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Home > Insights > Webinars > accountability,  SEAR,  Ireland

SEAR in Action: Real-World Challenges, Lessons & What’s Next

ON DEMAND

Hear senior leaders from U.S. Bank and BGC, for a practical discussion on implementing and scaling accountability regimes, what works, what doesn’t, and what’s coming next. 

Accountability regimes like SEAR are reshaping how financial services firms manage governance, responsibility, and risk.
 
But moving from regulatory requirement to operational reality is where the real challenge begins.
 
In this exclusive session, we bring together experts industry leaders to explore how organisations are tackling SEAR implementation in practice, sharing honest insights, lessons learned, and strategies for long-term success.
 
Scroll down to view the full agenda, and don't forget to download our free 'Top 10 Takeaways'.

About the session

Tune in on demand, to gain real-world insights rather than theory, hearing directly from firms actively implementing SEAR and navigating its challenges in practice. You’ll learn how to scale accountability frameworks effectively without increasing operational overhead, and leave with practical, actionable ideas that you can apply immediately within your organisation. 

Join our discussion around:

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Practical challenges in SEAR implementation and how firms are overcoming them

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How automation and technology can reduce complexity and risk

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Integrating SEAR into broader governance frameworks without creating silos

Lessons learned from early adopters – what they’d do differently

What regulators expect next and how to stay ahead

Panel Experts

amanda breen

Amanda Breen

Executive Registrations Governance Lead at U.S. Bank Europe

Kay Woolmer

Kay Woolmer

HR & Compliance SMCR Lead at BGC Partners

Karly

Karly Friend Pereira

Senior Manager and Certification (SMCR) Team at BGC Partners

Audrey

Audrey Gilchrist

Senior Account Executive at Ruleguard

 

Who Should Watch

This session is designed for senior professionals responsible for governance and accountability, including Heads of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, Risk and Governance leaders, SMCR/SEAR programme owners, as well as Legal, Audit, and executive leaders overseeing accountability frameworks.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how leading firms are turning SEAR from a regulatory burden into a strategic advantage!

Download the SEAR in Action Key Takeaways Guide

Discover:

  • The biggest SEAR implementation challenges firms face
  • Why governance technology is now essential
  • How firms are managing reasonable steps obligations
  • What regulators increasingly expect from firms
  • How AI and intelligent governance are shaping the future of accountability

Download the Guide and gain practical insights from firms already operationalising SEAR and learn how leading organisations are building scalable accountability frameworks. 

 

Download our SEAR Accountability Brochure to explore how you can streamline implementation, strengthen governance, and stay ahead of regulatory expectations.

View Brochure

 

Speakers

Kay Woolmer

Kay Woolmer

HR & Compliance SMCR Lead - BGC Partners

Kay Woolmer has over 30 years’ experience in the financial services sector and currently heads up the HR Regulatory Team at BGC Brokers LLP. She is responsible for the day‑to‑day delivery of the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR) across three regulated entities, overseeing a regulated population of close to 800 individuals.
 
Working closely with Compliance, Kay ensures that the firms consistently meet their regulatory obligations. She has led a collaborative partnership with Ruleguard to design and implement an enhanced system that supports the full end‑to‑end operation of SMCR, providing a single, reliable source of truth for people‑related regulatory data.
 
Drawing on her extensive SMCR expertise, Kay has also overseen the HR Regulatory Team’s ownership of the day‑to‑day management of the Individual Accountability Framework (SEAR) for Irish entities. She worked closely with the implementation project team to develop and embed SEAR through the Ruleguard system. Kay continues to monitor and interpret Central Bank of Ireland requirements, ensuring regulatory expectations are met and accountability frameworks are consistently and effectively applied across the business and to individuals.
Karly

Karly Pereira

Senior Manager and Certification (SMCR) Team - BGC Partners

Karly joined the Change Management team at BGC in 2019, supporting the development and implementation of the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR). She later moved into the BAU SMCR team, where she contributed to the day‑to‑day running of the regime and helped drive the ongoing development of Ruleguard to meet the firm’s regulatory obligations.
 
With the introduction of the Individual Accountability Framework/SEAR in Ireland, Karly worked closely with the Irish HR and Compliance teams, applying her SMCR expertise to support the successful design and rollout of Ruleguard, as well as defining the supporting business processes. She continues to work in close partnership with Compliance, given SMCR’s central role as a compliance‑owned area.
amanda breen

Amanda Breen

Executive Registrations Governance Lead at US Bank Europe

Amanda Breen is a senior leader at U.S. Bancorp (Elavon) with over 21 years of experience at the firm, spanning regulatory oversight, human resources, and operational leadership across Europe. She currently serves as Senior Business Line Regulatory Review Manager, where she plays a key role in supporting regulatory compliance frameworks, including SMCR and SEAR, and strengthening governance across the organisation.

Amanda’s career reflects a unique blend of regulatory expertise and deep people leadership. Prior to moving into regulatory oversight, she held a number of senior HR leadership roles, including Head of HR Strategy & Operations EU and Head of Corporate HR Europe. She has led HR functions across multiple European jurisdictions, including the UK, Ireland, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, and Belgium, overseeing areas such as compensation and benefits, payroll, talent development, and organisational strategy.

Her broad experience across both control and business functions gives her a distinctive perspective on aligning regulatory requirements with operational and people strategies. Amanda is recognised for embedding strong governance practices, and supporting business growth in complex, regulated environments.

Audrey

Audrey Gilchrist

Senior Account Executive at Ruleguard

Audrey excels at building trusted, long-term relationships and has a proven track record of aligning customer outcomes with broader growth strategies.
 
With over 15 years of experience, she partners with organisations to navigate governance, risk, and compliance challenges within complex and highly regulated environments. She is skilled at navigating sophisticated buying processes, engaging senior stakeholders, and positioning solutions that meet both regulatory requirements and strategic business goals.