{"id":1892,"date":"2026-03-10T09:10:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T09:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iqeq.com\/gb\/insights\/time-for-a-rethink-three-key-focus-areas-for-a-quieter-regulatory-year\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T07:52:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T07:52:48","slug":"time-for-a-rethink-three-key-focus-areas-for-a-quieter-regulatory-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iqeq.com\/gb\/insights\/time-for-a-rethink-three-key-focus-areas-for-a-quieter-regulatory-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Time for a rethink? Three key focus areas for a quieter regulatory year"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Rachel Aldridge,\u00a0 MD, UK Regulatory and Compliance Solutions<\/em><\/p>\n

With 2026 in full swing,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0clear the volume of new regulation\u00a0coming\u00a0from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will be\u00a0far\u00a0lighter than\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0seen\u00a0in recent years.\u00a0After\u00a0a\u00a0near<\/span>\u2011<\/span>constant state implementation\u00a0cycles, this shift marks a welcome change of pace. The FCA\u2019s alignment with the government\u2019s growth agenda\u00a0\u2013\u00a0and its\u00a0push\u00a0to reduce\u00a0the burden on regulated firms\u00a0\u2013\u00a0means fewer headline<\/span>\u2011<\/span>grabbing initiatives and\u00a0a rare bit of\u00a0breathing room for firms to reassess how they\u00a0operate.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But a quieter regulatory pipeline\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0necessarily translate into an easier year. In many organisations, the absence of major new rules has\u00a0prompted\u00a0chief financial officers\u00a0(CFOs)\u00a0to tighten compliance budgets, expecting teams to \u201ctake a look at how you can reduce cost and risk\u201d without compromising standards. This creates a new challenge: how to\u00a0maintain\u00a0a\u00a0robust\u00a0approach\u00a0while operating leaner, smarter and more efficiently.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rather than\u00a0treating this year\u00a0as a lull, firms should\u00a0seize\u00a0it as a strategic opportunity. With fewer mandatory change projects\u00a0crowding the agenda, compliance leaders can finally revisit long<\/span>\u2011<\/span>standing inefficiencies, modernise outdated processes and strengthen the foundations of their programmes. Some capacity must always be reserved for\u00a0regulatory curveballs\u00a0\u2013\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0never off the table\u00a0\u2013\u00a0but\u00a0now\u00a0is the moment to grasp the nettle and rethink how compliance is delivered.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Below are three\u00a0focus\u00a0areas where\u00a0firms can make meaningful improvements:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Outsourcing non\u2011core tasks<\/h2>\n

Outsourcing\u00a0gives\u00a0organisations\u00a0genuine\u00a0opportunity to rethink processes\u00a0while\u00a0reducing\u00a0cost and\u00a0operational\u00a0risk.\u00a0This is especially true for labour<\/span>\u2011<\/span>intensive, repeatable activities such as\u00a0know-your-customer (KYC)\u00a0reviews, ongoing\u00a0screening\u00a0and certain monitoring tasks\u00a0\u2013 all of which can be delivered more efficiently by specialist providers equipped with the right\u00a0technology,\u00a0scale\u00a0and\u00a0expertise.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The FCA\u2019s expectations around oversight\u00a0of outsourced activities\u00a0remain\u00a0unchanged:\u00a0firms must\u00a0retain\u00a0accountability and ensure strong governance.\u00a0But the market for high<\/span>\u2011<\/span>quality compliance outsourcing has matured significantly.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Providers now offer:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n