GRC programs are meant to create confidence. Yet for many regulated firms, it feels more like a burden. Spreadsheets, manual sign-offs, disconnected tools, and duplicated processes have turned such activities into an exercise in administration rather than assurance.

Regulators expect firms to show real-time oversight, evidence of accountability, and continuous monitoring,  but that expectation is proving difficult for firms to meet when compliance relies on manual tasks and human coordination.

The firms thriving in this environment have one thing in common: they are embracing automation. They are using integrated platforms to turn GRC activities from a static checklist into a dynamic system that drives clarity, speed, and confidence.

Understanding the limitations of manual compliance

Manual compliance processes are often the legacy of growth. As firms expand, controls multiply, and so do the spreadsheets, emails, and disconnected workflows used to track them, often resulting in inefficiency, inconsistency, and increased risk to the business:

1.     Fragmented data and inconsistent reporting

When information lives in multiple systems or files, no one has a single view of compliance status. Reporting becomes reactive, taking days or weeks to prepare, and risks are identified only after the fact.

2.     Lack of accountability

In a manual environment, ownership can often be unclear. Tasks are delegated informally, deadlines slip, and audit trails can be inconsistent. With the FCA’s focus on personal accountability under SM&CR, this increases risk across manual workarounds. 

3.     Inefficient use of time

Compliance teams are spending valuable hours on data gathering, formatting, and chasing approvals, rather than analysing risk trends and improving controls.

4.     Limited scalability

Growth brings opportunity and operational strain. As firms enter new jurisdictions or launch new products, manual processes become stretched, introducing inefficiency and risk. The result is a compliance bottleneck that restricts visibility, slows decision-making, and limits growth.

5.     Increased risk of error

Manual data entry and fragmented record-keeping create gaps and inconsistencies. When regulators request evidence or internal audit reviews of controls, those gaps can lead to findings or, worse, breaches.

Automation can transform compliance from a reactive, human-dependent function into a proactive, system-driven process. It connects people, data, and decisions within a single framework, allowing firms to manage governance and risk with consistency and precision.

The move to automation is not about replacing people, but empowering teams and allowing them the freedom to focus on value-added activities such as analysing trends, strengthening controls, and advising the business.

Automation also aligns with how regulators now supervise firms. With the FCA increasingly relying upon digital regulatory reporting and expecting firms to be able to produce data on demand, those that invest in automation position themselves ahead of this curve.

How automation can transform compliance

1.     Unified data and reporting

Automation consolidates information from across the organisation into one platform. This creates a single source of truth for compliance status, control performance, and risk exposure. With centralised data, reporting becomes instant and reliable. Compliance officers can produce dashboards and reports in real time, enabling leadership to make informed decisions quickly.

2.     Clear accountability and ownership

Automated workflows assign tasks to named individuals, set deadlines, and track completion. Every action is recorded, creating an auditable trail that satisfies both internal and external scrutiny. This transparency strengthens accountability and aligns directly with SM&CR expectations around individual responsibility.

3.     Real-time monitoring and alerts

Automation enables continuous monitoring. If a control is overdue, a risk threshold is breached, or an attestation remains unsigned, alerts trigger immediately. Issues can be escalated before they turn into breaches. This allows firms to move from retrospective assurance to real-time oversight.

4.     Reduced administrative effort

Automation removes repetitive, low-value tasks such as manual data entry, follow-ups, and reconciliation. This frees compliance professionals to focus on analysis, governance, and strategic support, and reduces operational strain.

5.     Scalable compliance

Automated systems are inherently scalable. When regulations change or the firm grows into new markets, controls can be updated centrally and deployed across teams instantly.

This adaptability ensures that compliance frameworks remain current, consistent, and aligned with regulatory requirements.

Supporting Regulatory Adherence

Automation supports every major compliance framework now under the FCA’s supervision model.

• Consumer Duty: Automation helps track fair value assessments, customer outcomes, and ongoing monitoring across products and services.

• SM&CR: Built-in accountability ensures each senior manager and certified individual can evidence control ownership.

• Operational Resilience: Automated mapping and testing of important business services support compliance with impact tolerance requirements.

• Client Assets: Automated reconciliations and oversight tools simplify client asset and money safeguarding processes. 

Grath: Compliance clarity.

At Grath, we help regulated firms replace their manual compliance processes with connected, intelligent workflows. Our industry-leading GRC platform brings governance, risk, and compliance together in one system, delivering deep expertise through intuitive technology that simplifies even the most complex regulatory challenges, allowing teams to manage their regulatory requirements in real time with clarity and confidence. 

Key capabilities include:

• Automated control monitoring with task assignment, evidence capture, and audit trails.

• Attestation management for SM&CR and policy confirmations, linked directly to ownership.

• Real-time dashboards for risk, compliance, and governance reporting.

• Integration with existing systems, ensuring data consistency and reducing duplication.

• Scalable architecture that adapts as regulations and business operations evolve.

If your firm is ready to leave manual compliance behind, contact Grath to see how automation can transform your governance, risk, and compliance workflows.