UK financial regulator Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has come out with a statement that oversight of Appointed Representatives (ARs) is improving, but that there is more to do.

The FCA has set out good practice and areas for improvement to help principal firms effectively monitor their ARs. The findings follow a review of how principals are meeting its enhanced AR rules, introduced in 2022. The analysis involved a telephone survey with 251 principals and in-depth assessments of documentation from 23 firms.

Examples of good practice from principals included keeping clear documentation to show compliance with the FCA’s enhanced rules, and using a broad range of checks and information to oversee and monitor ARs’ activities.

But the FCA found some firms were taking a tick-box approach to complying with its rules, relying on basic information like website checks, or using self-declarations from their ARs, to demonstrate effective oversight.

The review also found:

• 1 in 5 principals had not carried out a required self-assessment or annual review of their ARs.
• Approximately half of principals were not regularly reviewing their AR agreements.
• A third of principals were not using data or management information to keep tabs on whether ARs were acting within the scope of AR agreements.
• Most firms had not changed their AR onboarding or termination procedures since the rules were introduced.

Jane Savidge, Interim Head of Department for Appointed Representatives said:

“Some firms have been embedding our rules well, but some aren’t getting the basics right and are taking a ‘bare minimum’ approach.

“Principals must have clear, written AR agreements from the outset and effectively monitor their ARs to make sure they act within scope.”

The FCA said it has followed up directly with firms in the review and will take swift action where it sees principals not meeting its standards in the future.