Consumer Duty Support for FCA Authorisation Applicants

As of 2023, the FCA expects all new firms to demonstrate full alignment with the Consumer Duty at the gateway before authorisation is granted. This means your firm must have a fully developed and embedded Consumer Duty compliance framework in place at the time of application.

I specialise in helping firms meet this bar by designing and delivering a complete, submission-ready Consumer Duty Authorisation Pack that aligns with FCA expectations and withstands regulatory scrutiny.

1. A Full Consumer Duty Authorisation Pack

I prepare a tailored, end-to-end Consumer Duty documentation suite for submission alongside your FCA application. This includes:

• Consumer Duty implementation plan

• Governance framework, including Duty Champion role

• Fair value assessment templates

• Target market and product approval documentation

• MI and outcomes monitoring strategy

• Policies covering customer understanding, vulnerable customers, and customer support

• Board and SMF training materials

• Record of embedding the Duty into systems, controls, and business processes

Every document is aligned to your firm’s business model and formatted for FCA readiness.

2. Strategic Advisory and Readiness Checks

• End-to-end support drafting and refining the Consumer Duty elements of your FCA application

• Identification of any gaps or weaknesses in your programme, with clear remediation steps

• Preparation for likely FCA follow-up questions and scrutiny on your Duty approach

• Ongoing guidance during the authorisation process to keep you on track and compliant

Whether you're launching a new firm or adding regulated activities, I ensure you go to the FCA with a clear, credible, and well-evidenced Consumer Duty framework, helping you avoid costly delays or rejections at the gateway.