Accord Consultancy is a firm of compliance specialists offering practical advice, support and supplementary services to intermediary firms which are Regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority [FCA]. We aim to help with the burden of regulatory compliance on our client firms, enabling you to focus more effectively on your core business activities.
Formed in 2000 to provide professional compliance and T & C services to the Financial Services Intermediaries sector, the Directors and staff of Accord all have many years’ practical experience in this field.
We are, first and foremost – compliance consultants; and we think that we’re quite good at that…
Under FCA, Regulation is increasingly complex, demanding and fast changing. Successive Regulators have made it very clear that they will hold senior management responsible for their firm’s errors, omissions and failings. This is reinforced in recent FCA Policy Statements and it is clearly an essential element of ‘Principles based’ Regulation. You cannot afford to get it wrong!
Our policy of offering a bespoke, tailored, service and our ‘hands on’ approach to compliance matters means that we are able to help you develop and implement compliance systems, procedures and controls, appropriate to your own individual firm’s activities. We do not believe in a ‘one size fits all’ or a ‘tick box’ approach to compliance. We prefer to develop a good working relationship with our client firms, starting by getting to know and understand your particular business and your specific circumstances. This then enables us to be flexible in our approach to developing appropriate solutions – whilst still delivering the high level of professionalism that is demanded by modern day Regulation. We also strongly believe that the Compliance function should complement your firm’s Sales operation rather than unnecessarily hinder it.
Ken started in the industry in 1980 amassing valuable experience from periods of employment with 2 major life companies in various administrative and managerial roles. In 1997 he took up a compliance role with a national IFA network. In 2001 he joined Accord to help develop the systems and procedures now in place and to look after the interests of a number of client firms, ranging from sole trader operations to large regional firms. He oversees a wide range of tasks, from handling complaints, to FCA reporting and sales file audits.
Julie has been a senior member of the Accord Team since 2006 and she has extensive experience in most areas of financial services. In particular, she is an accomplished Pension Transfer Specialist. Julie commenced her financial services career with a market leading insurance company in the general sector. She then broadened her experience with a large corporate company, working in their pensions centre, where she helped to manage their defined benefits and defined contribution pension schemes. Additionally, Julie has gained valuable experience from several different roles within two leading Regional IFAs, dealing with both group schemes and individual pensions; all areas of employee benefits; investments and protection policies.
With over 35 years’ experience in the Financial Services industry, Rex has accumulated a wealth of skills and knowledge, liaising with IFAs for a national Life and Pensions Office and then an International Bank. He also operated as an IFA, running the financial services section of a local law firm. He joined Accord in 2005, where he uses his wide-ranging knowledge and understanding of Financial Services compliance issues to assist IFA firms and Mortgage Brokers with their procedures, systems and controls. In recent times, he has become something of an expert in the rather impenetrable area of Consumer Credit Activities and Permissions – something our clients [and us] have been particularly grateful for… He is experienced and knowledgeable in all aspects of FCA Authorisation and Permissions processes and he enjoys providing guidance and support in this area of operation. Firms seeking direct Authorisation from FCA for the first time find him particularly helpful… The principal field consultants, above, are supported by a dedicated team of compliance audit staff and administrative officers, all of whom are from a Financial Services background.
