Financial Conduct Authority

United Kingdom individual licensing requirements

Map the named-person side of the application: approvals, representatives, competence, regulatory history, authority, availability, and supervision.

Individual requirements

  • - Senior Manager Function approval where a controlled function applies
  • - Certification for relevant staff under SM&CR where applicable
  • - Conduct Rules training and fit and proper assessment
  • - Clear allocation of responsibility for compliance, money laundering reporting, and operations

People evidence to prepare

  • - Role description matched to regulated activities and reporting lines.
  • - CV, regulatory history, disciplinary disclosures, exams, and competence evidence.
  • - Authority, time commitment, location, backup, and conflict notes.
  • - Supervision map showing how the individual controls or escalates regulated work.
  • - Public-register verification plan after approval or appointment.

Common bottlenecks

  • - Permissions requested do not match the actual operating model
  • - Financial forecasts are inconsistent with the applicant legal entity or prudential category
  • - Weak governance, SM&CR ownership, or compliance monitoring
  • - CASS, outsourcing, wind-down, and technology controls are not tailored to the firm