Andy Atkinson joined StarCompliance in 2022 and is the Head of Product Management for Star’s Individual Accountability solutions. He brings 25+ years of experience in product management, business development, and business analysis, including more than 15 years in financial services delivering solutions for UK regulated firms across Training & Competency and the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR). As global accountability regimes continue to emerge, Andy is applying his deep SMCR expertise to develop fit-for-purpose solutions that scale across jurisdictions. He also oversees Star’s Broker-Dealer Registration and Political Contributions product areas, ensuring clients can manage licensing, registrations, and pay-to-play risks with confidence. Prior to Star, Andy held leadership roles at Redland Business Solutions and Mutual Vision.
Posts By Author
SMCR Is Evolving – Accountability Still Leads The Way
Over the next 18 to 24 months, the UK’s Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) is expected to undergo reform.
FCA Raises The Bar For Senior Management Applications
What Firms Need to Know to Stay Compliant The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued new guidance aimed at improving the quality and consistency…
What Is the SMCR? A Complete Guide to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime
Maintaining trust and accountability is paramount for financial firms operating in the UK and beyond.
Future-Proofing Your Training & Competency Framework
Insights from Industry Leaders In today’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, protecting your business, your customers, and your reputation requires more than merely meeting compliance…
FAR 2025: Why it Pays to Have a Comprehensive Individual Accountability Regime Solution
All around the world, regulators are increasingly reforming and introducing new individual accountability regimes to help strengthen market integrity and ensure financial services employees…
Raising The Bar On Crypto Knowledge
ESMA’s Proposed Proficiency Standards The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is rolling out new guidelines under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA)—and if…
Navigating the Complexities of Market Abuse Regulations in the EU and UK
The Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) is a critical framework designed to combat market manipulation and insider trading across the EU and UK.
Navigating the Individual Accountability Framework: Compliance Tips for Financial Firms
Since the 2008 global financial crisis, the shift toward greater accountability has been monumental and ongoing, with new regulations emerging nearly every year since.
Non-Executive SEAR 2025 Deadline is Approaching
Is your firm prepared for this and future regulatory milestones? With the Senior Executive Accountability Regime (SEAR) extending to non-executive and independent non-executive directors…
Non-Executive SEAR 2025 Deadline is Approaching
Is your firm prepared for this and future regulatory milestones? With the Senior Executive Accountability Regime (SEAR) extending to non-executive and independent non-executive directors…
Best Practices for Adhering to IAF Regulations
With regulations constantly changing worldwide, understanding Ireland’s Central Bank’s IAF (Individual Accountability Framework) instituted in March 2023 is crucial for business.
3 Takeaways from Star’s “FAR Decoded: Key Insights & Strategies for Success” Webinar
A deep dive into how firms in Australia are transitioning to the Financial Accountability Regime.
A Patchwork of Regulations: Navigating the Complexities of Political Contributions
As the US election year heats up, addressing political contributions has come to the forefront of many compliance teams’ minds.
The Delay of Ireland’s Senior Executive Accountability Regime (SEAR) for NEDs and INEDs: What Compliance Professionals Need To Know
After the Central Bank of Ireland’s Individual Accountability Framework (IAF) was signed into law in March 2023, a three-month consultation process took place to…
An Opportunity to Set the Standard in Employee Compliance Software: UAE Market Study
Renowned for its modern infrastructure and dazzling architecture, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an international trade and transport hub that has undergone rapid…
Consumer Duty: Why Individual Accountability and Training & Competency Solutions Matter
In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is looking to bring higher and clearer standards of consumer protection in retail financial services through…
How Can Compliance Teams Manage Their Representatives’ License and Registration Process More Effectively?
The process of registering for and obtaining a financial securities license can be a complex and time-consuming nightmare.
How StarCompliance’s License & Registration Software Helps Firms Generate Revenue
Zero. That’s how much revenue your registered reps may be generating for the two to three months it takes to complete the license-and-registration process.
Employee Training & Competency: Box-Checking Burden Or Foundation For Better Business?
A successful business depends on developing employees who perform at their best.
How To Think About Ireland’s Senior Executive Accountability Regime
The Central Bank of Ireland is making the case for better firm governance through better firm culture.
StarCompliance Enters SMCR And Training And Competency Space
With its purchase of Ideagen’s Pentana Compliance Division—notably, its SMCR and training and competency solutions—Star will help more clients address more compliance challenges globally from a single, integrated platform.
5 Ways The STAR Platform Makes Compliance Easy For Employees
StarCompliance aims to create seamless, intuitive experiences for financial services employees to make compliance tasks simple.
Why End-To-End User Support Is Crucial For Compliance Software
Increasing compliance software adoption requires improving the user experience.
Singapore: New Guidelines On Accountability And Conduct
Singapore has announced new guidelines on individual accountability and professional conduct for its financial sector.
UK COVID-19 Compliance Update: Joint FCA-PRA Statement On SMCR
As economies sputter, markets churn, and financial systems creak under the strain of worldwide lockdown, the FCA and PRA offer some operational flexibility to…
BEAR: How StarCompliance Can Help With Australia’s Answer To The SMCR
As accountability regulations become more prescriptive, being able to evidence your compliance will only become more important.
SMCR Update: How Dashboards Can Help Evidence Regulatory Compliance
The FCA has extended SMCR rollout to 47,000 firms.
UK Compliance Update: The FCA Finalizes Its SM&CR Regime
47,000 firms will be affected by the new regulations, as well as countless individual employees