
The SMF Regulatory Briefing Programme 2027 – All You Need to Know About Everything That Matters Most
What the FCA expects from Senior Managers
The FCA takes the competence of your Senior Managers very seriously. Upon applying to become an SMF, the FCA expects an individual to demonstrate a high level of skill and knowledge to carry out the role, supporting their application by completing a skills gap analysis, learning and development plan, and competency assessment.
Remaining Fit and Proper
But the regulator’s scrutiny of an SMF doesn’t stop at the application stage. The FCA expects your firm to ensure that your SMF holders continue to possess the requisite skills, particularly concerning the latest regulatory developments. Annual fit and proper assessments, mandated by the regulator and conducted by your firm, are not a ‘tick box’ exercise requiring you instead to carefully assess whether your senior managers are competent in performing their roles.
The solution
PIMFA’s 12-month ‘SMF Regulatory Briefing Programme’ supports SMF holders in learning everything they need to know about the issues that matter most to them. It also prepares prospective SMF holders for the highest level of leadership. The programme consists of a series of live, monthly, online one-hour sessions on critical compliance, risk and financial crime challenges, enabling SMFs to:
- Keep up to date with the latest regulatory trends and initiatives
- Demonstrate their commitment to regulatory proficiency
- Access the training at a convenient time, through our on-demand learning platform
- Document CPD activity as required
Highlights and key outcomes
By enrolling on ‘The SMF Regulatory Briefing Programme 2026’, SMFs will be able to:
- Evidence to the FCA their in-role competency and capability required under SMCR.
- Rapidly assess the firm’s compliance exposure and vulnerabilities.
- Get ahead and make sense of a broad, complex, and ever-evolving regulatory and compliance landscape.
- Set priorities to develop a proactive regulatory change management programme.
- Lead your firm on how best to mitigate risks, create a firm-wide compliance culture, make sound decisions, and build resilience across the business.
- Improve their strategic thinking and ability to respond to regulatory change effectively.
- Explore with peers the latest research and best practices for managing risk to safeguard enterprise value.
Session format
Each session includes a mix of expert-led presentations, real-world case studies and small group discussions.
Programme topics and schedule
Through 12 sessions, SMFs develop the knowledge and insights on the latest regulatory changes and compliance challenges required to protect their firm’s assets, reputation, and competitive advantage.
Format: 12 x 1-hour monthly sessions
Delivery: Live, expert-led online learning sessions
Start date: 21st January 2027 – 9th December 2027
Duration: 12 months
21/01/2027
The SMF Regulatory Outlook 2027: What Should Be on Your Radar?
25/02/2027
AI Governance: What Does Reasonable SMF Oversight Look Like?
18/03/2027
Non-Financial Misconduct: Six Months In – What Have We Learned?
15/04/2027
Cyber Risk: The Questions Every SMF Should Be Asking
06/05/2027
Consumer Duty: Can You Evidence Good Outcomes?
10/06/2027
6. Operational Resilience: From Compliance Exercise to Executive Accountability
15/07/2027
Vulnerable Customers: What Should Senior Management Be Seeing?
12/08/2027
Financial Crime: Are Your Controls Actually Working?
09/09/2027
9. Market Abuse and Market Integrity: The SMF Lens
14/10/2027
When Things Go Wrong: Enforcement Lessons for SMFs
11/11/2027
Growth, Consolidation and Governance: Managing Risk Through Change
09/12/2027
The Annual SMF Assurance Review: What Could You Evidence to the FCA Tomorrow?
Peter Haines
Nigel Sydenham
CCL Academy Limited
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