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B-Compliant ltd.

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B-Compliant ltd.

Expert compliance support services for financial professionals in the UK Consulting Agency

13/10/2026

Does compliance have a real voice in your firm? Or is it only involved once decisions have already been made?

The FCA found that most firms surveyed carry out the key compliance activities expected of them. But completing compliance tasks does not necessarily mean compliance has enough influence within the business.

Compliance needs more than a seat at the table. It needs sufficient authority, independence, access to senior management, involvement in key decisions and the opportunity to challenge the business.

A couple of figures from the respondents stand out:

- 64% had nine or fewer employees
- 63% said their compliance function also had other business responsibilities
- 90% used third-party compliance support

Smaller firms can take a proportionate approach, but proportionate does not mean minimal. And while external support can strengthen your arrangements, responsibility and oversight remain with the firm. Outsourcing the work does not outsource the responsibility.

Swipe through for a quick self-check. Is compliance involved before important decisions are made, or after?

07/10/2026

The FCA has confirmed new sustainability reporting requirements for listed firms, with reporting under the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards beginning from 2028.

For most adviser firms, this isn't something that requires immediate action.

But it is something worth paying attention to.

Why?

Because the long-term objective is to give investors access to more consistent, comparable and decision-useful sustainability information.

The important phrase is not more disclosure.

It's better information.

The FCA has deliberately adopted a "comply or explain" approach, acknowledging that sustainability risks won't look the same for every business.

That means advisers should avoid assuming every investment will suddenly come with a neat set of identical sustainability metrics.

In practice, the disclosures provided, and sometimes the explanations for what isn't provided, may become just as valuable as the data itself.

For firms involved in investment research, governance and due diligence, this is one to keep on the radar.

Not because of what changes today.

But because of how investment analysis may evolve over the next few years.

06/10/2026

79% of firms now say they are highly satisfied with their relationship with the FCA.

76% rate the FCA as an effective regulator.
88% say they understand what the FCA expects when it comes to Consumer Duty.

On the face of it, that's a positive story. But the more interesting takeaway is what sits behind the figures.

Over the past few years, firms have invested significant time, money and resource into understanding Consumer Duty, strengthening governance, improving oversight and evidencing good outcomes for clients. The survey suggests those efforts may be paying off.

That doesn't mean regulatory pressure has disappeared. Many firms continue to highlight reporting requirements and regulatory burden as areas where further improvements are needed.

The challenge now is simple:
- Maintain high standards
- Keep Consumer Duty embedded in day-to-day operations
- Avoid slipping into a "job done" mindset

Compliance remains an ongoing process, not a one-off project.

Has your firm's relationship with the FCA improved over the last few years?

01/10/2026

Most firms don't need more regulatory updates.
They need help separating signal from noise.

Every week brings new publications, speeches, consultations and commentary from across the industry.

Some developments will influence how firms operate.

Others are simply useful context.

The challenge is knowing which is which.

In this regulatory landscape roundup, we've highlighted several developments that we believe are worth having on your radar, from protection and fair value to financial crime, targeted support and future market infrastructure.

Swipe through for the headlines, key takeaways and what they could mean for regulated firms.

23/09/2026

Only 6% of investment disclosures reviewed by the FCA were written in plain English.

Let that sink in.

The FCA's latest message is clear: consumer understanding matters just as much as disclosure itself.

If clients can't understand what they're reading, have we really helped them make an informed decision?

As the regulator continues to focus on targeted support, clearer communications and better consumer outcomes, firms may need to rethink whether their client communications are written for consumers or simply written for compliance files.

Plain English isn't a nice-to-have.

It's becoming a regulatory expectation.

22/09/2026

We're looking forward to attending the latest Personal Finance Society event, Future-Proof Your Advice: The Great Wealth Transfer Opportunity, on 12 October in Manchester.

Our Director, Vicky Pearce, and Senior Compliance Consultant, Rachel MacRae, will be delivering a practical session exploring the compliance, suitability and family dynamic considerations that can arise when advising across generations.

With the Great Wealth Transfer moving from industry discussion to real client conversations, it promises to be a valuable day of practical insights, discussion and networking with fellow advisers.

We hope to see some familiar faces there.

Book your place here: https://bit.ly/4hD24fl

21/09/2026

Good AML isn't measured by the amount of paperwork you produce.

It's measured by whether your controls actually identify and mitigate financial crime risk.

In a recent speech, the FCA continued its shift towards intelligence-led supervision, focusing on outcomes, risk identification and effective controls rather than compliance activity for compliance's sake.

That's an important distinction.

Too often, firms equate a thick AML file with a strong AML framework. But a beautifully documented process that fails to identify genuine risk won't impress a regulator.

The FCA's direction of travel is clear:

🟡 Risk-based approaches
🟡 Meaningful oversight
🟡 Effective governance
🟡 Evidence that controls work in practice

Not endless layers of paperwork with no clear purpose.

As firms continue to review their AML arrangements, the question isn't:

"Do we have enough AML documents?"

It's:

"Can we demonstrate that our AML controls are actually effective?"

That's a very different conversation.

14/09/2026

The worst time to discover a compliance weakness is when a buyer finds it first.

By then, the questions have started.

Can you evidence your ongoing reviews?
Are your client files consistent?
Does your management information provide meaningful oversight?
Are governance decisions properly recorded?
Can you demonstrate that issues were identified and addressed?

If those answers are unclear, due diligence can become slower, more difficult and far more stressful than it needs to be.

You should not have to enter an important transaction wondering what might surface.

B-Compliant provides independent due diligence support, file reviews and compliance assessments to help you identify weaknesses, take action and prepare your firm for detailed scrutiny.

If a sale, acquisition or succession plan is on your horizon, contact B-Compliant and find out where you stand before the formal review starts.

08/09/2026

Summer is over.

For many firms, September is when the focus shifts back to the projects that slipped down the priority list during the holiday period.

Before another busy quarter begins, take a few minutes to work through these questions.

The answers may tell you more about your compliance position than you think.

➡️ Swipe through

04/09/2026

Most firms don't leave an appointed representative network because they suddenly dislike compliance.

They leave because the model no longer fits the business they're trying to build.

It often starts with something small.

A policy that doesn't quite fit.

A delay getting approval for something commercially sensible.

Another reminder of what you can't do, rather than a discussion about how you might do it safely.

None of these things are major issues on their own.

But over time, they can create a feeling of constraint.

That's usually when the question starts to surface:

Is the appointed representative model still working for us, or are we working for it?

Direct authorisation isn't the right answer for every firm.

It brings greater responsibility, increased accountability and a more demanding setup process.

But it also offers greater control over your business, your strategy and the way you operate.

The decision shouldn't be driven by whether one route feels easier.

It should be driven by which option supports the business you're trying to build.

If you're currently weighing up the pros and cons of direct authorisation, our latest blog explores some of the key differences between the two models.

Read the full blog: https://b-compliant.co.uk/direct-authorisation-vs-appointed-representative/

If you're an AR, what's the biggest advantage or frustration you've experienced with the model?

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Cadman House
Manchester
M333SH

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://www.b-compliant.co.uk/

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