2026 Annual FCA Compliance Update

Introduction

This practical, in-depth training session provides a clear and structured update on the key 2026 changes to FCA regulation, with a particular focus on Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SM&CR) expectations, enforcement trends, and supervisory priorities. Designed for compliance professionals, senior managers, and in-house counsel, the session translates regulatory developments into practical actions firms can take immediately.

What You Will Learn

This course will cover the following:

• The FCA’s 2026 Regulatory Direction
• What the FCA is prioritising as the regulatory framework matures
• How outcomes-based regulation is shaping supervision and enforcement
• Key themes emerging from recent FCA communications and feedback
• SM&CR: What’s Changing and What’s Not
• SM&CR recap - with a focus on practical accountability
• 2026 developments and clarifications under SM&CR
• The FCA’s evolving expectations of Senior Manager oversight
• Statements of Responsibilities and Management Responsibilities Maps, when updates are required - and when they’re not
• Conduct Rules and Enforcement Risk
• Recent enforcement trends involving senior managers
• How conduct issues escalate into regulatory breaches
• Personal vs firm accountability
• Lessons learned from FCA investigations and decision notices
• Embedding conduct rules into culture rather than policy
• SM&CR, Consumer Duty and Wider FCA Obligations
• How SM&CR underpins Consumer Duty compliance
• The role of Senior Managers in delivering good customer outcomes
• Governance, MI and escalation frameworks the FCA expects to see
• Demonstrating effective oversight and challenge
• What Firms Should Be Doing Now
• Practical compliance checklist for 2027 readiness
• Governance and documentation health checks
• Preparing for FCA supervisory engagement
• What to fix now vs what can wait