The Regulatory Environment Flashcards
what was the purpose for the FSMA 2001?
to provide stronger protection for consumers of financial services and products
what did the Financial Services act 2012 introduce?
FCA and PRA
what additional body does the regulatory framework also comprise of?
Financial Policy Committee of the BOE
what did the FSMA establish?
- regulators (replaced FSA with FCA and PRA)
- Single ombudsman service (Financial Ombudsman service) for customer disputes
- single compensation scheme to provide a fund for consumer compensation when firms are unable to meet their liabilities
- penalties
- uk listings regime which replaced LSE powers (known as FCA primary market function)
who is responsible for the authorisation and supervision of all financial institutions?
FCA
What powers did the FCA take over from the FSA?
powers to investigate and prosecute insider dealing and market abuse
who oversees the FOS?
FCA
Who overseas the FSCS?
FCA and PRA.
what is the FCA solely responsible for?
authorisation and supervision of all financial institutions
what powers did the FCA inherit from the FSA?
powers to investigate and prosecute insider dealing and market abuse
what is the difference between an authorised person and an approved person?
authorised person is a person that has been authorised by the PRA/FCA to carry out one or more regulated activities, an approved person is an individual that has been approved by the PRA and/or FCA to perform a role or carry out an activity
who are the authorised persons?
- those who have been given permission to conduct regulated activity by the FSA up to 31 March and by PRA/FCA following on
- overseas firms in the EEA, UCITS qualifiers
- ICVCs, established under OEIC regulations 2001
- society of Lloyds (insurance)
how can someone become an exempt person?
by way of specific sections within FSMA or through orders made by HM Treasury
what are the two examples of exempt persons?
- appointed representatives of authorised persons
- recognised investment exchanges and recognised clearing houses
can a person be authorised and exempt at the same time?
no, they cannot conduct regulated activities as an authorised person and others in the capacity of an appointed rep. of another firm
what is the role of the FCA?
protect consumers, keep the industry stable and promote healthy competition
what is the role of the PRA?
prudential regulation of banks, building societies, credit unions, major investment firms and promotes the safety and soundness of these firms
what do the FCA and PRA have power over?
firms carrying on regulated activities, the financial exchanges that are used by those firms and individuals carrying out particular functions for those firms
who has overall responsibility for the UK financial system?
HM Treasury
what powers does HM Treasury have in relation to the FCA?
power to appoint of dismiss their board and Chairperson
power to commission reviews and enquiries into the FCA’s operations
what does the FCA have to submit to HM Treasury once a year?
a report on their functions and the extent to which they have discharged their functions - laid out before parliament
what are the two core purposes of the BoE?
Monetary stability (stable prices and confidence in the currency)
Financial stability (detecting and reducing threats to the financial system)
what is the FCA’s strategic objective?
ensuring that the relevant markets function well.
what are the FCA’s operational objectives?
Consumer protection, integrity and competition
what is the single general objective of the PRA?
promote the safety and soundness of PRA authorised persons.
how does the PRA advance their general objective?
- ensuring business of PRA- authorised persons doesn’t adversely effect stability
- minimising the adverse effect of a failure of a PRA-authorised person
what are the levels of accountability the FCA is subject to?
- annual report to HM Treasury
- have to show how their rules help to meet objectives
- judicial review by the courts
- held accountable for regulatory failure
what was the secondary objective for the PRA and FCA brought in by FSMA 2023?
they must facilitate international competitiveness of the UK economy and medium/long-term growth
what is the FCA’s supervisory function focused on?
conduct of dual authorised firms and prudential regulation of firms not directly authorised by the PRA
what is the credible deterrence framework?
part of the supervisory approach, includes a consistent and more transparent framework for calculating financial penalties.
what does the revised model of supervision across the UK mean for the FCA?
they must intervene in a proactive way when they believe that the results of a firm’s actions will pose a risk to their statutory objectives. More intrusive and directional style
what are the two key features of the outcomes-focused intensive supervisory model?
- significant enhanced analysis and risk identification capacity
- outcome testing
what does a risk-based approach mean for the FCA?
they assess individual firms for the risk each one presents to its objectives
what three types of work is the FCA supervisory model based on?
Proactive
Reactive
Thematic - wider diagnostic or remedy work
how can conduct risk be described?
the risks posed to customers and the wider integrity of the financial markets by the way in which authorised firms and their staff conduct themselves
what are the outcomes that are core to the FTOC initiative?
- fair treatment at all times
- products are there to meet peoples needs
- clear information
- creating no unreasonable barriers to change product, provider or make a complaint
how does the BCBS define operational risk?
risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems from external events
how can conduct risk issues be embedded fully within an organisation?
firms board needs to consider the conduct implications of the firm’s strategy and put in place policies and procedures to support this throughout the organisation
how can conduct risk procedures be implemented into an organisation?
have an appropriate conduct policy that can be communicated through the organisation, devising training
what behaviours has the FCA emphasised that firm’s do not undertake?
- prioritising profits over ethics
- tick-box and overly legalistic approach to compliance
- abiding by the idea that disclosure at the point of sale pardons the seller from their responsibility for ensuring a good consumer outcome
- complying only with the letter rather than the spirit of any laws
who else does the FCA look to for conduct risk failings aside from the board?
senior management
what three areas has the FCA focused on for vulnerable customers?
- reducing and preventing serious harm
- setting and testing higher standards
- promoting competition and positive change
what does part 9A of the FSMA empower the FCA to do?
make rules that are legally binding on all authorised firms concerning regulated/unregulated activities
what does the FSMA empower regulators to do?
- grant authorisation
- supervise authorised persons on an ongoing basis
- employ a range of disciplinary measures and sanctions
- enforce the regulatory framework
what areas did the FCA expect firms to be compliant with from 01/01/21?
- MiFID II transactional reporting
- EMIR reporting
- SFTR reporting
- certain MAR reporting
- CASS rules
- market-making exemption under short selling
who oversees regulation of financial services across Europe?
ESFS, European system of financial supervision