FCA & PRA Authorisation Consultancy

Expert Regulatory Support for Financial Services Firms 

Securing authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is a critical step for any financial services firm seeking to operate in the UK. The authorisation process is rigorous, highly scrutinised and requires clear evidence that the firm satisfies the applicable Threshold Conditions, governance standards, prudential requirements and regulatory expectations. 

At Complyport, we provide specialist FCA and PRA authorisation consultancy, guiding firms through every stage of the regulatory approval process. We do not simply draft application documents — we conduct a detailed regulatory assessment of your business model, governance arrangements, financial resilience and systems & controls to ensure your firm is regulator-ready before submission. 

Our structured methodology is designed to minimise regulatory queries, mitigate approval delays and maximise the likelihood of a successful outcome. 

Our FCA & PRA Authorisation Process 

A Structured 5-Step Regulatory Framework 

1. Regulatory Permissions & Scope Analysis

We begin with a comprehensive regulatory perimeter analysis, reviewing your proposed activities against the FCA Handbook and PRA Rulebook to determine: 

• The correct regulatory permissions 

• Applicable prudential category 

• Capital and liquidity requirements 

• Conduct and reporting obligations 

This ensures your corporate structure, governance model and financial resources are fully aligned with UK regulatory requirements from the outset. 

2. Development of a Regulator-Ready Business Plan

A credible and robust Business Plan is central to any FCA or PRA application. 

We prepare a detailed, regulator-focused Business Plan that includes: 

• Clear strategic objectives and target market analysis 

• Revenue model and financial projections 

• Ownership and group structure 

• Governance and oversight framework 

• Comprehensive risk assessment with mitigation strategies 

• Wind-down planning (where applicable) 

Our approach ensures your forecasts demonstrate financial sustainability, capital adequacy and operational resilience, which are key areas of regulatory scrutiny. 

3. Governance, SMF Approvals & Compliance Framework

Regulators place significant emphasis on governance and senior management suitability. 

We support: 

• Design and documentation of governance frameworks 

• Board structure and decision-making processes 

• Compliance monitoring programmes 

• Risk management frameworks 

• Drafting of core compliance policies and procedures 

We also assist with Senior Management Function (SMF) approvals, including: 

• Form A submissions 

• Fitness and propriety assessments 

• Regulatory due diligence and background checks 

• Regulatory references and documentation preparation 

Our objective is to ensure your firm demonstrates strong governance, effective oversight and appropriate accountability structures. 

4. Prudential & Financial Soundness Review

Demonstrating ongoing financial resilience is frequently one of the most challenging aspects of the authorisation process. 

We ensure your firm can evidence: 

• Compliance with minimum regulatory capital requirements 

• Adequate liquidity and working capital 

• Realistic and stress-tested financial forecasts 

• Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII), where required 

We conduct a structured prudential review to identify and address potential regulatory concerns before submission. 

5. FCA Connect Submission & Regulatory Engagement

We prepare and submit your complete application via the FCA Connect system, ensuring: 

• All mandatory forms are accurately completed 

• Supporting documentation is comprehensive and internally consistent 

• Controllers and SMF applications are properly structured 

• The correct FCA application fee is paid 

Following submission, we liaise directly with the FCA or PRA, managing: 

• Follow-up queries 

• Structured regulatory responses 

• Interview preparation for senior management 

• Clarifications on financial or governance matters 

Our proactive engagement reduces delays and supports a smoother review process. 

Post-Authorisation Regulatory Support 

Regulatory approval is only the beginning. 

We provide ongoing compliance advisory and regulatory support, including: 

• Compliance monitoring programmes 

• Regulatory reporting assistance 

• Consumer Duty and conduct risk oversight 

• Prudential supervision support 

• Staff training and governance workshops 

Our objective is to ensure continued compliance with regulatory obligations and ongoing satisfaction of the Threshold Conditions. 

 Why Choose Complyport? 

• Specialist FCA and PRA authorisation consultants 

• Deep experience across investment firms, payment institutions, consumer credit lenders, insurers and prudentially regulated firms 

• Strong understanding of capital adequacy, governance standards and conduct risk 

• Structured, regulator-focused documentation 

• Direct regulatory engagement expertise 

• End-to-end support from planning to post-approval supervision 

We understand how regulators assess business models, financial resilience, operational risk and senior management suitability. This insight enables us to position your firm clearly, credibly and strategically during the application process. 

Begin Your FCA or PRA Authorisation Journey 

If you are planning to apply for FCA authorisation, PRA authorisation, a Variation of Permission (VoP), SMF approval or regulatory restructuring, speak to our regulatory specialists today. 

Contact Complyport to discuss your proposed activities and take the next step towards a successful UK regulatory approval.