In this Compliance Culture Podcast episode, Lucinda Carney talks with Irving Peiris, Compliance Consultant from Create Solutions, about the FCA's growing focus on Appointed Representatives (ARs). They discuss why principals must strengthen governance, ensure cultural alignment, and maintain clear accountability under SMCR. Irving shares practical steps for effective oversight, including robust onboarding, structured reporting, and continuous improvement.
Key Takeaways
- The FCA expects active, documented oversight of Appointed Representatives, requiring principals to maintain clear governance frameworks, perform due diligence checks, and evidence ongoing supervision.
- Strong governance and cultural alignment reduce the risk of non-compliance, as firms must ensure ARs share the same ethical standards, customer commitments, and values as the principal business.
- Data visibility enables early detection of issues and informed decision-making, with digital tools helping firms monitor AR activity, simplify reporting, and flag potential risk before they escalate.
- Senior Management must understand and evidence their oversight responsibilities, as the SMCR reinforces personal accountability and demand clear documentation of decisions and controls.
- Continuous improvement and communication underpin sustainable compliance, requiring regular reviews, training, and feedback loops to keep governance and culture evolving with regulatory expectations.
Valuable Resources
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About The Guest, Irving Peiris
Irving Peiris is a compliance expert with over 20 years in the industry, including 10 years at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). He has extensive experience working with a wide range of business models, helping firms improve processes and build effective compliance strategies. Irving's expertise covers Consumer Duty, Risk Management, Vulnerable Customer practices, Financial Crimes, and regulatory areas such as Consumer Credit, Motor Finance, and Insurance. He has led major compliance projects, including FCA Section 166 reviews, and is passionate about supporting firms to stay compliant while enabling sustainable growth.
Contact Irving
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/irving-peiris-a0b18a62
Create Solutions: https://createsolutions.co.uk/
About The Host, Lucinda Carney
Lucinda Carney is a Chartered Psychologist, CEO of Actus Software, and host of the award-nominated, chart-topping HR Uprising Podcast. With over 20 years’ experience in organisational development and leadership, Lucinda has worked across a wide range of industries helping HR professionals establish behavioural change and accountability. Her passion for collaboration led her to create the HR Uprising community, empowering HR professionals to ‘rise up’ together. Now, Lucinda brings her expertise into a new space, exploring the human side of compliance through expert conversations with industry leaders and practicing compliance professionals.
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