Sanctions under the microscope: Unpacking the FCA's latest findings

The situation

Over 150 financial services firms have been assessed on how they've responded to increased financial and trade sanctions since February 2022. The picture isn't flattering: screening tools misconfigured, alerts closed too slowly or incorrectly, and governance that looks robust on paper but breaks down under pressure.

The FCA is actively following up with firms where weaknesses were found, and has signalled continued supervisory focus across the industry. This session gives you the tools to stress-test your assumptions and take steps needed to strengthen your controls.

The discussion

Join James Nurse, UK AML/FinCrime Thought Leader and Strategic Advisor to Alloy, and Sara Cerminara, Group Sanctions Lead at Wise, for a 45-minute walkthrough of the FCA's findings and what they mean in practice.

In this 45-minute session, you'll learn:

• A clear read on the specific control failures the FCA identified and the real-world case studies behind them
• A framework for assessing whether your own screening, alert management, and governance meet the bar the FCA has now set
• Concrete examples of what good practice actually looks like—including an honest assessment of how far most firms still are from it
• A sharper understanding of where trade sanctions exposure is being systematically underestimated
• A prioritised action list for your compliance team and senior management to work through before your next supervisory interaction

The session will close with a live Q&A, giving you the opportunity to put your questions directly to James and Sara.

Built for MLROs, compliance officers, nominated officers, senior managers, and financial crime practitioners at any FCA-supervised firm.
 

Additional resources