by A Aitken | Dec 16, 2025 | FCA Licensing & Regulatory Applications
The UK crypto regulatory landscape is entering a decisive new phase. From 2026, cryptoasset firms operating in or from the UK will face a fundamental shift away from the current AML-only registration regime towards full financial services regulation under the...
by A Aitken | Dec 12, 2025 | AML & Financial Crime
We’re pleased to share that our founder, Andrew Aitken, was recently interviewed for ACCA’s Accounting & Business Magazine in an article examining how accountancy firms will face increased AML obligations as FCA supervision expands. The piece brings together views...
by A Aitken | Dec 10, 2025 | AML & Financial Crime
On 2 December 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a public censure against the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) for significant failures in its anti-money laundering (AML) supervision (read the full FCA publication here ). Although the FCA...
by admin | Nov 27, 2025 | AML & Financial Crime
The UK government has confirmed that all accountancy firms currently supervised by their Professional Body Supervisor or by HMRC will need to register for FCA AML supervision as part of the new Single Professional Services Supervisor (SPSS) model. This is a major...
by admin | Oct 27, 2025 | AML
FCA launches Phase 1 AML Review of Annex 1 Firms – Questionnaire Issued The FCA has commenced a new supervisory review of AML, CTF and CPF controls in Annex 1 firms, issuing a mandatory Phase 1 questionnaire to selected firms. This marks a shift from messaging...
by admin | Oct 24, 2025 | AML & Financial Crime
FCA replaces SRA for Law Firm AML supervision – What UK Legal Practices Must Do Now The UK government has confirmed that AML/CTF supervision for law firms will transfer from the existing professional body supervisors to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the...
by admin | Oct 23, 2025 | AML & Financial Crime
Executive Summary Safeguarding is the bedrock obligation for UK payment institutions (PIs) and e-money institutions (EMIs). The FCA requires firms to segregate customer money and either: Hold it in a designated safeguarding account with an authorised credit... by A Aitken | May 20, 2025 | Merchant Acquiring & PayFac Models
Getting your business to the level of Merchant Acquirer is already a significant achievement, but many businesses stop there when in fact there are so many more opportunities left to take advantage of. Perhaps you started life as an Independent Sales Organisation,... by A Aitken | May 13, 2025 | Merchant Acquiring & PayFac Models
Being a Payment Facilitator (PayFac) is already a lucrative business model within the payments landscape, but getting your own card scheme membership can have a hugely transformative impact on your operation. Becoming a member of a card scheme such as Visa,... by A Aitken | May 6, 2025 | Merchant Acquiring & PayFac Models
If you want to take your Independent Sales Organisation (ISO) to the next level within the payments landscape, then becoming a Payment Facilitator (PayFac) is the way to go – and the best part is, it couldn’t be easier. There are several key strategies you can employ...
