How to prepare for an FCA supervisory visit in 2026
FCA supervisory visits are increasing in frequency and depth. Here is what compliance teams should have ready — and where firms are being caught out.
The FCA's supervisory approach has shifted significantly over the past two years. Rather than the light-touch engagement of the post-pandemic period, firms are now experiencing more frequent, more detailed reviews — with a particular focus on how compliance frameworks operate in practice, not just on paper.
When a supervisory team arrives, the requests are consistent: provide a sample of case files from the past twelve months; demonstrate your adviser oversight process; show us your financial promotions approval records; walk us through how you identify and respond to vulnerable customers. Firms that can pull this information quickly and confidently make a very different impression from those who need days to collate it from spreadsheets and email archives.
Preparation is not primarily about doing more work before a visit — it is about running your compliance function in a way that makes the evidence always available. Full case review rather than sampling means you can produce any file instantly. A structured audit trail means you can demonstrate your oversight process in minutes. Firms that treat their compliance infrastructure as an ongoing operational system rather than a pre-visit fire drill are consistently better positioned when the FCA comes knocking.
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