FCA Authorisation for Investment Firms

What the FCA assesses for an investment firm

Investment firms, advisers and managers are authorised under FSMA to carry on regulated investment activities, with conduct standards in COBS. Prudential requirements sit under MIFIDPRU/IFPR for MiFID firms, or IPRU-INV for many advice-only firms. The FCA focuses on competence, capital, conflicts and client-money arrangements where relevant.

The 11 questions in this check

1. Business Model & Scope

   Do you have a clear business plan and target market for the permissions you want?

   The FCA expects firms to clearly define their target market and show how the business model supports good customer outcomes and regulatory compliance.

2. Business Model & Scope

   Are the regulatory permissions you are applying for correctly scoped for what you will actually do?

   Applications are commonly delayed when the permissions requested are broader than the business model, or miss activities the firm will carry on.

3. People & Accountability

   Do you have people with the right experience for the senior roles your regime requires?

   The regulator assesses whether the individuals running the activity are competent, capable and fit and proper, with responsibilities clearly allocated (under the SM&CR, the PSD/e-money individual regime or the money laundering rules, depending on your activity).

4. Financial Resources & Safeguarding

   Do you have the capital, safeguarding approach, and financial resources documented for the activity you want to carry on?

   The FCA expects appropriate capital planning, safeguarding arrangements (where relevant) and evidence of sufficient financial resources to support the proposed activity.

5. Compliance Oversight

   Do you have ongoing compliance oversight, monitoring, and complaints handling in place?

   The FCA expects clear responsibility for compliance, active monitoring of risk and controls, and effective arrangements for handling customer complaints.

6. Systems & Controls

   Do you have the systems, records and financial crime controls the activity requires?

   Firms must evidence adequate systems and controls, record keeping, and (where in scope) financial crime and AML arrangements proportionate to the business.

7. Governance & Accountability

   Is there clear board or senior management oversight and accountability for the regulated business?

   The regulator expects governance arrangements that give senior management effective oversight, with clear individual accountability.

8. Ownership & Establishment

   Have you mapped your controllers and beneficial owners, and is the firm's mind and management in the UK?

   The FCA assesses controllers, beneficial owners and group structure, and expects the firm to be capable of effective supervision with its head office and key functions in the UK (a Threshold Condition, or the equivalent condition under the PSRs/EMRs/MLRs).

9. Application Readiness

   Are your application pack and supporting documents drafted and ready to submit?

   A complete, consistent application pack with the required supporting documents materially reduces the risk of delay or a request for more information.

10. Prudential Regime

    Do you know which prudential regime applies and have you computed your own-funds requirement?

    MiFID investment firms sit under MIFIDPRU/IFPR; most advice-only firms sit under IPRU-INV 13. Applying the wrong regime is a common error.

11. Client Assets

    Will you hold client money or custody assets, and are your CASS arrangements designed?

    Holding client money or safeguarding assets brings the CASS regime into scope, which the FCA reviews closely.

Common pitfalls

• Capital and liquidity requirements underestimated
• Senior manager competence not clearly evidenced
• Professional indemnity insurance gaps for advisory firms

Read more on our FCA authorisation service, see how we support investments firms, or work through the full authorisation readiness checklist.