A clearer path to regulatory success

UK FinancialRegulationMade Simple

Financial services regulatory consultants for FCA authorisation and compliance

From start-up to scale-up, we help financial services firms get authorised, stay compliant and grow with confidence.

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Led by ex-FCA regulators

Firms authorised: 100+
FCA sectors covered: 11
Years of experience: 10+
Prep to FCA submission: ~6 weeks

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How can we help today?

Choose a topic, ask a question or explore our free tools for practical guidance on FCA regulation.

Get FCA authorisationStart your application
Business plan, threshold conditions and application evidence, with case-handler liaison.
Improve compliancePolicies and controls
An outsourced compliance function: monitoring, policies, regulatory advice and financial crime controls.
Respond to the FCAPrepare your response
Facing scrutiny or a voluntary requirement? Rapid response, evidence review and remediation planning.
Change your permissionsAdd or vary activities
Add regulated activities, remove limitations or vary requirements on your permission.
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Answer five short questions and get a tailored recommendation for the support that fits.

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Popular questions

100+Firms authorised
Led by ex-FCA regulatorsRegulatory expertise
PracticalFree tools
10+Years of experience

Watch and learn

FCA regulation, explained in minutes

Short, practical explainers to help you understand FCA authorisation and key regulatory topics, so you can take the next step with confidence.

2:17

FCA Authorisation, Explained in 2 Minutes

What the application involves and where firms lose time

Getting started1 video

By role5 videos

By sector10 videos

Supporting firms across 11 FCA sectors, from payments to pensions. We typically prepare an application in ~6 weeks; the FCA then takes 6–12 months to decide.

FCA explainers

View all explainers

DISP Complaints HandlingWhat the FCA expects from your complaints process.
Handbook
What it covers
- The 8-week final response deadline and what the letter must say
- Root cause analysis, not just counting complaints
- FOS referral rights and the Consumer Duty link
Read the explainer
Consumer Duty OutcomesThe four outcomes under PRIN 2A and how to evidence them.
Handbook
What it covers
- Products and services, and price and value
- Consumer understanding and consumer support
- The evidence firms need to show for each outcome
Read the explainer
SM&CR Responsibilities MapPrescribed responsibilities and gap analysis.
Governance
What it covers
- Allocating prescribed responsibilities to named Senior Managers
- Keeping the map consistent with Statements of Responsibilities
- Common gaps and overlaps, and how to maintain the map
Read the explainer
Financial Crime ControlsBWRA, CDD, monitoring and SARs.
Implementation
What it covers
- Business-wide risk assessment (BWRA)
- Customer due diligence, including enhanced due diligence
- Transaction monitoring and SAR reporting
Read the explainer
DIY vs Consultant: FCA AuthorisationSelf-managing versus using a specialist.
Compare
What it covers
- When a DIY application can work
- When a consultant is the safer route
- Time, cost and why applications stall on information requests
Read the explainer
Section 166 ReadinessHow to prepare for a skilled person review.
Decision
What it covers
- Why the FCA appoints a skilled person
- Appointment, evidence control and remediation
- Readiness checks to run before a notice arrives
Read the explainer

Three green marble platforms rising across a sunlit London rooftop terrace, a metaphor for the steps from preparing to growing

1PrepareAssess your readiness and business model.Find your starting point

2ApplyNavigate the FCA application process.Get FCA authorised

3GrowStay compliant and seize new opportunities.Stay compliant as you scale

Your journey

From ambition
to authorised.

Practical, commercial support at every stage of your regulatory journey.

Find your starting point

Your journey

From ambition
to authorised.

Practical, commercial support at every stage of your regulatory journey.

Find your starting point

Three green marble platforms rising across a sunlit London rooftop terrace

Free compliance tools

Practical tools. Real regulatory answers.

Practical tools to help you move faster, built by a team of regulatory specialists. Free to use, no registration required.

100+ firmsauthorised
Led by ex-FCAregulators
Free to useNo registration required

Authorisation
Readiness Checker
A few questions about your business, before you plan an FCA application.
Open tool : Readiness Checker Learn more about Readiness Checker
Authorisation
Authorisation Checklist
An interactive checklist to track your preparation for an FCA authorisation application.
Open tool : Authorisation Checklist Learn more about Authorisation Checklist
Strategy
Perimeter Assessment
Describe your business and see whether your activities are likely to need FCA authorisation.
Open tool : Perimeter Assessment Learn more about Perimeter Assessment
Costs
FCA Fee Calculator
Calculates FCA periodic fees, FOS levies and FSCS contributions using the official fee tables.
Open tool : FCA Fee Calculator Learn more about FCA Fee Calculator
Conduct
Consumer Duty Outcomes Checker
Assesses your compliance with the four Consumer Duty outcomes.
Open tool : Consumer Duty Outcomes Checker Learn more about Consumer Duty Outcomes Checker
Governance
SM&CR Navigator
Tools to manage Senior Management Functions, the Certification Regime, Conduct Rules and Prescribed Responsibilities.
Open tool : SM&CR Navigator Learn more about SM&CR Navigator
Financial crime
Financial Crime Assessment
Self-assess your financial crime controls against the FCA Dear CEO themes.
Open tool : Financial Crime Assessment Learn more about Financial Crime Assessment
Complaints
Complaints Handling (DISP)
Checks DISP complaint timescales, including the 8-week final response and FOS referral.
Open tool : Complaints Handling (DISP)Learn more about Complaints Handling (DISP)
Vulnerability
Vulnerability Support Checker
A 13-question framework based on FCA guidance FG21/1 to evaluate customer vulnerability.
Open tool : Vulnerability Support Checker Learn more about Vulnerability Support Checker
Marketing
Financial Promotions Guidance
Pre-clearance guidance for FCA-compliant financial promotions.
Open tool : Financial Promotions Guidance

Our services

Expert regulatory support for UK financial services firms.

End-to-end compliance services, from authorisation to ongoing assurance.

FCA AuthorisationFrom first idea to approval, with clear and proven process. Be ready to submit to the FCA in ~6 weeks.Learn more
What we cover
Regulatory business plan and threshold conditions
Application evidence, written to be consistent
Liaison with the FCA case handler
Compliance OutsourcingYour external compliance team, on call for monitoring, reporting and day-to-day questions.Learn more
What we cover
Compliance monitoring programme
Policy drafting and regulatory advice
Financial crime controls
SM&CR ImplementationSenior Managers and Certification Regime expertise, from responsibilities maps to certification.Learn more
What we cover
Statements of Responsibility
Fitness and propriety
Certification and Conduct Rules
Consumer DutyMeet the FCA's standards with outcomes monitoring and evidence your board can rely on.Learn more
What we cover
Gap assessments and monitoring frameworks
Annual governing-body reports
Distribution-chain reviews
Financial CrimeAML, CTF and sanctions controls for regulated firms.Learn more
What we cover
Business-wide risk assessments
AML frameworks and KYC controls
MLRO support and transaction monitoring
Variation of PermissionsChange or extend what your firm is permitted to do, with a clean application.Learn more
What we cover
Add regulated activities
Remove limitations
Vary requirements on your permission

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Sectors

Sectors we support

Specialist regulatory expertise across the financial services sector, helping firms navigate complexity and seize opportunity.

View all sectors

Featured tool: FCA Fines

FCA fines, analysed by year and breach theme

Explore 325 FCA fines totalling £4.92bn since 2013, across 18 breach types. Analyse by year, breach theme and amount to see where enforcement has concentrated and what it means for your controls.

Fines: 325; Total FCA fines (2013–2026)
Total value: £4.92bn; Total value of fines since 2013
Avg. fine: £15.1m; Average fine size

Explore FCA fines Speak to our experts

Full enforcement data on RegActions

All breach types: 325 fines totalling £4.92bn

FCA fines by year, all themes
Year	Fines	Total value
2013	46	£473m
2014	40	£1.47bn
2015	40	£905m
2016	23	£35.3m
2017	13	£230m
2018	15	£60.5m
2019	21	£392m
2020	13	£193m
2021	10	£568m
2022	25	£215m
2023	12	£53.4m
2024	27	£176m
2025	23	£124m
2026	17	£19.5m

Most recent FCA fines

Our client network

Trusted by ambitious firms

Firms we work with

Tap a logo to see how we help firms in that sector

Featured client story

Payment Services & EMI

Payment institution authorised in 9 months after its application stalled

A payment institution's application had stalled after case-handler problems and the loss of key staff. MEMA got it moving again, and the firm was authorised in 9 months.

Support provided

Strengthened the business plan, safeguarding arrangements and governance framework behind the application
Advocated for the firm with the FCA and secured a change of case handler
Kept the application on track through changes in senior personnel

Outcome

Full FCA authorisation as a payment institution.

Cross-sector

An outsourced compliance function for growing regulated firms

For firms without a full in-house compliance team, MEMA runs the compliance function: monthly horizon scanning, tracked actions and FCA support on call.

Support provided

Monthly horizon-scanning packs tailored to each firm's permissions and business model
Progress reporting that tracks compliance actions against an agreed plan
Direct access to MEMA's team for day-to-day regulatory questions

Outcome

A compliance function that keeps pace with regulatory change, without an in-house hire.

Payment Services & EMI

A financial crime framework that satisfies the FCA and banking partners

A growing payments firm needed anti-money laundering controls that would satisfy both its banking partner and the FCA. MEMA built the risk assessment, controls and monitoring end to end.

Support provided

Produced a business-wide risk assessment covering the firm's products, customers, channels and geographies
Designed proportionate KYC and customer due-diligence procedures for onboarding and ongoing review
Set up transaction monitoring and a clear route for reporting suspicious activity to the MLRO

Outcome

A financial crime framework that passed the banking partner's due diligence and held up to FCA scrutiny.

Payment Services & EMI

FCA registration for a fintech that relies on third party data providers

A fintech built on third party data and verification providers had to show the FCA exactly how its service and supply chain worked. MEMA set that out, and the firm was registered.

Support provided

Set out the regulatory perimeter and the customer journey
Explained the role of each third party provider in the service
Built the control framework underpinning the application

Outcome

The firm was registered by the FCA.

Cryptoassets

Readiness scoping ahead of the UK cryptoasset regime

A cryptoasset firm wanted to know what the UK's new authorisation regime would ask of it before committing to an application. MEMA scoped the requirements against its business.

Support provided

Scoped which parts of the incoming regime would apply to the firm's business
Set out what the firm would need in place to meet those requirements

Outcome

A clear view of what the new regime will require, so the firm can plan its application.

Cross-border

UK perimeter scoping for an international firm entering the market

Before launching in the UK, an international firm needed to know whether its activities would need FCA authorisation. MEMA set out its UK regulatory position and what it would need in place.

Support provided

Set out which of the firm's activities would fall within the UK regulatory perimeter
Explained what it would need in place to operate here

Outcome

A clear view of the firm's UK regulatory position before it committed to the market.

Cross-sector

From appointed representative to its own FCA authorisation

A firm trading as an appointed representative wanted its own FCA authorisation. MEMA supported the controls it ran for its principal, then its application to be authorised directly.

Support provided

Supported the controls the firm provided to its principal
Supported the firm through its application for direct authorisation

Outcome

The firm moved from appointed representative status to direct FCA authorisation.

Claims Management

Consumer Duty readiness for a specialist claims firm, ahead of the deadline

A specialist claims firm did most of its work outside FCA regulation and needed to know how the Consumer Duty applied to it. MEMA mapped the Duty to its business and delivered a gap analysis before the rules came into force.

Support provided

Assessed where the firm's activities could conflict with the Duty
Mapped the four Consumer Duty outcomes to the business
Considered how its unregulated services could affect customers' view of its regulated ones

Outcome

A gap analysis and implementation plan in place before the Consumer Duty came into force.

View case study

9 months

To authorisation

View all case studies

Featured insights

Stay ahead with expert analysis

Practical guidance, emerging trends and the latest regulatory developments from our specialists.

Explore all insights

Illustration for the article: Cryptoasset Perimeter Guidance: Authorisation Requirements from October 2027

26 Sept 2026 · Payments & Crypto

Cryptoasset Perimeter Guidance: Authorisation Requirements from October 2027

The FCA’s final cryptoasset perimeter guidance clarifies which activities will need FSMA authorisation from 25 October 2027, outlines the transitional application window and sets out practical steps for firms across the crypto, payments and traditional finance sectors.

7 min readRead the full insight

Latest from the FCA

Key announcements and publications relevant to financial services firms.

Client success stories

What our clients say

Trusted by 100+ UK financial services firms for FCA authorisation, compliance and ongoing support.

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From a review on Trustpilot

“We have had the pleasure of working with MEMA now for several years. Their expertise and client service is second to none. Every single time they have delivered with excellence, and they are an important part of how our business operates. Without hesitation, I highly recommend them.”

MEMA clientRead this review on Trustpilot

Why MEMA

Regulatory expertise you can rely on

Led by ex-FCA regulators, we turn complex regulation into clear, practical next steps for ambitious firms. From authorisation to ongoing compliance, we help you move faster with confidence.

100+
Firms authorised: From fintechs to asset managers and payment firms.; 11
FCA sectors covered: Deep, cross-sector experience and insight.; 10+
Years of experience: Led by ex-FCA regulators who understand what works.

Let’s build your next chapter.

Whether you are launching, scaling or navigating change, our team brings the insight, experience and practical support to help you move forward with confidence.

Book a Free Scoping Call Explore Our Services

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Practical next steps tailored to your goals