As we approach 2026, compliance departments across financial services are under increasing pressure. Regulatory expectations are rising, the volume of change is relentless and firms must do more with the resources they have. Rather than reacting to compliance issues as they arise, the teams that will succeed are those that begin next year with a resilient, forward-looking framework, one built to absorb shocks, adapt quickly and deliver assurance.
Below, we outline how to build a stronger foundation for compliance in 2026 and beyond.
Why Starting Early Matters
- Regulators expect more than box-checking. It is not enough to have policies on paper: firms are now expected to show evidence of measurement, oversight and continuous improvement.
- The cost of late fixes is high. Compliance lapses can lead to fines, reputational damage and remediation cost far exceeding preventive investment.
- Change is accelerating. From ESG to AI to evolving financial crime risks, the regulatory horizon is expanding. A reactive stance will not suffice.
Key Pillars of a Resilient Compliance Framework
In planning your 2026 compliance foundation, there are several critical pillars to get right. These build on widely accepted best practice elements.1. Governance, Leadership & Accountability
Strong compliance starts at the top. Senior management and the board must visibly support the programme, with clear accountability and escalation paths. This aligns with the “seven elements of an effective compliance program” principle of ensuring oversight and clear ownership.2. Risk-Based Approach
Rather than applying controls uniformly, a risk-based method allocates resources to the highest-impact areas. Modern frameworks emphasise prioritising controls where risk is greatest.3. Policies, Procedures & Standards
Well-structured, up-to-date policies are the backbone. These must be aligned to your risk profile and updated as regulations evolve. Euronext’s guidance emphasises aligning strategy, culture and regulatory environment.4. Data Integrity & Systems
Your framework is only as strong as the data and tools supporting it. Centralising registers, enforcing input controls and ensuring consistent taxonomy are essential.5. Training, Communication & Culture
Technology will not guarantee compliance on its own. Staff must understand the why as well as the how. Regular, relevant training and a speak-up ethic are core to embedding compliance in behaviour.6. Monitoring, Testing & Feedback Loops
Monitor not only whether controls exist but whether they perform. Test controls periodically, review incidents and near-misses and feed those lessons into policy and process updates.7. Continuous Improvement & Change Readiness
A static framework is a brittle one. Your structure must adapt to internal changes, regulatory shifts, acquisitions and emerging risks. Planning for change resilience helps maintain stability.A Suggested 2026 Roadmap
Here is a high-level roadmap to guide your implementation over the coming months:| Phase | Focus | Key Deliverables |
| Q1 | Assessment & Strategy | Risk gap analysis, governance review, roadmap design |
| Q2 | Build Core Elements | Policy updates, central register consolidation, training rollout |
| Q3 | Monitoring & Testing | Implement monitoring routines, control testing, feedback loops |
| Q4 | Review & Refinement | Annual compliance review, lessons learned, refine for 2027 |
How ComplyPortal Supports Your 2026 Journey
At ComplyPortal, our aim is to help firms build frameworks, not just checklists. Some of the ways we assist include:- Centralised registers, document storage and version control
- Automated workflows for control testing, assignments and escalation
- Dashboards for real-time oversight and exception tracking
- Audit trails and change logs to demonstrate accountability
- Learning modules integrated with monitoring results
