Financial services firms are pouring more money into compliance, yet new research from MCO (MyComplianceOffice) suggests that much of this investment is being absorbed by fragmented technology rather than delivering clearer oversight of risk.

The study, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of MCO, surveyed 370 senior compliance professionals across the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific. It explores the priorities, pressures and technology trends shaping compliance within financial services, as well as how leaders expect these to shift over the coming 12 months.

MCO positions the research as a benchmark for firms weighing up whether their compliance operating models can cope with mounting demands and take on a more strategic role within the wider business.

At the heart of MCO’s findings is a picture of technology sprawl. Organisations are running an average of 13.8 compliance systems, creating complex environments that can limit how clearly leaders see risk across their operations. Despite this, appetite for spending shows no sign of slowing. Some 93% of respondents expect their compliance budgets to grow, while 89% anticipate greater investment in compliance technology specifically.

The research also highlights a notable shortfall in preparedness for digital assets. While 96% of respondents say managing digital asset compliance is important, only 64% have a formal process in place for overseeing employee personal trading in digital assets. That gap could leave firms exposed as crypto and tokenised assets move further into the mainstream.

Beyond these headline figures, MCO’s full report, titled Global Compliance Outlook: Rising Ambition, Fragmented Reality, examines how leaders expect the chief compliance officer role to evolve, how firms are approaching AI, and where they intend to channel additional resources.

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