The Financial Services Authority has issued a consultation on guidance about the role non-executive directors should play in retail finance firms.

This especially concerns ensuring customers are treated fairly within their firms.

The FSA says it has always been challenging non-execs to support fair outcomes for customers but the focus diminished while dealing with the financial crisis.

However it felt it was now time to re-engage with them.

Detailing the background to the consultation, the FSA said: “With the creation of the Conduct Business Unit within the FSA and the move towards the FCA, it is an appropriate time to re-engage with non-executive directors on the important role they need to play in challenging their firms to deliver on their regulatory responsibilities to customers.”

Among the issues non-execs should consider are taking a strategic view to treatment of customers and being confident that the firm is identifying, monitoring and mitigating risk to its customers.

They should also have the right mix of skills on the Board and right information to constructively challenge the executive and support a culture within the firm of fair treatment of customers.

Clive Adamson, FSA director of supervision in the conduct business unit, said: “Non-executive directors have a duty to challenge the management of their firms where they believe the firm could do more to ensure customers get fair treatment.

“Our consultation sets out clear expectations that we have for non-execs and we expect them to play their part by considering this carefully.”

Responses to the document are required by 18 January 2012.

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