What does it mean to be Directly Authorised by the FCA?
Being directly authorised by the FCA allows your business to carry out regulated activities under its own permissions, with full responsibility for compliance, governance, and regulatory reporting.
For many firms, this offers greater control over how compliance is managed within the business, but it also brings ongoing responsibilities and regulatory expectations.
As a directly authorised firm, you are responsible for:
Maintaining appropriate systems and controls
Meeting FCA reporting requirements
Ensuring your governance framework is robust and effective
Demonstrating compliance with Consumer Duty and other areas of FCA compliance
Monitoring customer outcomes
Identifying, addressing and mitigating risk
This requires a structured and well-managed approach to compliance across your business.
How we support you
PPL supports firms throughout the authorisation process, providing practical guidance to navigate what can be a complex and detailed application.
Following authorisation, we continue to act as an outsourced compliance partner, supporting ongoing oversight, monitoring, and regulatory reporting.
When Direct Authorisation may be right for your business
Direct authorisation is typically suited to firms that:
- Want full control over their regulatory permissions and compliance framework
- Have the internal capability to manage ongoing regulatory responsibilities
- Are looking to build and maintain their own compliance infrastructure
- Operate at a scale where direct FCA authorisation is appropriate
For firms seeking a more outsourced model, operating as an Appointed Representative may be a more suitable option.
Key Benefits of Direct Authorisation
- Full control over your regulatory permissions and compliance framework
- Flexibility to shape your own internal processes
- Ongoing compliance support tailored to your business
- Support with regulatory reporting and submissions
- Access to experienced consumer credit specialists
- Support in embedding Consumer Duty and demonstrating good customer outcomes
Other Services
Appointed Representative
As an Appointed Representative you don't need to report data to the FCA or pay FCA fees and we take responsibility for your compliance.
- We fully audit the compliance of your business
- You operate under our permissions and we report to the FCA on your behalf
- We work with you to put all practices and processes in place
- We mystery shop your business to ensure compliance
FCA Applications
We use our extensive experience and detail knowledge of the forms, process and detail required to successfully complete the process with a positive outcome
- You retain control
- Use our expertise to navigate the process efficiently
- We are always here to provide assistance if needed
Taking the next step
Whether you are already directly authorised or reviewing your current approach, we can support you in strengthening your compliance framework and ensuring you continue to meet FCA requirements.
