LICENSING & COMPLIANCE CONSULTANTS DIRECTORY
Compliance Consultants Directory
We see Compliance Consultants as essential to good customer outcomes. Self-licensing is on the rise, ASIC is increasing scrutiny of regulated entities, and numerous legislative changes and other reforms are prompting all manner of financial services firms to seek the assistance of a Compliance Consultant.
Please find a list of Compliance Consultants who have joined our FEP community.
Please note: This is not an endorsement and we take no responsibility for the selection. Please do your own research as to whether they are the right fits for your compliance needs.
Jacqui Stewart
e: support@grcessentials.com.au
- AFSL & ACL applications & variations
- Licensee & whole business reviews
- Representative & client file reviews
- AML/CTF reviews
- Compliance committee, investment committee & training committee meeting management
- Full Compliance Programs
- Policies & Procedures
- GRCPlus AFSL Management Platform
Do you need an AFS licence?
If you want to run a financial services business, you generally need to be authorised under an AFS licence. Before you apply, check out ASIC’s AFS Licensing Kit.
Regulatory News
-
23 July 2026
APRA updates exemption from section 66 of the Banking Act 1959
23 July 2026The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released a response to its consultation on minor proposals for instruments relating to section 66 of the Banking Act 1959 (the Banking Act).
Under section 66 of the Banking Act, certain words and expressions are restricted in use within the context of a financial business, such as the use of the word “bank”, and words of like import, unless APRA has provided written consent for a person or class of persons to use those words and expressions.
APRA has updated a class exemption that allows foreign entities to use restricted terms when issuing debt securities in wholesale capital markets. The exemption now captures a broader set of foreign entities that commonly seek APRA’s consent, reducing administrative burden for these entities. Other aspects of the exemption remain unchanged.
A letter outlining APRA’s response to submissions and the final legislative instrument is available at: Banking Act exemptions and section 66 guidelines
APRA updates exemption from section 66 of the Banking Act 1959
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released a response... -
23 July 2026
Brendan Gunn sentenced in connection with suspected international cryptocurrency scam
23 July 2026Former finance director Brendan Gunn has been sentenced in the Local Court of NSW for dealing with over $180,000 when it was reasonable to suspect that those funds were proceeds of crime.
Brendan Gunn sentenced in connection with suspected international cryptocurrency scam
Former finance director Brendan Gunn has been sentenced in the... -
22 July 2026
ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland’s speech at the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia Conference
22 July 2026Commissioner Alan Kirkland delivered a speech at the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia Conference in Melbourne on 22 July 2026.
Here are the highlights of Alan’s remarks:
- Home lending is the largest area of consumer credit in Australia, with 81% of new residential mortgages arranged by brokers.
- It is essential that brokers maintain trust by putting customers first, providing quality advice, and remedying failures quickly.
- ASIC is conducting a review of the mortgage broking sector to better understand how well brokers are complying with their best interests duty.
Find out more in the full speech.
Commissioner Alan Kirkland delivered a speech at the Mortgage and... -
22 July 2026
ASIC reminds Registered Company Auditors of their obligations and outlines stronger oversight
22 July 2026ASIC has written to registered company auditors reminding them of their legal, ethical and professional obligations, and the importance of protecting public confidence in the audit profession.
ASIC reminds Registered Company Auditors of their obligations and outlines stronger oversight
ASIC has written to registered company auditors reminding them of... -
22 July 2026
ASIC cancels the registered agent status of Registry Australia Pty Ltd
22 July 2026ASIC has cancelled the registered agent status of Registry Australia Pty Ltd for breaches of ASIC’s Registered Agent Terms and Conditions.
ASIC cancels the registered agent status of Registry Australia Pty Ltd
ASIC has cancelled the registered agent status of Registry Australia... -
21 July 2026
APRA grants ADI licence to Revolut
21 July 2026The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has granted Revolut Payments Australia Pty Ltd a licence to operate as an authorised-deposit taking institution (ADI) under the Banking Act 1959 (the Act). Concurrently, APRA has also licensed Revolut Australia NOHC Pty Ltd as a non-operating holding company (NOHC) under the Act.
An updated list of all APRA-authorised ADIs and NOHCs can be found on the APRA website at: List of registered authorised deposit-taking institutions and List of non-operating holding companies.
APRA grants ADI licence to Revolut
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has granted Revolut Payments Australia Pty Ltd a licence... -
20 July 2026
ASIC secures record $830 million in civil penalties orders and $644 million back to Australians in 2025-26
20 July 2026ASIC has delivered one of its strongest enforcement periods on record, securing major penalties and driving tens of millions in payments back to Australians in the first half of 2026.
From January to June 2026, ASIC secured court orders totalling $480 million# in civil penalties against major banks, super trustees, market participants and financial services firms, including Union Standard, HSBC, Westpac, Macquarie Securities, and Mercer Super.
Together with the $350 million ordered in the first half, ASIC’s civil penalties orders now total $830 million for the 2025-2026 financial year.
In connection with ASIC’s work, $644 million* is being paid back to Australians, including more than $61 million announced in the first half of 2026, on top of the $583 million announced between June and December 2025.
View ASIC WebsiteASIC has delivered one of its strongest enforcement periods on... -
17 July 2026
Former MWL financial adviser Christian Henry banned for three years
17 July 2026Former MWL Financial Services Pty Ltd (MWL) financial adviser Christian Henry has been banned from providing personal financial advice, controlling an entity that carries on a financial services business or performing any function involved in the carrying on of a financial services business for three years.
View ASIC WebsiteFormer MWL financial adviser Christian Henry banned for three years
Former MWL Financial Services Pty Ltd (MWL) financial adviser Christian... -
17 July 2026
ASIC releases key themes and areas of focus from its Financial Markets and Innovation roundtable
17 July 2026On 30 June 2026, ASIC convened a Financial Markets and Innovation roundtable (Roundtable) with thirty-two industry, academic and public sector participants. The discussion focused on how to keep Australia’s capital markets efficient, resilient and globally competitive while supporting innovation with appropriate investor protections. The Roundtable formed part of ASIC’s broader work to advance Australia’s evolving capital markets and coincided with the publication of Report 835 Innovation in Financial Markets and Financial Market Infrastructure.
Some participants highlighted Australia’s strengths, including trusted institutions, sophisticated investors and deep pools of capital, but warned that Australia risks global marginalisation unless it keeps pace with market developments. Many urged prioritising innovation that solves practical problems, boosts productivity and strengthens foundations for capital formation, liquidity, collateral mobility and global connectivity in an era of major global capital raising and AI-enablement.
Roundtable participants brought diverse perspectives, but four interconnected themes emerged.
View ASIC WebsiteASIC releases key themes and areas of focus from its Financial Markets and Innovation roundtable
On 30 June 2026, ASIC convened a Financial Markets and... -
17 July 2026
ASIC warning: Pump and dump scammers intensify use of fake celebrity endorsements
17 July 2026ASIC is warning Australians to be extremely cautious of investment tips received through social media and messaging apps, amid a spike in reports of pump and dump scams using fake celebrity endorsements and impersonations of financial institutions.
ASIC has observed scammers using the identities and images of well-known finance industry figures, including respected market commentators and economists, to lure consumers into WhatsApp and other messaging groups where they are encouraged to buy investments, particularly shares.
Once consumers join a messaging group, scammers provide stock tips designed to artificially inflate the price of a share before selling their own holdings before the share price falls and leaving unsuspecting investors with significant losses.
ASIC Chair Sarah Court said pump and dump scams continue to cause substantial harm to Australian investors.
View ASIC WebsiteASIC warning: Pump and dump scammers intensify use of fake celebrity endorsements
ASIC is warning Australians to be extremely cautious of investment... -
16 July 2026
APRA publishes new Statement of Expectations and Statement of Intent
16 July 2026The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has published its Statement of Intent (SoI) in response to the Government’s Statement of Expectations (SoE).
The SoI sets out how APRA will meet the Government’s expectations across its role and responsibilities, policy priorities, regulatory approach, relationships with external stakeholder and organisational matters. It also reaffirms APRA’s commitment to being a high-performing prudential regulator that serves the interests of the Australian community.
View the updated SoI and SoE on APRA’s website: Government expectations of APRA
APRA publishes new Statement of Expectations and Statement of Intent
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has published its Statement... -
15 July 2026
NAB’s WealthHub fined over $1 million for reporting failures
15 July 2026WealthHub Securities Limited (WealthHub), an online broker owned by National Australia Bank (NAB), has been fined $1.055 million by the Markets Disciplinary Panel (MDP) relating to failures to accurately report regulatory data more than 9.5 million times over a 10-year period.
NAB’s WealthHub fined over $1 million for reporting failures
WealthHub Securities Limited (WealthHub), an online broker owned by National... -
14 July 2026
Former insurance broker Craig Horsell’s suspended sentence activated after further offending
14 July 2026Former South Australian insurance broker and company director Craig John Horsell has been ordered to serve a previously suspended three-year prison sentence imposed following an ASIC investigation more than a decade ago, after breaching the conditions of his release by committing a further criminal offence.
Former insurance broker Craig Horsell’s suspended sentence activated after further offending
Former South Australian insurance broker and company director Craig John... -
14 July 2026
APRA grants new foreign ADI licence to Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank
14 July 2026The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has granted Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank Co., Ltd a licence to operate as a foreign authorised deposit-taking institution (Foreign-ADI) under the Banking Act 1959.
An updated list of all APRA-authorised ADIs can be found on the APRA website at: List of registered authorised deposit-taking institutions
APRA grants new foreign ADI licence to Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has granted Taipei Fubon... -
13 July 2026
Deutsche Bank pays $2 million penalty for systemic trade reporting failures
13 July 2026Multinational investment bank Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (Deutsche Bank) has paid a penalty of $2 million for misreporting more than 260,000 over-the-counter (OTC) derivative transactions, undermining the accuracy of data used to monitor Australia’s financial markets.
Deutsche Bank pays $2 million penalty for systemic trade reporting failures
Multinational investment bank Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (Deutsche Bank) has paid... -
13 July 2026
Non-bank lenders join Consumer Data Right as next stage commences
13 July 2026The ACCC welcomes the commencement of new obligations today requiring non-bank lenders to begin sharing product data such as interest rates, fees, charges and eligibility criteria through the Consumer Data Right (CDR).
Sharing this information through CDR supports the development of comparison services and will help consumers and small businesses to access better value and improved loan options.
The Consumer Data Right, which underpins Australia’s open banking regime, commenced in 2020 when the major banks began sharing data. Since then, the scheme has expanded in stages across the banking and energy sectors, and now to the non-bank lenders sector.
View sourceNon-bank lenders join Consumer Data Right as next stage commences
The ACCC welcomes the commencement of new obligations today requiring... -
10 July 2026
APRA consults on additional minor updates to the prudential and reporting framework
10 July 2026The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released for consultation a number of minor updates to the prudential and reporting framework for authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs), general, life and private health insurers and registrable superannuation entity (RSE) licensees.
This consultation is part of the minor framework update process, intended to ensure technical and clarifying changes to the prudential framework can be made in a timely manner. The proposed amendments are primarily technical clarifications and do not present any material change in policy settings.
Submissions are requested to be provided no later than 21 August 2026.
The letter to ADIs, insurers and RSE licensees, draft standards and draft guidance are available on the APRA website at: Minor updates to the prudential framework
APRA consults on additional minor updates to the prudential and reporting framework
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released for consultation... -
10 July 2026
ASIC cancels CAIP Services’ AFS licence for ceasing to carry on a financial services business
10 July 2026ASIC has cancelled the Australian financial services (AFS) licence of CAIP Services Pty Ltd effective from 8 July 2026.
ASIC cancels CAIP Services’ AFS licence for ceasing to carry on a financial services business
ASIC has cancelled the Australian financial services (AFS) licence of CAIP Services Pty Ltd effective from 8 July 2026. View the... -
10 July 2026
ASIC cancels AFS licence of CFD issuer Trive
10 July 2026ASIC has cancelled the Australian financial services (AFS) licence of contracts for difference (CFD) issuer Trive Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd (Trive), effective 1 July 2026.
ASIC cancels AFS licence of CFD issuer Trive
ASIC has cancelled the Australian financial services (AFS) licence of... -
8 July 2026
APRA publishes guidance on reporting points of presence collection
8 July 2026The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has published additional guidance on reporting points of presence collection.
The guidance clarifies how ADIs should report co‑located service channels to support consistent and comparable data across the industry.
Information regarding the guidance can be found on the APRA website through the following links:
APRA publishes guidance on reporting points of presence collection
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has published additional guidance...
Latest Insights
LMI Rethought: Why Lenders Mortgage Insurance is Every Mortgage Broker’s Quiet Superpower
With deposits taking up to 14 years to save, LMI enables earlier home ownership. Discover why brokers should rethink how they position it.
How Do I Become a Responsible Manager?
This back-to-basics guide will help get you started on the path to compliance.
Major Changes to the AML/CTF Regime – Reporting Entities Need to be Prepared
In 2026, a number of significant changes will be made to Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regime. Are you prepared?