FCA Compliance Guides

A practical SMCR compliance checklist for small FCA-regulated firms covering the 1 September 2026 PS25/23 deadline — non-financial misconduct, COCON changes, regulatory references, and fit and proper obligations.

How the FCA defines conduct risk, why it applies to small regulated firms, and the practical framework for identifying, managing, and evidencing conduct risk on an ongoing basis.

What triggers an FCA change in control notification under FSMA Section 178, who must notify before acquiring a stake in a regulated firm, and how the 60-working-day assessment window works.

Who counts as an FCA directory person, what data small regulated firms must submit, how to update it within 7 business days, and what the annual attestation requires.

What the FCA regulatory reference rules require of small regulated firms — who triggers a reference, what to include, how far back to go, and the template you must use under SYSC 22.

How the FCA Certification Regime annual renewal works at a small firm — who needs certifying, the 12-month fitness-and-propriety cycle, what evidence to gather, and a step-by-step renewal process.

How FCA conduct rule breach reporting works at a small firm — REP008 for conduct rules and certified staff, the separate route for Senior Managers, the annual deadline, and what counts as a notifiable breach.

The FCA prescribed responsibilities that apply to Core solo-regulated firms, what each one means, who to allocate them to, and how the small-firm carve-outs work under SYSC 24.

What an FCA Statement of Responsibilities has to contain, how to draft one at a small solo-regulated firm, when to resubmit it, and a worked example for a sole principal holding multiple SMFs.

What FCA conduct rules training has to cover at a small regulated firm, who needs it, how often, and what evidence the FCA expects to see — including the PS25/23 changes from September 2026.

What SMCR compliance actually requires of small FCA-regulated firms — the obligations that bite at 1–50 staff, the ones that don't, and what changes from September 2026.

A practical FCA compliance checklist for PS25/23 — what small regulated firms need to have in place by 1 September 2026, structured into a four-month countdown.

What the FCA individual conduct rules (COCON 2) require of certified staff at small regulated firms, who they apply to, and how PS25/23 reshapes the picture from September 2026.

Step-by-step process for handling a harassment allegation at a small FCA firm — from receiving the report to FCA conduct rule reporting. Covers Equality Act, ACAS code, and PS25/23 from September 2026.

What the Senior Managers and Certification Regime actually requires of small FCA firms — the three tiers, what each one involves, and how PS25/23 changes the picture from September 2026.

Whistleblowing and non-financial misconduct sit in two different parts of the FCA Handbook with different rules. This guide explains who can be a whistleblower, how the regimes interact, and what small firms must do under each.

How the FCA fit and proper test works for small regulated firms, what FIT 2.2 actually requires, and how non-financial misconduct now feeds into your annual F&P assessments.

What FCA PS25/23 means for small regulated firms. Key dates, obligations, and a practical timeline to prepare for the 1 September 2026 non-financial misconduct deadline.

How to evaluate SMCR compliance software as a small FCA-regulated firm. Covers must-have features, pricing considerations, and what to avoid.

Step-by-step guide for small FCA-regulated firms preparing for PS25/23 non-financial misconduct requirements. Covers investigation processes, COCON assessment, and F&P impact.

A practical guide to the FCA's COCON conduct rules for small regulated firms. Covers all six individual conduct rules, senior manager rules, and PS25/23 changes.