AFB Virtual Seminar: What Are the Proposed Changes to the Senior Managers Regime

The UK Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) has undergone a review by HM Treasury, the PRA and FCA.  The review was launched in Q1 2023 as part of the Edinburgh Reforms, which were put in place by the previous Conservative government.  The review has assessed the regime’s performance, effectiveness, and scope, as well as seeking to identify ways to optimise its functionality for both firms and regulators. It included a Call for Evidence from HM Treasury and a joint Discussion Paper from the FCA and PRA, both seeking feedback on the regime’s impact and potential improvements. 

The result of the review is due to be published in the first half of July.

In this webinar, BCLP will review and assess for AFB members the reforms published by HM Treasury and the regulators.

Who should attend?

All those with an interest in understanding the updates and potential changes to the Senior Managers regime.

Speakers

Polly James

Polly is an experienced financial services regulatory lawyer who helps financial institutions and their boards to manage regulatory risks arising in a broad range of situations spanning enforcement proceedings, supervisory interventions (e.g. s166 reviews and use of ‘own initiative powers’), whistleblower reports, FOS complaints and navigating legal/regulatory changes. In addition, Polly has significant experience in successfully preparing members of firms’ senior management for their regulatory approval interviews with the PRA and FCA. Having been on secondment to the FSA Enforcement Division, she knows what it feels like on both sides of the table.

Katherine Pope

Katherine advises businesses on all aspects of employment law and HR issues including, disciplinary and grievance disputes, whistleblowing complaints, reorganisations, performance issues and dealing with employees suffering from ill health. She has a particular focus on the financial services sector, and her work often involves a regulatory angle, including in the context of investigations.

Katherine regularly negotiates and documents complex employee exit arrangements and has conducted a broad range of proceedings in the Employment Tribunal. Alongside whistleblowing, she has a keen interest in discrimination law.

Katherine has spent time on secondment including at a large financial institution, where she advised on a wide breadth of HR issues (including complex grievance and disciplinary matters) and assisted in handling collective redundancy situations.

Please note that you will receive a confirmation of your booking via email within 24 hours. Should you not receive a confirmation, please contact AFB to double-check if your booking was successful.

Logistics

Fee:         Included in AFB membership

Location:  Virtual via Zoom, login details will be sent one week prior to the event

Date:        Thursday 17 July 2025

Time:        09:00 – 10:15

There will be ample opportunity for questions throughout the session; however, if you would like to submit a question before or have any specific questions or areas that you would like the session to address, please send them to the AFB at secretariat@foreignbanks.org.uk as soon as practicable. You will receive details on how to join this in-person session a week before the event.