Why We Share What We Learn

Most published material on the Senior Managers regime is either the rulebook itself or a detailed legal briefing. Both matter, but neither says much about the practical side: how long approvals really take, why strong candidates sometimes struggle, what a regulator’s interview is testing, or how to cover a Senior Manager who leaves without warning. Those are the questions we deal with every day running SMF searches.

Sharing what we see helps firms plan appointments better and helps candidates prepare for the scrutiny that comes with a Senior Manager role. It also keeps us close to the people who hold, hire and support these roles, which makes our searches better. Everything we publish is free, and none of it is legal advice. For advice on your own firm’s position, speak to your compliance team or a regulatory lawyer.

The SMF Unlocked Podcast

SMF Unlocked is our podcast about the people who carry personal regulatory accountability in UK financial services. Each episode takes one part of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, whether a designation, a rule or a stage in the approval process, and explains what it means in practice for firms, boards and the individuals who hold Senior Manager Functions. Episodes are short enough for a commute, and each one links to a detailed written guide on this site.

The show is hosted by Adrian Lawrence FCA, founder of SMF Capital. It’s written for board chairs and non-executives, chief executives, compliance officers and MLROs, risk leaders, HR and governance teams, founders preparing for authorisation, and professionals preparing for their first Senior Manager role.

Listen on Your Preferred Platform

SMF Unlocked is available free on all the major podcast platforms. Choose yours below, or visit the SMF Unlocked podcast website to listen in your browser.

To be notified about new episodes, follow or subscribe on your chosen platform. If you’d like to suggest a topic or a question for a future episode, email recruitment@smfcapital.co.uk.

Recent Episodes

Our latest episodes cover some of the questions we’re asked most often. Each links to the full episode and to the matching guide on this site.

SMF1: What It Takes to Be Approved as a Regulated CEO

What the regulator expects from a Chief Executive at a regulated firm, and why a strong commercial record isn’t enough on its own. Listen to the episode or read our SMF1 Chief Executive guide.

The Fit and Proper Test: What the Regulator Is Really Asking

Honesty, integrity and reputation, competence and capability, and financial soundness, and how each is assessed in practice. Listen to the episode or read our fit and proper test in full.

SMF Authorisation Support: Building the Right Senior Management Team Before FCA Submission

Why the people named on an authorisation application can make or break it, and how to build the team early. Listen to the episode or read our SMF authorisation support.

See all episodes.

What’s Coming Up

Upcoming episodes will work through each Senior Manager Function in turn, including the SMF4 Chief Risk, SMF9 Chair, SMF16 and SMF17 and SMF24 Chief Operations functions. We’ll also cover the 12-week rule after the April 2026 reforms, regulatory references, the Conduct Rules, FCA enforcement trends, and how firms build their senior team as they move from Core to Enhanced status.

Online Events

We run free online events for people who hold, hire or support Senior Manager Functions. Our core format is a 45-minute SMF Briefing on a single topic, with live questions. We also run candidate clinics for professionals preparing for their first Senior Manager role, and smaller round tables held under the Chatham House Rule for people in similar roles, such as independent chairs, MLROs and founders preparing for authorisation.

All events are currently online and booked through Eventbrite, so you can join from anywhere. We plan to add in-person events in London, Birmingham and Bristol. See the full programme and book your place on our events page.

Written Guides and Articles

Alongside the podcast and events, we publish a free library of written material for firms and candidates. It’s organised into four areas:

• Designation guides explaining what the regulator expects from each Senior Manager Function, starting with our complete SMF designations guide and Senior Manager Functions explained.
• The Knowledge Centre, with reference guides to the rules behind every appointment, including the fit and proper test, which SMFs apply at each firm tier and regulatory references.
• Insights, with analysis of regulatory developments, enforcement and how SMF searches actually run, such as how long an SMF appointment actually takes.
• The SMF Capital blog, with practical articles on topics such as what to do when a Senior Manager resigns, checking a candidate before you make an offer and accountability for AI in regulated firms.

SMF Capital in the News

SMF Capital launched in September 2026 as a specialist recruitment practice for Senior Manager Function appointments at FCA and PRA-regulated firms. Our launch announcement set out why SMF appointments differ from ordinary senior hires, and how we build the regulator’s fit and proper assessment into every search from the first conversation. It has been published in the press release and newswire sections of the following outlets:

The announcement covers our permanent, interim and fractional SMF recruitment services, our support for firms seeking FCA authorisation and for overseas firms opening UK branches, and the launch of the SMF Unlocked podcast and our online events programme. It also includes comment from our founder on why a Senior Manager appointment is the one hire where the regulator has a view on your shortlist.

Journalists who would like a copy of the full press release, a photograph of Adrian Lawrence FCA or background information on the Senior Managers regime can request them using the contact details below.

For Journalists and Media

We’re happy to help journalists, editors and producers covering the Senior Managers regime, regulatory accountability, senior appointments in financial services and the recruitment market for regulated roles.

Commentary and Interviews

Adrian Lawrence FCA is available for comment, interviews and podcast appearances on topics including:

• the Senior Managers and Certification Regime and the 2026 reforms
• how the FCA and PRA approve Senior Managers, and why applications are delayed
• personal accountability, the Duty of Responsibility and recent enforcement
• the market for compliance officers, MLROs, risk leaders and board members in regulated firms
• pay and demand for Senior Manager roles
• fractional and interim senior appointments in financial services
• governance at fintech, payments and newly authorised firms
• senior hiring after acquisitions and in consolidating sectors such as wealth management and insurance broking.

As a Chartered Accountant and former listed-company Finance Director who now leads Senior Manager searches across the regulated market, Adrian can speak from the perspective of both the firms making appointments and the individuals taking them on.

About SMF Capital

SMF Capital recruits Senior Manager Function holders for FCA and PRA-regulated firms, covering permanent, interim and fractional appointments from Chief Executives and Chairs to compliance oversight, money laundering reporting, risk and operations roles. Every search builds in the regulator’s fit and proper assessment from the first conversation, and every search is led personally by Adrian Lawrence FCA. SMF Capital is part of a network of five specialist practices alongside FD Capital, Exec Capital, NED Capital and Accountancy Capital.

Media Enquiries

For interviews, comment, speaking requests or podcast guest invitations, email recruitment@smfcapital.co.uk with “Media enquiry” in the subject line, or call 0203 137 2496. We aim to respond to media enquiries the same working day.

Be a Guest or Speaker

We welcome guests on SMF Unlocked and speakers at our events who have first-hand experience of the regime, including current and former Senior Managers, board chairs, compliance and risk leaders, and regulatory lawyers. We’re particularly interested in people who have taken a firm through authorisation, a move to Enhanced status or a significant regulatory review. If you’d like to take part, get in touch using the details above.