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FSA focus on Senior Management responsibility. Importance of effective systems and controls
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1. Senior Management Responsibility for Systems and Controls – what the FSA expects and how to respondIan MasonPartner, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert
2. FSA focus on Senior Management responsibility Importance of effective systems and controls
“Dear CEO” letters
More enforcement cases against senior management
3. Effective systems and controls “A firm must take reasonable care to organise its affairs responsibly and effectively, with adequate risk management” (Principle 3)
“A firm must take reasonable care to establish and maintain such systems and controls as are appropriate to its business” (SYSC 3.1.1 R )
“An approved person performing a significant influence function must take reasonable steps to ensure that the business of the firm for which he is responsible in his controlled function is organised so that it can be controlled effectively” (Statement of Principle 5)
4. Senior management systems and controls responsibilities – some examples Financial crime
Conflicts of interest
Treating customers fairly
5. Dear CEO letters FSA increasingly uses this tool to identify areas of concern
Examples: client money handling, conflicts of interest
Important to engage senior management
Consider response carefully
FSA may check your response against subsequent information received
6. When will the FSA take action against Senior Management? Liability under the FSA rules
Liability under the Listing Rules
Personal culpability
7. FSA sanctions against individuals Criminal sanctions
Fines
Public censure
Withdrawal of approval
Prohibition
Publicity
8. Some recent Enforcement cases AIT
Investment services UK/Mr Ram Melwani
Shell/Sir Philip Watts
9. Mitigating the risks Dealing effectively with the FSA
The importance of documented procedures
A risk-based approach
Challenge and review
10. Referrals to Enforcement The Supervision/Enforcement interface
Taking a risk-based approach
FSA is not an Enforcement-led regulator
The importance of an appropriate response at the pre-referral stage
11. Enforcement – the investigation stage Formal appointment of investigators
The scoping visit
Compulsory powers to require production of documents and to require witnesses to attend interviews
Skilled persons reports
Preliminary Investigation Report
12. The Regulatory Decisions Committee (RDC) Part of the FSA, a sub-committee of the FSA Board
Independent of Enforcement Division
Composition: full-time Chairman + market practitioners + other public interest representatives
Not a tribunal or a court, intended to provide an effective but fair process
13. RDC procedure Warning notice
Representations (written and/or oral)
Decision notice
28 days to refer to the Tribunal
Meetings are held in private
14. The Financial Services and Markets Tribunal Completely independent of the FSA
Not merely an appeal, new hearing
Hearings normally held in public
15. Settlement and mediation Strong incentives to settle (discount scheme on fines, Tribunal unlikely to award costs)
Streamlined procedure for settlement – involves 2 FSA directors, not the RDC
FSA mediation scheme
16. Some current hot topics A “bold and resolute” approach to Enforcement
De-regulation and the move towards a principles-based approach
Deterrence and the level of fines
17. Questions
18. Contact Details – Ian Mason Direct dial 020 7643 7265
Email imason@blg.co.uk
Address: Beaufort House, 15 St Botolph Street, London EC3A 7NJ