As the UK moves toward a new financial environment post-Brexit, the FCA is beginning the process of shaping the new regulatory framework regime and is open to feedback from fund managers and investors through its latest discussion paper, which it will use to create an accurate picture of what investors and funds really want. The modernisation of the sector is underway, especially with reporting practices and the collection of good quality data – something we keep a keen eye on at Centralis Governance, Risk & Compliance, and which is at the core of our prudential management services. The FCA says it wishes to “simplify and standardise” in the future using innovative technology which will be “underpinned by high standards of market integrity and consumer protection.” As a third-party provider we share that passion for very high standards of working practices, so we will closely follow developments as they emerge and continue to support firms with their adaption to regulatory changes and implementation of sound governance and risk management practices.
World class asset management
As a leading centre for asset management – second only to the USA worldwide, the UK has approximately 2,600 firms managing £11 trillion of assets for both domestic and overseas clients, including hedge funds and private equity, most of whom are professional institutional investors. Until very recently, regulation came primarily through EU laws, which the UK helped to create, providing a management and reporting framework for all aspects of asset management and technical standards for particular funds.
What happens to EU Retained Law
As part of the transition, the FCA will be replacing many aspects of Retained EU Law, which was put onto the UK statute book at the end of 2018 as a temporary move before a new permanent regime could be established. The government is now pushing the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill through parliament, which will retire the bulk of it by the end of 2023, when the new regulatory set up will stand alone to supervise what the government expects to be, ‘the best regulated economy in the world.’ At Centralis Governance, Risk & Compliance, we have for a long while, been assessing the likely financial impacts of this evolving major change, to ensure we are fully prepared and up to speed for our clients before it happens.
An innovative future
The UK’s exit from the EU brings uncertainty mixed with hope. The Government is full of enthusiasm about the chance to re-imagine what the UK’s financial environment might look like: less red tape, more incentives, forward looking aspirations and much use of innovative new technology in all aspects of data management with new possibilities in AI and machine learning. The Future Regulatory Framework review (FRF) will ensure “the UK’s regulatory framework … continues to be coherent, agile and internationally respected.” Centralis Governance, Risk & Compliance shares this enthusiasm for balancing regulation with pragmatism and we shall continue to develop effective solutions for clients’ governance and prudential compliance frameworks as regime change takes effect.
Centralis Governance, Risk & Compliance works with clients globally to support their efforts to balance regulatory requirements with good business practices. As the FRF develops, UK fund managers may see periods of significant change for regulation, including monitoring, risk, technology and investor support. We are well placed to guide our clients by providing specialist outsourced solutions to support firms in house compliance and administration teams.