Business areas and management functions |
Explanation |
(1) Payment services |
This means: (1) payment services; (2) issuing and administering other means of payment (for example, cheques and bankers' drafts); (3) issuing electronic money; and (4) current accounts. |
(2) Settlement |
This means clearing and settlement of any transactions described in rows (3) and (6) to (9) of this annex, in relation to the assets covered by (9). It also includes clearing and settlement of any transactions described in row (10). |
(3) Investment management |
This has the same meaning as managing investments with the following adjustments: (a) it covers all types of assets; and (b) the exclusions in the Regulated Activities Order do not apply. It also covers fund management. |
(4) Financial or investment advice |
This includes advising on investments. |
(5) Mortgage advice |
This has the same meaning as advising on regulated mortgage contracts but is expanded to cover land anywhere in the world and to cover security of any kind over land. |
(6) Corporate investments |
This means acquiring, holding, managing and disposing a firm's investments made for its own account. |
(7) Wholesale sales |
This means the selling of any investment to a person other than a retail customer. It does not include the activities in (1). |
(8) Retail sales |
This means the selling of any investment to a retail customer. It includes savings accounts. It does not include the activities in (1). |
(9) Trading for clients |
This means dealing in investments as agent and execution of orders on behalf of clients but the list of products includes money market instruments and foreign exchange. |
(10) Market making |
This has the same meaning as it does in MIFID (see the definition of market maker in article 4.1(8)). |
(11) Investment research |
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(12) Origination/syndication and underwriting |
Origination and syndication include: (1) entering into or acquiring (directly or indirectly) any commitment or investment with a view to transferring some or all of it to others, or with a view to others investing in the same transaction; (2) sub-participation; and (3) any transaction described in the Glossary definition of originator. Underwriting includes underwriting that is not on a firm commitment basis. A commitment or investment includes an economic interest in some or all of it. This activity also includes the provision of services relating to such transactions. |
(13) Retail lending decisions |
Deciding whether, and on what terms, to lend to retail customers. Lending includes granting credit, leasing and hire (including finance leasing). |
(14) Wholesale lending decisions |
Deciding whether, and on what terms, to lend to persons who are not retail customers. Lending includes granting credit, leasing and hire (including finance leasing). |
(15) Design and manufacturing of products intended for wholesale customers |
Wholesale customers mean persons who are not retail customers |
(16) Design and manufacture of products intended for retail customers |
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(17) Production and distribution of marketing materials and communications |
This includes financial promotions |
(18) Customer service |
This means dealing with clients after the point of sale, including queries and fulfilment of client requests |
(19) Customer complaints handling |
This includes the firm's compliance with DISP. It also includes: (1) any similar procedures relating to activities that do not come under the jurisdiction of the Financial Ombudsman Service; (2) activities that take place outside the UK; and (3) activities that are not subject to any ombudsman service. |
(20) Collection and recovering amounts owed to a firm by its customers Dealing with customers in arrears |
‘Customer’ means any person falling into any of the definitions of client in the Glossary so far as they apply to the FCA's Handbook. The definition is extended to cover all services provided by the firm and not just those that are provided in the course of carrying on a regulated activity or an ancillary service. |
(21) Middle office |
This means risk management and controls in relation to, and accounting for, transactions in securities or derivatives |
(22) The firm's information technology |
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(23) Business continuity planning |
This means the functions described in SYSC 4.1.6R and SYSC 4.1.7R |
(24) Human resources |
This includes recruitment, training and competence and performance monitoring |
(25) Incentive schemes for the firm's staff |
This is not limited to schemes based on sales. |
(26) Providing information in relation to a specified benchmark |
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Note (1): The purpose of this annex is explained in SYSC 4.5 (Management responsibilities maps for UK2 relevant authorised persons) and SYSC 4.7.37G. This annex is also referred to in SYSC 4.6 (Management responsibilities maps for non-UK relevant authorised persons) and SYSC 4.8 (Senior management responsibilities for third-country relevant authorised persons: allocation of responsibilities) (see SYSC 4.6.14 and SYSC 4.8.35).2 |
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Note (2): A firm does not have to use the split of activities in this annex for the purposes in Note (1). If a firm does decide to use it, it may adapt it to suit its management arrangements better. For example, a firm may find the split of activities into retail and wholesale activities unsuitable. If so, the firm might: (a) treat retail and wholesale activities together; or (b) use its own definition of retail and wholesale activities. |
Related provisions for SYSC 19D.3.25
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. |