SMF Capital

Welcome to SMF Unlocked, the podcast exploring senior management, regulatory accountability and recruitment across UK financial services. In this episode, we’re focusing on SMF Capital: who we are, what we do, and how we help FCA and PRA-regulated firms recruit the senior people they need. That is where specialist recruitment can make a difference. SMF Capital was established to focus on Senior Manager Function appointments, bringing together recruitment expertise and an understanding of the

Welcome to SMF Unlocked, the podcast from SMF Capital. Today we are looking at one of the most important aspects of being an FCA Senior Management Function holder: the Conduct Rules. For an SMF, regulatory responsibility is not simply about having a particular job title or being approved by the FCA. Senior managers are subject to specific standards of behaviour and have personal accountability for the areas of the business for which they are responsible. The FCA's Conduct Rules set minimum st...

Welcome to SMF Unlocked, the podcast from SMF Capital. Today we are looking at an issue that can become particularly important when recruiting senior people into regulated financial services: regulatory references and the FCA's six-year rule. For an individual applying for an SMF, taking on a certification function or moving into another regulated senior position, references are not simply a standard HR formality. The regulatory reference process can provide important information about a pers...

Welcome to SMF Unlocked, the podcast from SMF Capital for anyone involved in FCA Senior Management Functions. If you are a board member, senior executive, compliance professional, HR or governance specialist, investor, or someone considering taking on an SMF appointment, this podcast is designed to make the Senior Managers and Certification Regime easier to understand in practical terms. The aim is straightforward. Rather than simply repeating regulatory terminology, each episode looks at a s

Welcome to the SMF Capital podcast. Today we're looking at an important governance question for regulated firms: Is your Responsibilities Map actually fit for purpose? For an Enhanced firm, the Responsibilities Map is not simply a document prepared for the regulator and then filed away. It should provide a clear picture of how the firm is managed, how responsibilities are allocated between senior managers, and where accountability sits across the organisation. What Is a Responsibilities Map? ...

Welcome to the SMF Capital podcast. Today we're looking at a transition that can significantly change the senior management structure of a regulated business: moving from Core to Enhanced SM&CR status. For a growing financial services firm, reaching the point where enhanced requirements apply is an important stage of development. It can mean additional Senior Management Functions, more formal allocation of responsibilities and a greater need for a coordinated board and executive structure...