In this episode, host Andrew Strange explores the ESG regulatory agenda alongside two expert guests. Lynne Baber, a Partner leading PwC’s sustainability practice, and Lucas Penfold, from PwC’s Regulatory Insights team, join to discuss the myriad of regulatory initiatives and their impact on the financial sector, corporates, and the wider economy. Our guests also share their perspectives on how firms should be seeing this as more than a compliance exercise and can embrace it to drive long-term value creation for their businesses and wider society.

You can contact our PwC speakers if you’d like to discuss any of the topics covered, at [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

In this episode, host Andrew Strange revisits the FCA’s Consumer Duty, alongside guests Iqy Hunjan and Ian Ody, Directors in PwC’s Consulting practice. Our expert guests navigate the FCA’s final Consumer Duty rules and guidance, exploring the key challenges facing firms in complying with the new requirements, as well as analysing the regulator’s expectations on monitoring outcomes.

Our guests also talk through the progress firms have made to date across the market, breaking down what ‘good’ looks like for firms’ implementation plans and the delivery of good outcomes for their customers.

You can contact our PwC speakers if you’d like to discuss any of the topics covered, at [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].

In this episode, host Andrew Strange delves into the Metaverse world, alongside guests Yanna Zhu from PwC’s Metaverse Technologies team, and Laura Talvitie, a Senior Manager, in PwC’s FS Regulatory Insights team. Our expert guests break down the developing Metaverse landscape and discuss current trends and the drivers behind its recent high profile. Our guests also analyse what the future may look like for financial services firms grappling with the opportunities and risks the Metaverse presents, as well as what direction regulation may take in the future.

You can contact our PwC speakers if you’d like to discuss any of the topics covered, at [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected]

In this episode, we discuss the evolving prudential agenda in the insurance sector. Host Andrew Strange is joined by Sarah Watson, a Senior Manager in PwC’s Insurance Regulatory practice, and Anirvan Choudhury, a Senior Manager in our Financial Services Regulatory Insights Team. We talk about the UK’s Solvency II reform and what this will mean for insurers, their capital requirements, and their pricing. We also discuss the PRA’s priorities as set out in its business plan, including operational resilience, climate risk and diversity and inclusion, and how these will impact insurers. 

You can contact our speakers if you’d like to discuss any of the topics covered at [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].

In this episode, host Andrew Strange discusses the evolving regulatory approach to artificial intelligence (AI), alongside PwC guests Fabrice Ciais, Director of AI, and Belinda Baber, a Manager in the FS Regulatory Insights team. With the AI Public Private Forum (AIPPF) recently publishing its final report, the regulatory direction on AI is becoming clearer. Our expert guests discuss how FS firms are using AI and how that’s likely to evolve; the actions firms should take following the AIPPF report; the challenges firms face on topics including governance and explainability, and how they can overcome them. 

You can contact our PwC speakers if you’d like to discuss any of the topics covered, at [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]

In this episode, host Andrew Strange discusses the FCA’s consumer duty proposals with guests David Kenmir, a Partner in PwC’s Authorisation and Conduct practice, and Tessa Norman, a Manager in our Financial Services Regulatory Insights team. We discuss the challenges the proposals present for firms, from the need to make subjective judgment calls, to meeting the FCA’s expectations on monitoring outcomes, as well as how firms can embrace the opportunities associated with the proposals. We also cover the steps firms can take to prepare, and what the proposals will mean for firms’ supervisory interactions with the regulator.

You can contact our PwC speakers if you’d like to discuss any of the topics covered, at [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]

As many firms move to a long-term remote/hybrid working model, there are a range of issues to navigate, from meeting regulatory expectations, to maintaining cultural cohesion. In this episode, host Andrew Strange is joined by Sarah Passmore, a Director in PwC’s People and Organisation business, and John Newsome, a Director in our Asset Management regulatory practice, to discuss how firms are approaching these challenges and how they can manage the associated risks. We talk about meeting the FCA’s recently published expectations on remote/hybrid working, managing the regulatory and tax implications of staff working outside the UK, and navigating the wider impacts of hybrid working, from leadership to culture and diversity and inclusion. Our guests also discuss the impact on employee attraction and retention, the growing ‘power shift’ from employers to employees, and what the future of work looks like.

You can contact our PwC speakers if you’d like to discuss any of the topics covered, at [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]