Thistle Initiatives

Did you know that fraud now accounts for over 40% of all crimes committed in England and Wales? Regulators and government bodies such as The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), The Payment Systems Regulator, and The UK Home Office are cracking down on fraudsters and organisations failing to prevent fraud. Our team of experts can help you assess, review and optimise your anti-fraud programmes and frameworks to meet regulatory demands. Our model aims to Protect, Detect and Remediate against fraud across all industries. For more information on our fraud services and how we can help your firm, contact James Dodsworth, Financial Crime Senior Manager (james.dodsworth@thistleinitiatives.co.uk) or Jessica Cath, Financial Crime Partner (jessica.cath@thistleinitiatives.co.uk) #Fraud #APPFraud #FTPFraud #ProtectDetectRemediate

As the UK transitions from EU-inherited financial regulations, the FCA is establishing a improved disclosure framework for Consumer Composite Investment (CCI) Disclosures. As 2025 approaches, Senior Associate in our Investments team, Anisha K., explores what this means for firms and investors, highlighting the objectives, changes, timelines and potential challenges. Click here to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/epQzW2XD #investments #FCA

All of us at Thistle Initiatives would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season! During this time, we hope you have the chance to unwind, reflect, and spend quality time with loved ones. This year, the Thistle Group has made a charitable donation to The Salvation Army's Christmas appeal. At Christmas, the Salvation Army aims to reach out to those suffering the most, bringing joy and hope into their lives. Here’s to a prosperous, successful, and fulfilling year ahead. We look forward to working with you in 2025 and beyond! #HappyHolidays #2025

Our Financial Crime Partner, Jessica Cath, features in Salv's Fincrime Time Machine for 2025. "We encounter many firms that have invested in new technology but don’t fully leverage its features due to a lack of understanding or because the data isn’t clean enough for the tool to function properly. Developing expertise in financial crime technology is key but also a real challenge — MLROs need to be experts in regulatory change, people management, risk management, communication, and now, data and technology." Click here to read the full e-book, packed with expert insight on what 2025 holds for the financial crime industry: https://lnkd.in/gn3vi8jU #FinancialCrime #ebook

Thistle Initiatives' Mergers and Acquisitions team have assisted Titan Wealth with regulatory due diligence in their acquisition of IWP UK. "James, Alex and the Mergers and Acquisitions team at Thistle Initiatives were instrumental in this acquisition, showcasing their expertise in compliance at every stage of the process." – Andrew Fearon, Joint CEO and Head of M&A at Titan Wealth. Alex Paschalis, Partner at Thistle Initiatives, commented: “We would like to extend our congratulations to the team at Titan Wealth on the acquisition of IWP. It was a pleasure to work with them throughout 2024, and we look forward to supporting on further transactions.” For more information, or to discuss how we can assist with your acquisition needs, please contact us at 0207 436 0630 or email us at info@thistleinitiatives.co.uk. #M&A #RegulatoryDueDilligence #Acquisition

Following the release of the findings from the FCA's review into firms’ approaches to completing the first annual Consumer Duty Board report, Manager Karishni Patel, delves into what firms are doing well and where significant gaps remain. With the FCA signalling that scrutiny will only intensify, Karishni provides actionable insight into Consumer Duty Board Report outcomes, including: - Strengthen board reporting and oversight - Enhance distribution chain governance - Focus on vulnerable customers - Create robust action plans - Embed good culture across the organisation Click here to read the article: https://hubs.la/Q02_LqrQ0 For more information on Consumer Duty or for enquiries on Board Reports and implementing frameworks, please get in touch with one of our experts by emailing: info@thistleinitiatives.co.uk. #ConsumerDuty #BoardReport #Compliance #FCA

We've reached 4,000 Followers on LinkedIn! We’re just getting started, and look forward to sharing more compliance expertise with you, analysing all the latest regulatory challenges. #4KFollowers

How can payment firms navigate challenges like cyber threats, regulatory pressures, and system disruptions to safeguard customer trust whilst maintaining business continuity? Hear from experts from our Payment Services team, Lorraine Mouat and Anthony Corner in the latest episode of The Insights Podcast by The Payments Association: Building Operational Resilience in Payments. Listen now here: https://hubs.la/Q02_n51N0 #Payments #OperationalResilience #Podcast

Our Payment Services Partner, Lorraine Mouat, features in Financier Worldwide Magazine in their latest article, EU evolution: the rise of evidence-based compliance. Lorraine highlights a shift toward an evidence-based approach by EU regulators stating: "Regulators want to ensure that organisations can demonstrate an understanding of key risks and explain how compliance frameworks address them. They are also looking for more data-driven insights, with compliance solutions tailored to the risk profile of the firm." To read the full article and the expert insight provided by Lorraine, click here: https://hubs.ly/Q02_gB7Q0 #EU #compliance

Karishma Galaiya, Senior Manager in our Investments team joins Jawad Akhtar on VERMEG for Banking & Insurance Software's latest episode of FinTalk Season 3: Navigating Regulatory Changes for Investment Firms.   Karishma and Jawad discuss:   - Senior Managers & Certification Regime: continuing the conversation from the recent regulatory conference, they’ll examine its impact on investment firms, accountability, and cultural shifts across the industry - Strategies for Navigating Consumer Duty: particularly for firms adjusting to regulatory shifts in advice and service delivery - The Future of Diversity & Inclusion: proposed targets, reporting requirements, and their connections to the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR) - Priorities for 2025: strengthening IFPR compliance, aligning with consumer duty outcomes, and adopting a comprehensive, cross-regulatory compliance strategy   Watch here: https://lnkd.in/dk3_nrAH Listen here: https://lnkd.in/dRdNiwv7 #podcast #webcast #investments