Related provisions for APER 4.5.13
Firms should ensure that those supervising employees carrying on an activity in TC Appendix 1 have the necessary coaching and assessment skills as well as technical knowledge and experience17 to act as a competent supervisor and assessor. In particular firms should consider whether it is appropriate to require those supervising employees not assessed as competent to attain 16an appropriate qualification 16as well except where the employee is giving advice on retail investment products,17 see TC 2.1.5 R.
161617- (1)
In the FCA's view:
- (a)
- (b)
a person who performs a significant influence function for, or is a senior manager of, a firm would normally be expected to be part of the firm'sBIPRU Remuneration Code staff;
- (c)
the table in (2) provides a non-exhaustive list of examples of key positions that should, subject to (d), be within a firm's definition of staff who are risk takers;
- (d)
firms should consider how the examples in the table in (2) apply to their own organisational structure (as the description of suggested business lines in the first row may be most appropriate to a firm which deals on its own account to a significant extent);
- (e)
firms may find it useful to set their own metrics to identify their risk takers based, for example, on trading limits; and
- (f)
a firm should treat a person as being BIPRU Remuneration Code staff in relation to remuneration in respect of a given performance year if they were BIPRU Remuneration Code staff for any part of that year.
[Note: The FCA has published guidance on the application of particular rules on remuneration structures in relation to individuals who are BIPRU Remuneration Code staff for only part of a given performance year. This guidance is available at
http://www.fca.org.uk/firms/markets/international-markets/remuneration-code
.]
- (2)
High-level category
Suggested business lines
Heads of significant business lines (including regional heads) and any individuals or groups within their control who have a material impact on the firm's risk profile
Fixed income
Foreign exchange
Commodities
Securitisation
Sales areas
Investment banking (including mergers and acquisitions advisory)
Commercial banking
Equities
Structured finance
Lending quality
Trading areas
Research
Heads of support and control functions and other individuals within their control who have a material impact on the firm's risk profile
Credit/market/operational risk
Legal
Treasury controls
Human resources
Compliance
Internal audit
1Introduction |
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1. |
TC Appendix 4E contains a list of appropriate qualifications for the purposes of TC 2.1.10 E. |
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2. |
This Appendix sets out: |
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(1) |
the criteria which the FCA may take into account when assessing a qualification provider; and |
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(2) |
the information the FCA will expect the qualification provider to provide if it asks the FCA to add a qualification to the list of appropriate qualifications in TC Appendix 4 E. |
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Criteria for assessing a qualification provider |
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3. |
The FCA will expect the qualification provider of an appropriate qualification to have, in the FCA's opinion: |
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(1) |
assessors and qualification developers who are trained and qualified; |
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(2) |
valid, reliable and robust assessment methods; |
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(3) |
robust governance and a clear separation of function between its qualification services and any other services it performs, including effective procedures for managing any conflicts of interest; |
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(4) |
procedures for reviewing and refreshing its syllabus and question banks to ensure that they are relevant and up to date; |
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(5) |
robust and credible procedures for assessing a candidate's demonstration of the learning outcomes specified in the relevant examination standards; |
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(6) |
robust arrangements for contingency and business continuity planning in relation to its qualification services; |
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(7) |
appropriate records management procedures in relation to its qualification services; |
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(8) |
procedures for dealing with inappropriate conduct by candidates, for example, attempting to obtain or obtaining qualifications dishonestly; |
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(9) |
robust procedures for the setting of assessments and marking of results; and |
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(10) |
adequate resources in order to be financially viable. |
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Information about the qualification to be provided to the FCA |
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4. |
If a qualification provider asks the FCA to add a qualification to the list of appropriate qualifications in TC Appendix 4 E, the FCA will expect the qualification provider to: |
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(1) |
where relevant, specify the qualifications framework within which the qualification is placed; |
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(2) |
specify the activity in TC Appendix 1 to which the qualification relates; |
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(3) |
set out the recommended prior knowledge, attainment or experience for candidates; |
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(4) |
where relevant, set out the exemption policy for a candidate's prior learning or achievement; |
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(5) |
provide the relevant learning materials to the FCA together with an explanation of how those learning materials correspond to the content of the most recent examination standards. Any content of the examination standards which has been excluded from the learning materials must be justified; |
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(6) |
where applicable, explain how grading is applied; |
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(7) |
where applicable, explain the provider's rules of combination; |
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(8) |
provide details of expected learning hours or any other similar arrangements; |
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(9) |
where applicable, specify the level of the overall qualification with reference to the relevant qualification framework or, if there is no relevant qualification framework, the European Qualifications Framework and the percentage of the qualification at that level, as well as the percentages and the levels for the remainder of the qualification; |
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(10) |
provide details of any credit for prior learning included in the qualification together with an explanation of how it meets the most recent examination standards; and |
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(11) |
provide an explanation of how the qualification compares in quality and standard to other similar qualifications. |
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Information about the qualification provider to be provided to the FCA |
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5. |
When considering whether to include or retain a qualification in the list of appropriate qualifications, the FCA may consider, where relevant: |
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(1) |
whether the qualification provider has in place suitable arrangements for: |
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(a) |
meeting its statutory duties in relation to equality and diversity; and |
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(b) |
reducing barriers to learning, for example, for candidates with learning difficulties; |
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(2) |
any concerns, issues or investigations which have been raised by the qualification provider's qualifications regulator; |
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(3) |
the annual pass rates of each of the relevant qualifications; |
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(4) |
the quality of the service the qualification provider provides to candidates in relation to qualifications and its complaints procedures; |
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(5) |
how the qualification provider maintains its qualifications to ensure they remain comparable to other qualifications in the same sector; and |
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(6) |
whether the qualification provider gives candidates reasonable notice of any syllabus change, change in method of assessment or pass standards; |
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(7) |
information supporting the criteria in TC Appendix 5G paragraph 3. |