SMCR in lockdown

The Taylor Wessing SMCR team hosted a webinar on 9 September 2020 on the impact of lockdown on the requirements of the SMCR and how these affect regulated businesses.

The webinar was led by Charlotte Hill, Helen Farr, Daniel Hirschfield, Colin Godfrey and Lauren Clarke, and provided insights on:

• the delay to the implementation dates for solo-regulated firms to train their staff on the conduct rules and to undertake the first certification of certified employees (from 9 December 2020 to 31 March 2021)
• the FCA's new Directory of certified and assessed persons
• managing the certification of employees remotely
• managing conduct rule breaches
• maintaining a healthy culture in lockdown

SMCR stands for the Senior Managers and Certification Regime.  The regime aims to raise standards and increase individual accountability in the financial services sector.  It was first applied to banks, building societies, credit unions and dual-regulated (FCA and PRA regulated) investment firms in March 2016.  In December 2018, it was extended to insurers, reinsurers and managing agents, and on 9 December 2019 to other FCA solo-regulated firms (except benchmark administrators not undertaking regulated activities – aspects of the regime will apply to them from 7 December 2020). 

The Taylor Wessing SMCR team brings together regulatory and employment lawyers and advises on the interaction between regulatory and employment law issues.

If you have any queries about how the SMCR may affect you, please contact Charlotte Hill or Helen Farr.