SMF Capital
About SMF Unlocked
SMF Unlocked is the podcast for anyone recruiting, holding, or thinking about taking on an FCA Senior Manager Function. Every episode unpacks a specific part of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime — what a designation like Chair, Chief Risk Officer, Compliance Oversight or MLRO actually requires, how the fit and proper test works in practice, and where boards and firms most often get SMF appointments wrong before it's too late to fix cheaply.
This isn't a regulatory affairs show for compliance academics. It's a practical, direct look at SMF appointments from someone who runs these searches for a living — real patterns from real searches, the questions that actually separate a strong candidate from a risky one, and the mistakes that turn a straightforward appointment into a six-month Form A headache.
About the host
Adrian Lawrence FCA is a Fellow of the ICAEW and founder of SMF Capital, a UK recruitment practice specialising in FCA Senior Manager Function appointments — executive and non-executive. He founded FD Capital in 2018 and has since built out Exec Capital, NED Capital and Accountancy Capital alongside SMF Capital, working with boards, investors and regulated firms across the UK on senior and board-level appointments. He leads every SMF search personally, which is where most of what ends up in this podcast actually comes from.
Who this is for
Board members and non-executive directors navigating a Chair or committee chair appointment. Compliance and financial crime professionals building a case for their next SMF16 or SMF17 role. HR and governance teams trying to work out which designation actually applies to a role they're hiring for. And anyone who's been through an SMF appointment that went sideways and wants to understand why.
New episodes regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen, and find detailed written guides to every SMF designation at smfcapital.co.uk.
Episodes
7 episodes
SMF9: The Chair's Job Under SMCR
Today we're looking at SMF9 — the Chair function and what being the chair of a regulated financial services business actually involves under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, or SMCR.For many businesses, appointing a c...
SMF4: The Chief Risk Officer the Board Needs to Hear From
Welcome to the SMF Capital Podcast.Today we're looking at SMF4 — the Chief Risk function and why the Chief Risk Officer can play such an important role in the governance of a regulated financial services business.Risk manag...
SMF2: Why a Regulated CFO Needs More Than a Finance Background
Welcome to the SMF Capital Podcast.Today we're looking at SMF2 — the Chief Finance function and why appointing a CFO to a regulated financial services business can involve considerably more than finding someone with a strong conve...
SMF1: What It Takes to Be Approved as a Regulated CEO
Let's take a closer look at one of the most important senior management functions: SMF1, the Chief Executive function.For many businesses seeking FCA authorisation, the CEO is going to be central to the proposed governance structu...
The Fit and Proper Test: What the Regulator Is Really Asking
There's another important part of the authorisation process that shouldn't be overlooked: the Fit and Proper Test.Identifying somebody for an SMF position is only part of the process.The regulator also needs to consider whe...
SMF Authorisation Support: Building the Right Senior Management Team Before FCA Submission
Welcome to the SMF Capital Podcast.Today we're looking at an issue that can make a significant difference to the FCA authorisation process: when and how you build your Senior Management Function team.If you're a fintech, pa...
Understanding FCA-Regulated Financial Advice - What Business Owners and Investors Need to Know
Welcome to today’s episode, where we’re looking at an important subject for anyone dealing with investments, financial planning or regulated financial services: what does FCA regulation actually mean, and why does it matter?