The examples set out by the regulator focus on issues that are commonly encountered in connection with experienced candidates willing and able to undergo scrutiny by the regulator in order to take up senior compliance, management, risk or governance positions.

The table below is a summary of some key details for each of the scenarios enumerated:

Specialist skills and experience at a senior level remain in strong demand. As a result, not all real-life candidates will match the regulatory ideal. And the potential concerns around a senior management appointment can be compounded by issues at the firm itself.

So this short list of scenarios is a very practical and welcome document from the FCA.

The itemized list of regulatory expectations in response to the theoretical challenges firms may face are particularly useful and well worth reviewing in detail as they could help shape HR / recruitment processes in order to get ahead of potential requests from the regulator in connection with senior appointments.