As we move further into 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) continues on with its Annual Work Programme, which sets out what the regulator plans to deliver over the time period. The programme provides vital insight into the FCA’s priorities and focus areas, and it’s essential reading for credit firms and Appointed Representatives (ARs) navigating the ever-evolving regulatory landscape.
At its core, the work programme aligns with the FCA’s 2025-2030 strategy, built around four strategic priorities:
- A smarter regulator, more efficient and effective
- Supporting growth
- Helping consumers navigate their financial lives
- Fighting financial crime
Becoming a Smarter Regulator
The FCA aims to continue to modernise how it regulates. For credit firms and ARs, this means:
- Reducing data burden by streamlining regulatory information requests and halting some regular returns that are no longer necessary.
- Improving digital systems, with enhancements to the FCA’s My FCA portal which will allow firms to manage regulatory tasks and submit fees more efficiently.
- A continued focus on digital intelligence and data to identify harm quickly and escalate action where needed.
This emphasis on technology and data will help firms reduce administrative burden, but it also means that regulators will have better insights into firm behaviour making strong compliance systems more critical than ever.
Supporting Growth While Ensuring Fair Outcomes
The FCA has also restated their commitment to fostering a competitive financial services sector, but not at the expense of consumer protection. Efforts include:
- Simplifying regulatory processes to encourage innovation.
- Encouraging firms to focus on outcomes that benefit consumers and the broader economy.
For credit firms and ARs, this means aligning business practices with both innovation and compliance, as well as ensuring robust evidence of good consumer outcomes.
Consumer Support and Financial Crime
Helping consumers navigate their financial lives remains a core priority. The FCA will continue work aimed at improving financial resilience and support for consumers, including better complaint handling and transparency.
In regard to financial crime, the regulator will invest further in intelligence-led approaches to detect and deter misconduct. This is an area where credit firms must remain vigilant to protect both consumers and the integrity of the market.
What This Means for You
For credit firms and appointed representatives, the 2025-26 work programme reinforces several ongoing themes: governance, data quality, customer outcomes, and risk-based supervision. With regulatory expectations continuing to rise, prioritising proactive compliance and demonstrating robust oversight will be key to both managing regulatory risk and supporting sustainable business growth.
If you haven’t already reviewed your frameworks for reporting, risk management and oversight, now is the time. Aligning your practices with the FCA’s priorities is essential for positioning your firm for success in the year ahead. This is why we work with our AR network, proactively supporting firms to keep ahead of the curve with their regulatory expectations.
