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Governance advisory
We guide boards and management teams in frameworks, team processes and leadership dynamics to deliver sustainable value.
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Financial services advisory
Get market-driven expertise to achieve your goals in banking, insurance, capital markets, and investment management.
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Business risk services
Our market-driven expertise helps firms keep growing and manage risk in an evolving regulatory landscape.
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Risk
Meet risks with confidence and transform your business – we support you to manage risk and deliver on your goals.
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Economic consulting
Bespoke guidance grounded in complex economic theory and practical sector insight to help you make the right decisions.
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Government and public sector
Experience and expertise in delivering quality public sector advisory and audits.
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Business consulting
Partnering with you to deliver sustainable business change that helps you realise your ambitions.
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Transaction advisory services
Whether buying or selling, we help you get the deal done with our comprehensive range of transaction advisory services.
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Financial accounting advisory services (FAAS)
Our FAAS team can support your finance function with the flexible resource they need to get results.
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Corporate finance advisory
Building a business is never easy. We help you maximise the value of your business and find the right option.
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Valuations
Help to understand or support the valuation of a business or asset.
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Insolvency and global asset recovery
We provide asset tracing and seamless cross-border global recovery for clients.
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Forensic and investigation services
Market-driven expertise in investigations, dispute resolution and digital forensics.
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Restructuring
Our restructuring team help lenders, investors and management navigate contingency plans, restructuring and insolvency.
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Transformation consulting
Is business transformation a priority for your organisation? Our expert insight and guidance can help you achieve it.
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Pensions assurance
A tailored service that responds to evolving risks and regulations.
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Accounting services
Optimise your growth with expert accounting services. Contact us today.
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Royalty and intellectual property (IP) audits
Enhance IP asset protection with our royalty and IP audit services. Expertise in licensing, revenue detection, and compliance improvements.
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Business consulting
Partnering with you to deliver sustainable business change that helps you realise your ambitions.
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Corporate Simplification
Release value, reduce compliance complexity, and improve tax efficiency by streamlining your group structure.
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Economic consulting
Bespoke guidance grounded in complex economic theory and practical sector insight to help you make the right decisions.
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Financial accounting advisory services (FAAS)
Our FAAS team can support your finance function with the flexible resource they need to get results.
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Governance advisory
We guide boards and management teams in frameworks, team processes and leadership dynamics to deliver sustainable value.
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International
Unlock global opportunities with our local expertise and worldwide reach.
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People advisory
Driving business performance through people strategy and culture.
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Strategy Group
Successful business strategy is rooted in a clear understanding of the market, customer segmentation and how purchase decisions vary.
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Respond: Data breach, incident response and computer forensics
Are you prepared for a cyber failure? We can help you avoid data breaches and offer support if the worst happens.
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Comply: Cyber security regulation and compliance
Cyber security regulation and compliance is constantly evolving. Our team can support you through the digital landscape.
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Protect: Cyber security strategy, testing and risk assessment
Cyber security threats are constantly evolving. We’ll work with you to develop and test robust people, process and technology defences to protect your data and information assets.
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Corporate finance advisory
Building a business is never easy. We help you maximise the value of your business and find the right option.
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Debt advisory
Working with borrowers and private equity financial sponsors on raising and refinancing debt. We can help you find the right lender and type of debt products.
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Financial accounting advisory services (FAAS)
Our FAAS team can support your finance function with the flexible resource they need to get results.
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Financial modelling services
Financial modelling that helps you wrestle with your most pressing business decisions.
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Operational deal services
Enabling transaction goals through due diligence, integration, separation, and other complex change.
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Our credentials
Search our transactions to see our experience in your sector and explore the deals advisory services we've delivered.
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Transaction advisory services
Whether buying or selling, we help you get the deal done with our comprehensive range of transaction advisory services.
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Valuations
Help to understand or support the valuation of a business or asset.
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The ESG agenda
Shape your ESG agenda by identifying the right metrics, sustainable development and potential business value impact.
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ESG driven business transition
Whatever your ESG strategy, we can support your organisation as it evolves while maximising efficiency and profitability.
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ESG programme and change management
Do you have the right capabilities to drive the delivery of your ESG strategy to realise your targets?
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ESG risk management
You must protect, comply, understand and influence to successfully manage the risk involved with ESG issues. We can help.
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ESG strategy, risk and opportunity identification
We can help you clearly define your ESG Strategy, with the risks and opportunities identified and managed.
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Create value through effective ESG communication
Building trust and engagement with your stakeholders on your ESG strategy.
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ESG metrics, targets and disclosures
The pressure to report your ESG progress is growing. Do your targets measure up?
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ESG governance, leadership and culture framework
Make the most of ESG opportunities by effectively embedding your strategy across your organisation.
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ESG and non-financial assurance
Support your board to be confident in supplying robust information that withstands scrutiny.
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Transition planning to net zero
Supporting your organisation in the transition to net zero.
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Actuarial and insurance consulting
We consult extensively to the life insurance, general insurance, health insurance and pensions sectors.
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Business risk services
Our market-driven expertise helps firms keep growing and manage risk in an evolving regulatory landscape.
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Financial crime
Helping you fight financial crime in a constantly changing environment
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Financial services business consulting
Leverage our diverse capabilities to manage challenges and take opportunities: from assurance to transformation
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Financial services tax
Helping financial services firms navigate the global financial services and funds tax landscape.
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Regulatory and compliance
Providing an exceptional level of regulatory and compliance to firms across the financial services industry.
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Corporate intelligence
Corporate intelligence often involves cross-border complexities. Our experienced team can offer support.
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Litigation support
Industry-wide litigation support and investigation services for lawyers and law firms.
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Disputes advisory
Advising on quantum, accounting and financial issues in commercial disputes.
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Forensic investigations and special situations
Do you need clarity in an uncertain situation? If you're accused of wrongdoing we can help you get the facts right.
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Forensic data analytics
Our forensic data analytics team are helping businesses sift the truth from their data. See how we can help your firm.
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Monitoring trustee and competition services
Monitoring trustee services to competition, financial and regulatory bodies.
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Financial crime
Supporting your fight against financial crime in an ever-changing environment
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Public sector advisory
To deliver excellent public services, local and central government need specialist support.
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Public sector consulting
Helping public sector organisations maintain oversight of services and understand what's happening on the ground.
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Public sector audit and assurance
As a leading UK auditor, we have unparalleled insights into the risks, challenges and opportunities that you face.
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Contentious estates and family disputes
We manage complex and sensitive disputes through to resolution.
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Digital Asset Recovery
Get guidance and technical expertise on digital finance and cryptoasset recovery from our dedicated crypto hub.
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Grant Thornton Offshore
Grant Thornton Offshore is our one-stop global solution for insolvency, asset recovery, restructuring and forensics services.
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Insolvency Act Portal
Case information and published reports on insolvency cases handled by Grant Thornton UK LLP.
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Litigation support
Industry-wide litigation support and investigation services for lawyers and law firms.
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Personal insolvency
We can support you to maximise personal insolvency recovery and seek appropriate debt relief.
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South Asia business group
Supporting your growth in the UK-India economic corridor and beyond.
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US business group
Optimise your trans-Atlantic operations with local knowledge and global reach.
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Japan business group
Bridging the commercial and cultural divide and supporting your ambitions across Japan and the UK.
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Africa business group
Connecting you to the right local teams in the UK, Africa, and the relevant offshore centres.
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China-Britain business group
Supporting your operations across the China – UK economic corridor.
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Asset based lending advisory
Helping lenders, their clients and other stakeholders navigate the complexities of ABL.
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Contingency planning and administrations
In times of financial difficulty, it is vital that directors explore all the options that are available to them, including having a robust ‘Plan B’.
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Corporate restructuring
Corporate restructuring can be a difficult time. Let our team make the process simple and as stress-free as possible.
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Creditor and lender advisory
Whether you're a creditor or lender, complex restructurings depend on pragmatic commercial advice
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Debt advisory
Our debt advisory team can find the right lender to help you in restructuring. Find out how our experts can support you.
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Financial services restructuring and insolvency
Financial services restructuring and insolvency is a competitive marketplace. Our team can help you navigate this space.
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Pensions advisory services
DB pension-schemes need a balanced approach that manages risk for trustees and sponsors in an uncertain economy.
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Restructuring and insolvency tax
Tax will often be crucial in a plan to restructure a distressed business. Our team can guide you through the process.
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Restructuring Plans
Market leading experience in advising companies and creditors in Restructuring Plan processes.
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Controls advisory
Build a robust internal control environment in a changing world.
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Data assurance and analytics
Enhancing your data processes, tools and internal capabilities to help you make decisions on managing risk and controls.
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Enterprise risk management
Understand and embrace enterprise risk management – we help you develop and connect risk thinking to your objectives.
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Internal audit services
Internal audit services that deliver the value and impact they should.
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Managing risk and realising ESG opportunities
Assess and assure risk and opportunities across ESG with an expert, commercial and pragmatic approach.
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Project, programme, and portfolio assurance
Successfully delivering projects and programmes include preparing for the wider impact on your business.
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Service organisation controls report
Independent assurance provides confidence to your customers in relation to your services and control environment.
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Supplier and contract assurance
Clarity around key supplier relationships: focusing on risk, cost, and operational performance.
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Technology risk services
IT internal audits and technology risk assurance projects that help you manage your technology risks effectively.
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Capital allowances (tax depreciation)
Advisory and tools to help you realise opportunities in capital allowances.
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Corporate tax
Helping companies manage corporate tax affairs: delivering actionable guidance to take opportunities and mitigate risk.
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Employer solutions
We will help you deliver value through your employees, offering pragmatic employer solutions to increasing costs.
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Indirect tax
Businesses face complex ever changing VAT regimes, guidance and legislation. We can help you navigate these challenges.
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International tax
Real-world international tax advice to help you navigate a changing global tax landscape.
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Our approach to tax
We advise clients on tax law in the UK and, where relevant, other jurisdictions.
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Private tax
Tax experts for entrepreneurs, families and private business. For now and the long term.
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Real estate tax
Stay ahead of real estate tax changes with holistic, tax-efficient solutions.
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Research and development tax incentives
We can help you prepare optimised and robust research and development tax claims.
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Tax dispute resolution
We make it simple to stay compliant and avoid HMRC tax disputes
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Tax risk management
We work with you to develop effective tax risk management strategies.
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Skills and training
Get the right support to deliver corporate and vocational training that leads the way in an expanding market.
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Private education
Insight and guidance for all businesses in the private education sector: from early years to higher education and edtech.
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Facilities management and property services
Get insight and strategic support to take opportunities that protect resilience and drive UK and international growth.
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Recruitment
Helping recruitment companies take opportunities to achieve their goals in a market where talent and skills are key.
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Food and beverage (F&B)
We can help you find the right ingredients for growth in your food and beverage business.
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Travel, tourism and leisure
Tap into our range of support for travel, tourism and leisure businesses in this period of challenge and change.
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Retail, e-commerce and consumer products
With multiple challenges and opportunities in the fast-evolving retail sector, make sure you are ready for them.
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Banking
Our expertise and insight can help you respond positively to long term and emerging issues in the banking sector.
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Capital markets
2020 is a demanding year for capital markets. Working with you, we're architecting the future of the sector.
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Insurance
Our experienced expert team brings you technical expertise and insight to guide you through insurance sector challenges.
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Investment management
Embracing innovation and shaping business models for long-term success.
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Pensions
Pension provision is an essential issue for employers, and the role of the trustee is becoming increasingly challenging.
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Payments advisory and assurance
Payment service providers need to respond to rapidly evolving technical innovations and increased regulatory scrutiny.
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Central and devolved government
Helping central and devolved governments deliver change to improve our communities and grow our economies.
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Infrastructure and transport
Delivering a successful transport or infrastructure project will require you to balance an often complex set of strategic issues.
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Local government
Helping local government leverage technical and strategic expertise deliver their agendas and improve public services.
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Regeneration development and housing
We provide commercial and strategic advice to assist your decision making in pursuing your objectives.
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Health and social care
Sharing insight and knowledge to deliver transformation and improvement to health and social care services.
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Charities
Supporting you to achieve positive change in the UK charity sector.
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Education and skills
The education sector has rarely faced more risk or more opportunity to transform. You need to plan for the future.
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Social housing
We are committed to helping change social housing for the better, and can help you make the most of every opportunity.
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Technology
We work with dynamic technology companies of all sizes to help them succeed and grow internationally.
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Telecommunications
Take all opportunities to realise your goals in telecommunications: from business refresh to international expansion.
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Media
Media companies must stay agile to thrive in today’s highly competitive market – we’re here to support your ambitions.
Credit ratings agencies have a key role in maintaining market integrity, trust and stability, and minimising risks to consumers. To achieve this, credit ratings agencies need to consider how their activities and risk management processes could affect individuals, businesses, or the wider market. Effective controls and good management information can simplify reporting processes and demonstrate compliance with the FCA’s expectations.
Governance and oversight
Governance and oversight are two of the FCA’s primary concerns for credit ratings agencies (CRAs), as shown in its Dear CEO letter last October. CRAs need to be independent and have no conflicts of interest when producing credit ratings. As such, the FCA expects to see evidence of sound governance, with effective Board oversight and appropriate internal controls. This includes any work by non-UK companies or individuals. Senior managers must have the appropriate skills and experience to hold their current position.
However, following a review of CRA’s Board structures and documentation, the FCA has highlighted key areas for improvement. The Board was a primary concern, in terms of purpose, influence, and composition. For international organisations, UK Boards often held limited control over UK-based activities with parent Boards holding ultimate decision-making powers. The FCA are concerned that in some instances UK Board meetings were seen as a formality, with limited participation from senior management or support for independent non-executive directors. This could result in CRAs being unresponsive to the UK market and not fully understanding their local risk-profile.
The CRA regulation gives prescriptive rules on Board composition, to include a good range of skills and industry experience, but many firms aren't currently meeting those expectations. For example, some firms don't have the necessary number of independent non-executive directors (iNEDs), or the range of skills for effective challenge or succession planning. CRAs need a robust process for iNED selection, to ensure they're suitable experienced, and senior management must to be open to challenge from them. There was also variation in individual Board members’ understanding of the key risks, so further training could improve the quality of discussion. These elements can have a knock-on effect on oversight and governance, with the tone set at the top.
In its review, the FCA also saw disparity in Board effectiveness. While some Boards reflected active participation and discussion from all members, supported by good management information and clear follow-up actions; others weren't the case. Documentation often lacked coverage of key risk indicators, missed important information or didn’t accurately reflect the business. These factors can all hamper a Board’s ability to make informed decisions and proactively mitigate risks.
Ratings processes and methodologies
CRAs must follow robust methodologies for credit ratings, to uphold market integrity and trust. They should be subject to model validation, back-testing and review of the underlying assumptions. When errors or regulatory breaches do occur, firms should notify the FCA promptly, giving sufficient context to review what’s happened and why, and take action to resolve them. The FCA will review regulatory notifications to make sure potential errors and breaches and managed effectively, it will also carry out sot check so assess rating actions and changes in ratings methodologies.
Market and perimeter risk
The FCA only regulates some CRA activities, such as credit ratings. Other areas, such as ESG or cyber risk ratings are increasingly big business. However, they aren’t currently regulated so underlying methodologies may not be as robust and firms may not monitor conflicts of interest as closely. As such, transparency is essential so investors can make informed decisions about how they use that rating or scoring information.
While the CRA is dominated by a few large players, many smaller firms can offer more boutique services or provide specialist sector insight. Regardless of size or position in the market, all firms need to comply with the CRA Regulation and effectively govern regulated activities, with an understanding of how unregulated activities affect the risk profile. The FCA will be monitoring perimeter risk closely minimise the impact of unregulated activity on credit ratings and the wider market.
Operational resilience
Inability to provide accurate and up to date credit ratings could cause financial harm to consumers and affect market integrity. Use of third parties, in-sourcing, and outsourcing is integral to many CRAs’ business models, so these are key areas of concern for operational resilience. With current skills shortages, it’s also vital to effectively manage people risks – particularly for specialist analytical positions. Transparency is essential to map critical processes and make contingency plans to resume services following a service outage.
Where service outages do occur, CRAs need to proactively find the root cause and strengthen internal controls to reduce the potential for a repeat outage or prolonged disruption. Firms must test their operational disruption thresholds, and inform the FCA of any material operational incidents.
Building good practice
CRAs need to meet all the FCA’s regulatory requirements as they continue to evolve over time. To achieve this, firms must proactively scan the regulatory horizon and stay up to date with all emerging themes. This includes expectations around the sale of credit rating data, potential regulation of ESG ratings providers and enhancing accountability through the Senior Managers and Certification Regime.
Moving under FCA regulation isn’t easy and it takes time to work out what’s needed under each regulatory framework and action them in a way that’s sustainable and cost-effective. It’s essential to create synergies and draw on regulatory expertise to ensure compliance and benchmark good practice. Starting with the Board, it’s important to set the tone from the top down to establish a good risk management culture and associated governance processes.
For more insight and guidance, get in touch with Paul Young.