Activities Archive

The presentation by the FSA to APCC members is now available for download by members.

Member firms are now able to download the presentation by the FSA during the interactive workshop on the use of platforms by intermediaries.

The presentation from the compliance consultants training session on 3 September is now available for download from the members area.

The FSA are holding a series of compliance consultants training seminars focussing particularly on TCF.  The presentation from the seminar held on 3 September is now available for members to download.

As a result of the success of the first FSA  training seminars for compliance consultants the FSA will be holding repeat training seminars in September and October. 

We are pleased to announce that the FSA has recently confirmed  that they will be holding more seminars in September and October specifically for compliance consultants.  The seminars are available for all compliance consultants and they are being organised by the Events Team in conjunction with the Small Firms Division in Edinburgh.  As advised previously, the format has been driven by the FSA in consultation with the APCC. This is the first time such an approach has been adopted and represents a clear message as to how important the FSA views the role of the compliance consultant and the role of the APCC.

 
The seminars will be held as follows:

19 September                Manchester
7 October                      London
8 October                      Newport
9 October                      Livingston

 
The content of these seminars will follow those held previously so if you have already attended an FSA  training seminar on either 24 July or 3 September you may not find any new material. Click here for more information.  Spaces are limited so we recommend you book early to avoid disappointment.

The APCC has stressed the need for these sessions to be detailed so that all parties will go away having experienced an interactive and thought provoking session that provides consultants with a clearer understanding of the FSA's operational approach and gives the FSA a clearer understanding of the operational role of the consultant.

The APCC is delighted to offer all APCC members a discount of £50 per firm for attendance on one of the seminars. This discount cannot be offered via FSA so you will be required to pay the fee (£250 pp) in full to FSA. To receive your £50 discount please email your confirmation of registration to jo.stephens@apcc.org.uk and your firm's bank details so that the discount can be paid direct.

The APCC, in association with Steve Tully and Rory Percival from the Retail Policy & Themes Division at the FSA, are holding an event to discuss the FSA's policy on the use of platforms by intermediaries.

The APCC, in association with Steve Tully and Rory Percival from the Retail Policy & Themes Division at the FSA, are holding an event to discuss the FSA's policy on the use of platforms by intermediaries.  This event is open to delegates from APCC members only.

The topics that will be covered include:

- the areas of training and competence;
- systems and controls;
- changes to business models;
- managing conflicts of interests;
- suitability & acting within scope of permissions; and
- the related matter of distributor influenced funds.

In addition the session will also give APCC members an opportunity to ask questions regarding the above.

Location: 117 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7BT
Date: 11 September 2008
Time: 11.30am to 1pm followed by buffet lunch
Cost: £50 per delegate to cover administrative costs

Places are limited to 15 and this event is now full. If you are from an APCC members firm and would like to attend please email Jo Stephens on jo.stephens@apcc.org.uk for a cancellation standby.

As a result of an APCC initiative the FSA is now providing training specifically for compliance consultants.  The main focus for the training is TCF but the APCC is working with the FSA to extend the scope of this training.

The FSA has recently confirmed two seminars to be held this summer specifically for compliance consultants. We have been in discussion with the FSA about these type of events for several months so are very happy to now see these dates announced. The seminars are available for all compliance consultants and they are being organised by the Events Team in conjunction with the Small Firms Division in Edinburgh. The format has been driven by the FSA in consultation with the APCC. This is the first time such an approach has been adopted and represents a clear message as to how important the FSA views the role of the compliance consultant and the role of the APCC.

These two seminars are a pilot for what will hopefully become a regular occurrence and countrywide as well.

The seminars will be held on the afternoon of 24th July in London and the afternoon of 3rd September in Birmingham and will cover the following:

Introduction

- Why the FSA has decided to hold these seminars;

- What the FSA hopes to achieve;

- Brief discussion on what TCF means;

- Case study.

Virtual visit

This section will include:

- A brief description of who SFCD are;
- Descriptions of the various types of visits to a firm the FSA might undertake – Enhanced Strategy, thematic project work, crystallised risk;
- Information FSA would request from a firm prior to a visit;
- Information FSA would obtain from other sources prior to a visit;
- What a typical visit would look like – meetings with senior management, meetings with advisers, file reviews;
- What FSA would look for on client files;
- Common issues FSA have found.

The APCC has stressed the need for these sessions to be detailed so that all parties will go away having experienced an interactive and thought provoking session that provides consultants with a clearer understanding of the FSA's operational approach and gives the FSA a clearer understanding of the operational role of the consultant.

For more information please visit http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Doing/Events/compliance.shtml. Spaces are limited to 40 delegates so we recommend you book early to avoid disappointment.

The Press Release for the 4th Annual Forum Event held in London earlier this month was released today.

To view the full detail of the Press Release, click here.

The 2008 London Forum of the Association was held on 5 March 2008 in the Large Pension Room at the Honourable Society of Grays Inn, 8 South Square, London WC1R 5ET.  

This was a very well attended event and we were very pleased to have seven speakers from the FSA who gave detailed and informative presentations on topical regulatory issues.  After each presentation delegates were able to ask questions of the FSA speakers and to give their views on the issues raised.

The full day of speakers from the FSA, included:

 * A keynote address from Lesley Titcomb the newly appointed Director of Small Firms and Contact Division, and Retail Intermediaries Sector Leader at the FSA
* Paul Hunter, Head of Regulatory Strategy Department at the FSA, speaking on principles-based regulation: issues for consideration
* A session on the risks and issues in the retail intermediaries and asset management sectors
* Arrow II -  a presentation from Joe Traynor, Strategy & Risk Manager at the FSA
* Financial Crime: issues for consultancies by Edna Young, Financial Crime Operations Manager, FSA
* A report on the Association, achievements to date, next steps and future strategy
* The 2008 annual general meeting of the Association

A detailed programme can be viewed here.   Copies of the presentations are available to members in the members area of the website.

The Press Release issued after the event can be viewed here.

The delegate fee (including VAT) was £88.13 for delegates from member firms or the Compliance Institute and £176.25 for other delegates.   
 
The FSA are no longing hosting external events for commercial organisations which unfortunately includes us and that is why we moved the event to the Large Pension Room at the Honourable Society of Grays Inn, 8 South Square, London WC1R 5ET which is two minutes walk from Chancery Lane tube, click here for a location map.  
 

The APCC met with Stephen Bland, the Retail Intermediaries Sector Leader at the FSA, on 18 May. The purpose of the meeting was to have a broad ranging discussion on what is happening at the FSA and what is happening within the APCC.

We previously met with Stephen in November and as for that meeting we asked you for input on issues and questions to be raised with the FSA - in particular is there anything we should be telling the FSA on what is happening at the coalface of regulated firms.

Matters that we raised with the FSA at the May meeting included:

• The FSA review of compliance outsourcing.
• Principle based regulation/NewCob
• Regulatory reporting
• Joint workshops on AML and TCF
• Strengthening contacts with the wholesale division of the FSA.
• Various technical queries

A summary of this meeting including the responses to questions and issues raised is now available in the members section of the website.

Mark Outhwaite of OHL Consulting LLP gave a presentation to APCC members on the impact of recent changes to the laws and regulations relating to money laundering

Mark Outhwaite of OHL Consulting LLP gave a personal view on how recent changes to the laws and regulations relating to money laundering are now impacting on regulated firms, including the role of local enforcement agencies in addition to the FSA

Members can obtain a copy of the presentation from the download area under: Event - London May 07.

The APCC is a member of the IRR Advisory Group. The purpose of the meeting was to update Advisory Group members on changes to MER implementation timetable and discuss implications these changes would have on firms' reporting.

The following documents can be accessed from the download area:

• Meeting minutes
• Summary of Reporting Date Changes
• MER presentation on reporting date changes

The next Advisory Group meeting is provisionally booked for 18 June 2007. The meeting is expected to cover update on reporting, MER user management and process - pilot, involvement and ToR.