Home Advisory Compliance Advisory Market Abuse Risk Framework
Market Abuse Risk Framework
A practical, regulator-ready framework for identifying and managing market abuse risk.
With growing regulatory and investor scrutiny, buy-side firms must demonstrate strong controls and conduct frameworks.
ACA’s Market Abuse Risk Framework helps your firm meet expectations under the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR), MiFID II, and SM&CR. The framework, developed by experienced practitioners, provides a structured and defensible assessment integrating surveillance, conduct, and control reviews.
Want to understand your firm’s exposure to market abuse risk? If so, connect with us to explore how we can help you assess vulnerabilities, strengthen controls, and build investor confidence.
Get more information
What’s Included in the Market Abuse Risk Framework ?
ACA’s new solution delivers a structured, regulator-ready framework that brings together surveillance, conduct, and control reviews. It reflects real-world insight into market abuse risks and how to manage them effectively across asset classes and trading strategies.
Comprehensive Risk Matrix
Maps all market abuse offenses (e.g. insider trading, market manipulation, improper disclosure) against your firm’s trading activity across all asset classes.
Surveillance and Control Review
Evaluates preventative and detective controls, residual risks, and areas for improvement across systems, processes, and governance.
Policy and Procedure Review
Assesses policies and procedures for insider trading and market manipulation (including wall-crossing and information barriers), STOR procedures, expert networks, and related documentation.
Asset Class Coverage
Covers public and private assets, real assets (e.g. real estate), exchange traded funds (ETFs), custom baskets, and algorithmic and quantitative strategies.
Question Bank
Generate a proprietary, evolving set of questions informed by ACA’s real-world client engagements and regulatory developments.
Living Framework
Receive a reusable risk assessment document with guidance on maintenance and updates with optional annual reviews available.
Ready to Assess Your Market Abuse Risk?
Learn why the industry’s most well-known firms choose to partner with us. Book a consultation with one of our specialists to get started.
Why Market Abuse Risk Matters
Regulatory compliance
Meet expectations under MAR, MiFID II, and SM&CR.
Investor confidence
Demonstrate a proactive, defensible approach to conduct and surveillance.
Operational resilience
Identify gaps and strengthen controls across trading and governance.
Audit readiness
Be prepared for regulatory scrutiny with a clear, documented risk framework.
Cross-asset coverage
Address risks across complex strategies and asset classes.
Why ACA?
Built by Practitioners
Developed by experts with hands-on experience managing market abuse risk across the buy-side.
Efficient Delivery
Focused assignment prioritizing key risks and controls, with optional support for remediation and annual reviews.
Regulatory Insight
Aligned with FCA priorities and SM&CR reforms to keep your firm future-ready.
Supporting Firms Beyond Risk Identification
ACA’s Market Abuse Risk framework is a broad suite of solutions designed to help you not only identify but also address market abuse risks.
Through the ComplianceAlpha® regulatory technology platform, we provide integrated surveillance and monitoring capabilities that span the entire trade lifecycle.
These tools can be combined with outsourced managed services and practitioner-led advisory support. This enables firms to remediate findings, enhance governance frameworks, and maintain ongoing compliance with evolving regulatory expectations. Our end-to-end approach ensures that your firm is equipped with practical, scalable solutions tailored to your unique risk profiles.
FAQs
What is a Market Abuse Risk Framework?
It’s a structured review of your firm’s exposure to market abuse risk, including controls, policies, and surveillance systems.
Who should conduct one?
Any regulated buy-side firm trading in public or private markets should conduct a Market Abuse Risk Framework assessment, including asset managers, hedge funds, private equity, and quant firms.
How often should it be updated?
Market Abuse Risk Framework assessments should be conducted at least annually, or whenever there’s a material change to your business (e.g. new asset class, strategy, or system).
Is this just a health check?
This is a consulting-led engagement that delivers a living, reusable risk framework, not just a review of what you already have.
How long does it take?
The assessment typically takes three to five days, depending on the complexity of your firm and the maturity of your existing controls.
What happens if the assessment identifies gaps or weaknesses?
ACA offers a full suite of solutions to help firms address any findings from the Market Abuse Risk Assessment. This includes access to our ComplianceAlpha® regulatory technology platform for trade surveillance and monitoring, outsourced managed services for ongoing compliance support, and practitioner-led advisory to guide remediation and strengthen governance frameworks. Our end-to-end approach ensures firms can move from insight to action with confidence.
How do I book a Market Abuse Risk Assessment?
Fill out the form on this page to book a consultation with one of our specialists to get started.