A third of major UK asset management firms do not have sufficient internal resource to manage their firm’s regulatory risk, a survey of 20 heads of compliance shows.
PWC, a business consultancy, found that despite the majority (80%) of heads of compliance working at least 11-12 hours a day, a quarter of firms feel they are not effectively managing their regulatory risk. This is despite nearly every firm ranking regulatory risk in the top five that they face.
This under-supply of compliance professionals is mirrored in the external market, meaning unless action is taken the asset management industry could be left facing a compliance skill shortage which will continue for at least the next two to three years.
Amanda Rowland, partner and head of asset management regulation, PwC, says: “Asset managers simply do not have enough sufficiently experienced staff to cope with the increased regulatory burden. This is leaving many firms concerned that they are not effectively managing risk despite senior compliance staff working longer and longer hours.”
The compliance function is the gate keeper in controlling regulatory risk and firms need to ensure they do not over-stretch their existing compliance teams, Rowland adds.
“There is still a long way to go until we reach a perfect world here. Firms should look at their internal compliance business model, determine what their core compliance activities are, and focus their resources on these areas. For the remainder of activities they should consider alternative solutions including outsourcing or ring-fencing in another part of the business.”
©2013 funds europe
