gabriel as the FCA’s platform for data collection after a lengthy roll-out to 52,000 firms and 120,000 users. Firms and their users were moved to RegData in groups, based on their reporting requirements.
The FCA first published their duty of care paper in July 2018. Two years on it is now consulting on introducing a new consumer duty. This consultation ties in with the new FCA ‘outcomes’ focused principles based framework and is open until 31st July 2021 and following section 29 of the financial service act 2021, should be introduced by 1st August 2022.