Safeguarding Audits.
Safeguarding is the cornerstone of customer protection for payment services and e-money firms which is why it remains a key area of FCA scrutiny. For all Electronic Money Institutions (EMI) and Payment Institutions (PI) required to arrange an annual audit under the Companies Act 2006, a Safeguarding Audit is mandatory.
More than a regulatory tick-box, it demonstrates that your firm can be trusted to protect client funds, maintain operational resilience, and meet FCA expectations.
MINIMISE BURDEN, MAXIMISE ASSURANCE.
As one of the UK’s most experienced digital finance compliance consultancies, we deliver independent safeguarding audits that are regulator-aligned, commercially focused. Our audit methodology has been refined through extensive experience and shared directly with the FCA, giving you confidence that the scope covers the issues most critical in meeting your obligations.
We combine regulatory expertise with practical insight, ensuring the audit process is efficient, thorough, and delivers recommendations that strengthen both compliance and business resilience. From initial workshops through to the final report, we help you anticipate and address issues before they become regulatory concerns.
Rule the…
REVIEW
We begin with a workshop to understand your safeguarding arrangements, supported by a tailored online questionnaire to streamline data collection. We then review your policies, procedures, and records covering safeguarding methods, reconciliations, governance, stress testing, and wind-down planning.
REALITY CHECK
Our experts sample-test reconciliations, examine systems and controls, and interview key staff to ensure that safeguarding processes aren’t just documented, but operating effectively in practice. This approach provides a clear, evidence-based view of your compliance with FCA requirements.
REPORTING
You receive a draft summary of findings with the opportunity to clarify points before we issue the final Safeguarding Audit Report. This report sets out our independent opinion on whether your firm has met FCA expectations, identifies shortcomings, and provides practical solutions and recommendations to address them and close outstanding items.
