Safeguarding Arrangements Advice 

Safeguarding Arrangements Advice 

Firms that hold client money or client assets are expected to maintain safeguarding arrangements that are robust, transparent and fully aligned with supervisory expectations across the EU, UK and global markets. Regulators increasingly view safeguarding as a core element of operational resilience, placing significant emphasis on governance, reconciliation processes, recordkeeping, oversight and the ability to evidence strong control environments. Effective safeguarding protects clients, reduces operational risk and strengthens regulatory trust. 

Our Safeguarding Arrangements Advice helps firms design, implement and maintain safeguarding frameworks that are proportionate, compliant and operationally practical. We ensure that safeguarding is not treated as a procedural obligation but as a critical component of your firm’s risk management and governance structure. 

Strengthening Safeguarding Frameworks 

We support firms in building safeguarding arrangements that meet regulatory expectations and withstand supervisory scrutiny. Our work typically includes: 

• Safeguarding framework design and enhancement — Developing or refining safeguarding policies, governance structures and oversight arrangements to ensure clarity, accountability and effective control. 

• Client money and client asset assessments — Reviewing how client funds and assets are identified, segregated, protected and reconciled, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and industry best practice. 

• Reconciliation and recordkeeping controls — Evaluating reconciliation processes, data integrity, books and records, and operational workflows to ensure accuracy, completeness and timely identification of discrepancies. 

• Operational oversight and governance — Strengthening monitoring, reporting and escalation processes, including Boardlevel oversight and senior management accountability. 

• Remediation and regulatory feedback support — Assisting firms in addressing findings from audits, supervisory reviews or thematic assessments, including the design and implementation of corrective actions. 

• Safeguarding healthcheck — A concise diagnostic review to identify gaps in safeguarding arrangements and assess alignment with regulatory expectations. 

Why Safeguarding Matters 

Supervisors increasingly expect firms to demonstrate that safeguarding arrangements are: 

• Effective, with clear controls and reliable reconciliation processes 

• Embedded, forming part of daytoday operations rather than standalone procedures 

• Transparent, with clear documentation and audit trails 

• Proportionate, reflecting the firm’s business model, scale and risk profile 

Strong safeguarding arrangements reduce the risk of client harm, operational failures and regulatory intervention, while enhancing the firm’s reputation and resilience. 

The Global Advantage 

Our specialists bring experience from regulatory authorities, investment firms, fund managers and financial institutions. We combine regulatory insight with practical operational expertise to help firms build safeguarding frameworks that are both compliant and commercially workable. 

We ensure that safeguarding becomes a meaningful part of your firm’s governance and risk management, not just a compliance requirement.