Top Stories
UK financial watchdog promises to shut down failing firms faster
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
By Huw Jones
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s financial watchdog said on Thursday it will create 80 new jobs to shut down problem companies faster as it faces pressure from lawmakers to deal with corporate collapses more efficiently and tackle a rising volume of scams.
The Financial Conduct Authority said its new three-year strategy plan would be a “step change” which should over time cut serious harm to consumers, thereby bringing down compensation bills and the watchdog levy on firms.
It is the latest leg in a transformation which CEO Nikhil Rathi has said will turn the watchdog into a faster, more aggressive regulator to cope with demands such as the surge in online scams and the emerging crypto sector.
It has also faced criticism for being too slow to prevent failures such as the collapse of investment fund London Capital & Finance, which is costing taxpayers up to 120 million pounds in compensation.
The watchdog, which employs around 4,000 people, was already hiring 95 people to strengthen its authorisation unit to stop unsuitable companies being licensed in the first place.
The FCA has an increased budget of 640.1 million pounds ($836.93 million) this year, up 4.3%.
Internal changes have led to disquiet among some staff, with the outcome of a union vote on industrial action due next week.
The FCA said on Thursday it will, for the first time, measure itself annually against published outcomes and targets.
Currently the watchdog has patchy powers to intervene when problems arise in sectors including cryptoassets and in cases of online financial fraud until the government legislates to bring them under the regulatory net.
“Our expectation is that over time we will be able to intervene before harms become systemic,” Sarah Pritchard, the FCA’s executive director of markets, said.
Firms also face a tougher ‘consumer duty’ later in the year.
Simon Morris, a financial services partner with CMS law firm, said the strategy plan was ambitious and augurs real change in tone and substance.
“But in positioning itself as a more powerful and controlling regulator the FCA’s greatest challenge is accountability, especially to the firms it regulates,” Morris said.
The FCA will consult shortly on “side pockets” to ring-fence Russian assets in investment funds, Pritchard said.
There will also be a consultation on regulating stablecoins following the government’s announcement this week. [nL5N2W23WH
($1 = 0.7648 pounds)
(This story adds adds dropped word to headline)
(Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by Jason Neely and Andrew Heavens)
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is a regulatory body in the UK responsible for overseeing financial markets and protecting consumers by ensuring that financial firms operate fairly and transparently.
Consumer protection in finance refers to laws and regulations designed to ensure the rights of consumers are upheld, preventing unfair practices and ensuring transparency in financial transactions.
Corporate collapses occur when a company fails to meet its financial obligations, leading to bankruptcy or insolvency, often resulting in significant losses for investors and employees.
A regulatory strategy outlines the approach and actions a regulatory body takes to enforce laws, ensure compliance, and protect consumers within the financial sector.
A compensation bill is a financial obligation that a regulatory body or company must pay to consumers or investors as a result of losses incurred due to regulatory failures or corporate misconduct.
Explore more articles in the Top Stories category
