A person or firm operating under an appointed representative arrangement with a principal, within the applicable scope and rules.
Why the distinction matters
This is not a generic name for every agent, introducer or outsourced supplier. A payment-services agent requires its own regime assessment. Principal oversight and permitted scope should be checked against the actual arrangement.
In the working file
Illustrative example
The principal compares the agreement, register entry and customer-facing activity instead of relying only on the representative’s quarterly declaration.
Use the term in context
Record the legal entity, activity, period and applicable source alongside the term. A familiar label does not remove the need to establish scope. Our operating playbook connects this definition to a practical process.
Read the related playbookSources & scope
Primary sources used for this research edition. Document dates and commencement dates are different fields. Recheck the issuing authority before acting.
- FCA: Responsibilities and oversight of appointed representativesGuidance · source reviewed 12 November 2026
- FCA Handbook: SUP 12: appointed representativesHandbook · source reviewed 12 November 2026