Governance and oversight frameworks face increasing regulatory focus and public scrutiny. This trend is driven by the broader adoption of governance codes and standards, heightened stakeholder expectations, and growing demands on senior management and boards to demonstrate effective accountability and oversight. Within the financial services sector in particular, individual accountability remains a key area of focus, reinforced by regimes such as the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SM&CR).
The role of boards continues to evolve and expand. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, economic volatility, regulatory change and emerging risks—including those associated with artificial intelligence – effective governance and strong board leadership are essential to building organisational resilience, safeguarding stakeholder value and supporting informed, transparent and accountable decision-making.
Our services
Governance framework review
A holistic assessment of your governance arrangements to determine whether they are appropriately designed and operating effectively to support your business strategy, organisational objectives and operating model.
Key areas of focus include:
- Board and committee structure and reporting lines
- Allocation and discharge of responsibilities
- Board and committee composition, skills and capabilities
- MI and reporting to support effective decision-making.
Board effectiveness review
An in-depth, independent assessment of board effectiveness, helping to ensure it is operating efficiently, providing appropriate oversight and supporting the achievement of your strategic objectives. We adopt a tailored approach that reflects your governance structure, maturity and specific objectives.
We incorporate a combination of documentation review, surveys, interviews and observation at board and committee meetings to provide a comprehensive assessment of board performance and dynamics.
Three lines model review
A focused review of the design and implementation your three lines model to assess whether governance, risk management and assurance responsibilities are clearly defined, appropriately structured and operating effectively.
As well as assessing how your governance structure supports the three lines model, particular attention is given to the independence, authority and effectiveness of the second- and third-line functions.
We evaluate whether these functions are appropriately resourced, empowered and positioned to provide objective oversight and assurance in line with leading practice and regulatory expectations.
Governance benchmarking
Whether you are adopting on a mandatory or voluntary basis, our governance specialists can perform a comprehensive benchmarking and gap analysis to assess alignment with leading governance codes and standards and identify areas for enhancement.
We benchmark against:
- UK Corporate Governance Code
- QCA Corporate Governance Code
- Wates Corporate Governance Principles for Large Private Companies.
Our assessments provide practical, risk-based recommendations to strengthen governance, support regulatory compliance and demonstrate commitment to good governance to shareholders, regulators and other stakeholders.
Support with UK Corporate Governance Code implementation and compliance, including Provision 29
The 2024 update to the UK Corporate Governance Code, and in particular Provision 29, has placed increased emphasis on boards demonstrating effective oversight of material controls and providing transparent reporting on their effectiveness. Our specialists can help design, enhance and embed a proportionate material controls framework, supporting compliance with Provision 29.
Our services include:
- Assessment of material risks and controls
- Assurance mapping
- Material control testing and validation
- Board reporting and disclosure, including preparation of annual report declaration.
Training
We provide bespoke training to boards and senior management, helping you to stay up to date with evolving governance requirements, regulatory developments and emerging risks.
Training can be delivered as board briefings, standalone workshops or part of a wider governance development programmes, and covers a broad range of topics.
- Corporate governance frameworks and practices
- Three lines model and assurance frameworks
- ESG and sustainability
- Cyber security and technology risk oversight
- Financial and corporate reporting developments
- Emerging risks, including AI.
AI governance reviews
With the rapid evolution and implementation of AI, strong governance is critical.
We provide independent assurance over your AI governance, reflecting your stage of maturity.
Our services range from a baseline AI governance review through to an ISO 42001 readiness review.
ESG governance reviews
Most ESG reporting frameworks require organisations to disclose their governance around ESG and sustainability-related risks and opportunities.
Our specialists can assess the effectiveness of your ESG / sustainability governance arrangements and help to ensure your disclosures are accurate and transparent.
Our reviews provide confidence to the Board, management and external stakeholders that your ESG risks and opportunities are well governed and overseen.
SME support to internal audit functions
Our governance specialists provide targeted SME support to complement and enhance your internal audit team.
We offer flexible solutions tailored to your specific needs and desired level of support, ranging from SME-led planning workshops, specialist input for selected audit areas to the delivery of end-to-end SME-led audits.
Sector specific services
We also offer the following services to financial services firms, helping them to achieve compliance with FCA and PRA requirements and related governance risks:
Speak to our governance specialists
Whether you are reviewing your governance framework, assessing board effectiveness, preparing for Provision 29 compliance or seeking assurance over your SM&CR arrangements, our governance specialists can help. We provide independent, practical and risk-focused advice and assurance to strengthen governance, enhance oversight and support regulatory compliance.
Contact our governance specialists to discuss your governance review or assurance requirements.
