As financial services firms navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, 2026 presents a convergence of geopolitical, technological, regulatory, and environmental risks. These risks are not only intensifying individually but also becoming more interconnected – this is amplifying their impact and complicating mitigation strategies.
On 26th November, Rachel Reeves delivered her Autumn Budget for 2025. We analyse the impact this will have on firms operating in the financial services sector.
The real estate investment management (REIM) sector enters the end of 2025 at a critical juncture. Traditional approaches to risk assessment and portfolio composition are being called into question by geopolitical uncertainty, evolving capital markets and shifting investor expectations. As the sector moves beyond the adjustment period of recent years, successful REIM managers are discovering that...
We look at some less obvious risks and assurance themes to help shape your planning for the year ahead, plus reflections on what stood out last year.
2025 sees the crypto narrative shifting fast from speculation to integration. Regulation, innovation, and institutional adoption are converging to make digital assets a serious consideration for asset managers. For asset managers, it means new products, stronger infrastructure, and greater compliance and oversight – and for auditors, it means rethinking how assurance is delivered in a rapidly evolving...
As climate-related financial risks become more prominent, regulatory expectations and stakeholder demands are pushing firms to integrate climate risk into their risk management frameworks. However, a one-size-fits-all approach is neither practical nor effective.
As climate-related risks continue to reshape the financial landscape, institutions are under increasing pressure to integrate robust climate scenario analysis (CSA) into their risk management and strategic planning frameworks. Firms need to meet regulatory expectations, adopt best-in-class methodologies, and embed climate risk into core decision-making processes.
In an increasingly complex and fast-paced environment, financial services leaders are focusing their efforts on strategic transformation, operational resilience and workforce readiness. Drawing on insights from executives across more than 35 countries, our latest report reveals how organisations in the sector are adapting to ongoing disruption, balancing risk with innovation and refining their long-term...
In March 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published the findings of its Private Markets Valuation Review which assessed valuation practices across a selection of firms managing alternative asset classes including private equity, private credit, venture capital and infrastructure.
In the first quarter of 2025, our experts commented on a number of announced regulatory developments. Our quarterly financial services regulatory newsletter is a comprehensive overview of topics relevant to firms that operate in the UK across all financial services sectors.
Confidence among UK financial services business leaders’ readiness for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and their actual plans for effective implementation are mismatched, according to our Performance Pulse survey.
In the evolving landscape of private investments, Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) play a pivotal role in ensuring robust governance and accurate valuation practices.
Fraud continues to be a significant challenge for businesses in the UK, resulting in billions of pounds lost annually to fraudulent activities.
From 6 April 2025, the Remittance Basis of taxation available to non-domiciled individuals will be replaced by the Foreign Income and Gains (FIG) regime. Given the high number of non-domiciled individuals employed in the Financial services sector, firms should be aware of the changes and seek advice if required.
Climate reporting has become increasingly important to the users of annual reports. The Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) “Annual Review of Corporate Reporting for 2023/24” has, for the first time, underscored this by including Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and climate-related reporting in its ‘Top 10’ issues in its annual review [1].
In the past few weeks, the US president has kept financial markets and business leaders on their toes. With a surge of incoming information, analysts and investment managers know that systemic risks are rising, but how best can they navigate these changes?
We’ve measured the AI preparedness of over 300 businesses in the UK. Find out the results.
This past week was predictably eventful, and the upcoming week promises to be even more so. The US President continued his reshaping of both the American and global economy, imposing 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% on China beginning on 1 February, promising that Europe is next.
Looking ahead in 2025, there are obvious challenges to the global trade environment, whilst above-target inflation and the resulting elevated interest rates add further grit to the wheels of the global economy at a time when equity valuations are looking a little expensive. At the same time, acute recessionary and inflationary risks have diminished, meaning we remain essentially neutral in terms of...
Donald Trump officially became President of the United States of America for the second time. In the last few days, we have heard a lot about the new President’s plans: a precipitous hike in tariffs, deregulation in the bank, tech, energy and pharma sectors, reducing corporate taxes, a “cultural revolution”, ending global strife, rewriting global borders, ending illegal immigration… and so much more.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, our experts commented on a number of announced regulatory developments. Our quarterly financial services S regulatory newsletter is a comprehensive overview of topics relevant to firms that operate in the UK across all financial services sectors.
We have identified the key risk areas for financial services business leaders in 2025. These risks have been prioritised based on their severity and the urgency of mitigation, informed by comprehensive market research, regulatory insights, and our assessment of the current challenges faced by these firms. We also highlight the changes in risk rankings compared to last year.
In the economic outlook season, the key theme is policy uncertainty. Change will accelerate, some of it will be good and some of it will be a miss.
In the government's first Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced several measures that will impact the UK's Financial Services sector, and we examine here the impact of the policies announced.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Autumn Budget contained a sizeable increase in employers' national insurance contributions (NICs). This article examines how this will impact the Financial Services sector's tax cost and compliance requirements.
In the past few days, markets have been cheering at the prospect of deregulation, especially in the banking sector. The US election has become a catalyst for many government officials, across both sides of the Atlantic, to come out and advocate for deregulation. While upping economic and financial risk, it could be the key to unlocking economic growth in the years to come.
The global economy is entering a more synchronized part of the cycle, but economies diverge.
In the third quarter of 2024, our experts commented on a number of announced regulatory developments. Our quarterly FS regulatory newsletter is a comprehensive overview of topics relevant to firms that operate in the UK across all Financial Services sectors.
The scope of outsourcing within the realm of Asset management is substantial and on an upward trajectory. Outsourcing is expanding significantly, with asset managers increasingly exploring outsourcing not only traditional functions but also a wide range of in-house operations.
On 24 February 2024, Ukraine and the rest of the world marked the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Despite extensive media coverage of the war and its geopolitical and socio-economic ramifications on Europe and the rest of the world, there is an opportunity for investors to explore the potential in Ukraine.
As financial services organisations increasingly focus on digital transformation, having the right expertise and skillsets is critical. However, it’s not simply a question of human capital. It requires developing a talent strategy that recognises the profound impact technology will have across the organisation.
The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in financial services continues to exercise C-suite minds. Not least, how to balance AI’s benefits to enhance the customer experience and improve back-office operations with the ethical challenges that AI presents.
The financial services sector is increasingly looking to technology to help tackle the rising levels of regulation they face.
Financial services organisations see digital transformation as a top priority. While the competitive landscape has been evolving following the arrival of digital-first challenger banks and fintech players, emerging technology and rising mobile service demands from tech-savvy consumers are now pushing traditional players to innovate, rethink business models and how to accelerate and scale their technology...
Optimism in the financial services sector is riding high. So why is the financial services sector so confident and what needs to happen to ensure growth aspirations remain on track?
Both the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) have highlighted Diversity and inclusion (D&I) as critical to their work on culture and governance. Benefits from D&I in the workplace include positive outcomes in risk management, good conduct, healthy working cultures and innovation.
Subsequent to a recent review across asset management firms, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has observed varying degrees of liquidity risk management standards across firms and has issued a warning to Authorised Fund Managers (AFMs) to better risk-manage their liquidity to avoid investor harm.
ESG-related regulatory requirements, and scrutiny, show no signs of abating.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published in November 2023 its long-awaited policy statement on Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR).
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