Factsheets

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has produced draft rules for overseas funds being distributed to UK investors. These rules are being put in place for funds from jurisdictions where the UK Government has issued an ’Equivalence’ decision. Read this article to find out more about the new requirements.

Pensions are investment vehicles that are often set up through an insurance company in the workplace as individuals set out on their financial journey. As life demands, commitments and financial goals change as do financial expectations for the future. We believe your pension should also change to suit your changing financial circumstances allowing you choice, flexibility, cost effectiveness and transparency as you build your personal wealth.

Businesses and organisations here have become a greater target for fraudulent activity by criminals looking to exploit the vast amounts of data that is created, shared and uploaded every second of the day. The challenge now is how to identify, monitor and manage that risk.

When it comes to growth, all companies will likely have a capital requirement at some point. Company leaders must determine the form of that capital—debt or equity—and how attractive the company is to the different types of capital providers, amongst other factors.

Debt advisory helps these leaders find, evaluate and select the best funding options available for their business, enabling them to execute their growth plans by ensuring that they have access to the funding partners and financing instruments best suited to their business needs and future goals.

The threat of a cyber-attack has never been greater and despite the best efforts of businesses and organisations to mitigate risk, many remain exposed as cybercriminals rapidly adapt to new technologies. This includes exploiting weakness in artificial intelligence (AI) technology at a much faster pace than industries are keeping up.

The use of artificial intelligence continues to spread at a staggering speed. Companies worldwide have adopted and implemented AI, in solutions that are reshaping industries through improved efficiency, productivity and decision-making. However, many organisations have integrated AI into their business processes more quickly than they have updated security strategies and protocols. Your risk, technology and cybersecurity leaders must find, understand and mitigate these exposures.

Companies worldwide are adopting and implementing AI in solutions that are reshaping industries through improved efficiency, productivity and decision-making. However, the meteoric rise of AI can overshadow some valid concerns around security and privacy.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) needs no introduction, having managed to rapidly creep into all aspects of life. While in business, AI is creating a plethora of new potential opportunities and efficiencies, it is also presenting new challenges, including in the area of cybersecurity. So how exactly has AI impacted cybersecurity and what are the key risks that can be identified in its present form?

It was broadly agreed that the implementation of the IAF will provide clarity of responsibilities, which will underpin sound governance across the financial sector, enhancing the culture of accountability in firms, and bringing clarity to individuals in respect of the standards of conduct they are expected to meet.

Throughout the past number of years, Ireland has become an increasingly attractive market for international players seeking to acquire new businesses. The strength of the Irish economy combined with historically relatively inexpensive debt has enabled shareholders of domestic businesses to capitalise on opportunities for growth.

When designing a fit-for-purpose governance model, trust and transparency are the keys to success. Strong governance practices must permeate the culture of the organisation, and employees at all levels should play a role in a executing a lived governance model that helps the company thrive.

The Individual Accountability Framework (IAF) impacts all Regulated Financial Services Providers (RFSPs) and individuals who perform controlled functions (CFs) on their behalf. Certain RFSPs (including most credit institutions, insurance firms and MiFID firms) are additionally in scope for the Senior Executive Accountability Regime (SEAR).

Businesses often find it difficult to embrace iterative ways of working without losing the broader vision during the process of making incremental changes. Agile project management can help.

This ECB paper is relevant to banks with derivatives and trading books; it explores the operational aspects and hidden costs associated with the wind-down of a bank’s trading book. An orderly wind-down of a trading book may be a recovery option or an element of a bank’s preferred resolution strategy. This paper details principles of ECB’s supervisory expectations with respect to both recovery and resolution planning.

As a result of Brexit, and particularly following the introduction of the UK’s Financial Services and Markets Act, there is a potential for increasing divergence between EU and UK financial services regulation.