CISI UK Financial Regulation study plan
CISI UK Financial Regulation · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Introduction and structure of the UK financial services industry & The regulatory environment
Map the UK regulatory architecture from memory: FCA, PRA, Bank of England, HM Treasury and the statutory objectives each body pursues
Explain how the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended by the Financial Services Act 2021 and the Future Regulatory Framework, allocates rule-making and supervisory responsibility
Distinguish the roles of the FCA Handbook modules (Principles, SYSC, COBS, APER, CASS) and identify which module governs a given scenario
Describe the scope of PRA-authorised versus FCA-authorised firms and the dual-regulation boundary
Your checkpoint
A one-page hand-drawn regulatory map plus a 15-question self-quiz scoring at least 80% on institutional structure
The regulatory environment
Apply the FCA's statutory objectives and the consumer duty outcomes to hypothetical firm conduct
Explain the authorisation gateway, threshold conditions, and approved persons regime including senior manager and certification functions
Summarise the FCA supervisory approach (proactive, reactive, thematic) and the tools available: skilled person reviews, own-initiative requirements, financial penalties
Interpret the complaints handling and Financial Ombudsman Service escalation route with time limits
Your checkpoint
A written case analysis of 500 words applying threshold conditions and consumer duty outcomes to a fictional firm's failings
The regulatory environment & Regulated activities and the conduct of business rules
Classify activities against the RAO and specify which require authorisation, including exclusions and appointed representative status
Explain the financial promotion regime: the restriction on communicating invitations or inducements and the exemptions available
Apply COBS client categorisation rules (retail, professional, eligible counterparty) to determine the protections owed
Describe disclosure, suitability and appropriateness obligations for advised and non-advised sales
Your checkpoint
A categorisation and disclosure checklist tested against three different client scenarios, with the correct COBS obligations cited for each
Financial crime and market abuse
Explain the money laundering regulations 2017 obligations: risk assessment, customer due diligence, enhanced due diligence, and record keeping
Identify the offences and reporting duties under POCA 2002 and the Terrorism Act 2000, including the role of the NCA and SARs
Describe the market abuse regime under MAR and FSMA: insider dealing, market manipulation, and unlawful disclosure, plus the FCA's civil and criminal routes
Distinguish bribery offences under the Bribery Act 2010 and the adequate procedures defence
Your checkpoint
A financial crime control matrix covering five typologies with the applicable legislation, red flags, and reporting obligation for each
Financial crime and market abuse & Ethics and professional standards
Apply the FCA Principles for Businesses to short scenarios and justify which principle is breached
Explain the fit and proper person test and the conduct rules applicable to senior managers and certified staff
Describe the ethical decision-making framework including conflicts of interest management and inducements rules
Analyse whistleblowing obligations and the treatment of vulnerable customers as an ethical and regulatory duty
Your checkpoint
A 600-word ethical dilemma response applying at least four Principles and one conduct rule, with a reasoned recommendation
Regulated activities and the conduct of business rules & Ethics and professional standards
Explain client money and asset protection requirements under CASS, including the client money pool and segregation principles
Apply the rules on best execution and order handling to retail and professional client flows
Describe the complaints and redress framework as it interacts with conduct of business obligations
Evaluate how culture, remuneration and governance requirements reinforce ethical conduct at firm level
Your checkpoint
A 20-question mixed mock on conduct of business and ethics, with a written review of every incorrect answer
Introduction and structure of the UK financial services industry & The regulatory environment & Regulated activities and the conduct of business rules
Consolidate all five domains into a single revision sheet linking each rule to its source handbook module and regulator
Complete a timed 50-question mock under exam conditions and record per-domain scores
Re-teach the two weakest domains from memory without notes, then verify against the handbook
Practise calculation and definition questions on authorisation thresholds and client categorisation
Your checkpoint
A timed mock score of at least 70% overall with no domain below 60%, plus a targeted remediation list
Financial crime and market abuse & Ethics and professional standards
Drill financial crime and ethics questions to fluency, targeting the highest-weight recall items
Recite the key statutory references and handbook module numbers for each domain from memory
Complete two full timed mocks and analyse error patterns for recurring themes
Summarise the five most commonly tested distinctions in a final one-page crib sheet
Your checkpoint
Two consecutive full mocks at or above 75%, with a final crib sheet and a confidence rating per domain
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 75% on a 20-question quiz covering institutional structure and the regulatory environment, and explain the authorisation gateway aloud without notes
Week 4: Complete the financial crime control matrix unaided and correctly identify the reporting obligation in five out of five typology scenarios
Week 6: Achieve at least 70% on the mixed conduct and ethics mock, and articulate the consumer duty outcomes from memory
Week 8: Achieve 75% or higher on two consecutive full timed mocks with no domain below 65%, and hold a complete crib sheet covering all five domains