About the FCA  

At the FCA, we’re creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We’re establishing more transparent relationships between financial services and customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers.  

We’re currently on an exciting journey as we drive forward significant organisational, people, process, and technology transformation to become a more forward-thinking, proactive regulator. We will use data more effectively to drive better regulatory decisions and build greater cohesion across our broad financial services remit.   

Significant improvements in digital enablement, business intelligence, market data and information management maturity are all being pursued to maintain our position as a world leader in financial services regulation.  

The Role   

Corporate Governance Division is a busy and dynamic division working at the centre of the FCA, led by the Company Secretary who reports directly to the General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer, and works closely with the Chair and the Boards of the FCA and PSR.   

The division is at the heart of the governance structure in the FCA, ensuring the highest standards of governance and decision making. It also has a key role in the management of the relationships with our statutory panels. The Company Secretary is also the FCA Ethics Officer and is responsible for our conflict-of-interest policy. 

The Director will be responsible for leading, directing and overseeing the work of the division, setting the strategic direction and objectives for the division. 

The role of Company Secretary will also be responsible for the governance function of the PSR Board. The PSR is an independent economic regulator, directly accountable to Parliament and funded by the payments industry. The PSR works closely with other regulators involved in this sector, notably the Financial Conduct Authority, the Bank of England and the Competition and Markets Authority. Operationally the PSR is an independent subsidiary of the Financial Conduct Authority. 

The Corporate Governance Division comprises the following teams: 

• The Central Secretariat which provides a secretariat and governance function for the FCA and PSR Boards and Board Committees, the FCA’s Executive Committee and the principal other executive committees 
• The Decision-Making Committees Secretariat which provides legal and secretariat support for the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee (RDC), the PSR’s Enforcement Decisions Committee (EDC) and the Competition Decisions Committees (CDC) of both the FCA and the PSR 
• The Consumer Panel Secretariat which provides policy and secretariat support for the Financial Services Consumer Panel 
• The Practitioner Panels Secretariat which provides policy and secretariat support for the FCA’s Practitioner Panel, Smaller Business Practitioner Panel, Markets Practitioner Panel, Listing Authority Advisory Panel and the PSR Panel 
• The Conflict of Interests Policy unit which provides advice and guidance on the management of conflicts of interests and is responsible for maintaining and operating the FCA’s Conflict of Interests Policy 

What will the candidate get from the role?  

• Joining the Senior Leadership Team at the FCA during an exciting and challenging time of great change in financial services and its regulation  
• Leading a directorate of talented and committed people through significant projects whilst also delivering on business-as-usual objectives.  
• Exposure to strategic issues and key players in the world of finance, both nationally and internationally 
• An opportunity to engage and influence at the most senior level in a complex environment with multiple internal and external stakeholders; contact with high profile organisations whose role is critical to the success of the financial services sector and its consumers, and to the UK economy; and the ability to influence the shape of corporate governance structure of the FCA and the PSR. 

Key responsibilities:  

• Leads and directs the division’s stakeholder management programme, proactively offering appropriate advice, guidance, and challenge to key stakeholders, including the Chair, Board and Senior Executives of both the FCA and the PSR, and ensuring that the services provided meet expectations. 
• Ensuring that the FCA and PSR demonstrate high standards of corporate governance, and that both organisations are compliant with Companies Acts legislation and the UK Corporate Governance Code (insofar as applicable) 
• Engaging staff within and outside the division to attract, develop and retain talent and overseeing the effective staff appraisal, talent management, learning and development planning, reward, and recognition. 
• Proactive oversight of the operation and administration of the FCA and PSR Boards and Board Committees; Attending Board and Committee meetings to provide advice and guidance to the Chair(s) and members as appropriate. 
• Managing the annual review of the effectiveness of both Boards 
• Providing proactive oversight of the operation and administration of the Independent Panels established by the FCA and the PSR; In addition to the RDC and CDC, of the FCA, and EDC & CDC, of the PSR, and oversight of the new cost benefit analysis panel. 
• Acting as the FCA’s Ethics Officer; providing oversight of the Conflicts of Interest Policy 
• Overseeing the process of Chair and member appointments for the independent panels and the decision-making committees 
• Providing strategic oversight and leadership to the Corporate Governance division- building an inclusive culture and driving high performance across delivery and corporate activities, including budget, risk and people management. 

Skills/Experience Required   

The FCA are a signatory to the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. This means that the FCA guarantees an interview to any disabled candidates entering under the scheme, should they meet the minimum criteria for a role. A minimum criterion needs to be measurable from reviewing a candidate’s CV. 

Minimum   

• Significant experience of managing and influencing key stakeholders, including senior decision makers internally and externally  
• Role model strong leadership behaviors in line with the FCA values and capabilities, embedding the Mission and delivering organizational priorities. 
• Ability to build a strategic ‘vision’ and strong influencing skills to enable organizational buy-in and implementation.  
• Understanding of best practice of governance, ethics, and relevant legislative requirements. This may have been acquired in supervisory or enforcement roles, or through previous experience in a compliance or governance function. 

Essential   

• The ability to inclusively lead a group of talented individuals with a wide variety of professional expertise, experience, and backgrounds.  
• An open and flexible management style and the ability to communicate effectively to a wide-ranging audience with different skills and perspectives. 
• A track record of delivering processes in a timely and efficient manner. 
• Credibility and confidence to build effective relationships with senior individuals at the highest levels within the financial services sector. 
• Ability to exercise independence of thought and communicate concisely. 
• Excellent decision-making skills 
• Experience in a Company Secretary role, or having a relevant professional qualification.  
• Experience of the administration of complex decision-making processes 
• Experience of dealing with decision-making bodies such as Boards or committees, and ability to demonstrate understanding of how these bodies work effectively. 
• Ability to understand the FCA’s objectives and legislative requirements, recognising and managing the tensions between the perspectives of government, industry, and consumer interests, so that FCA decision-making committees and the Board are suitably informed about these. 
• Strong awareness of risk – the ability to identify, manage and mitigate risks, particularly reputational risks. 

Desirable  

• High-level exposure to some combination of business, regulation, and government. 
• Experience of managing a significant budget. 
• Relevant professional qualification. 
• Proven experience of leading teams within a change environment 

The FCA’s Values & Diversity   

Our ambition is to create a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the society we serve, helping us to be a better regulator. We serve the public and our decisions directly affect the wellbeing of people, businesses and the UK economy.  So, our values matter. They represent the culture we aspire to every day, guiding our judgements, building trust and helping us to be ‘At our best’. 

The FCA is committed to achieving greater diversity across all levels of our organisation. Given this, we particularly welcome applications from women, disabled, and minority ethnic candidates, as under-represented groups. 

As an inclusive employer, we are open to considering flexible working arrangements, including job shares. Please inform your recruiter if you wish to apply for this role on a flexible basis. 

Application Support 

We want to remove any possible barriers and are committed to providing a wide range of reasonable adjustments so that you can keep the focus on your conversations and be at your best.  

If you have an accessibility requirement, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter to discuss this further. Our aim is to make you application as easy as possible, and your recruiter will be happy to work with you to make any necessary arrangements where possible. 

Benefits 

Our competitive benefits scheme gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifecycle. You can this this allowance to purchase additional benefits such as dental or cycle to work, or you have the option to top up your base salary by taking this as cash. 

Core benefits that you will receive as standard are: 

• 30 days holiday per year plus bank holidays  
• Private healthcare with Bupa 
• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8% of basic salary each month (there are several contribution levels that increase depending on your age- up to 12% a month once you reach age 35) 
• Life assurance of eight times your basic salary 
• Income protection 

Conflicts of interest  

All applicants to the FCA are required to demonstrate that they do not have other interests likely to conflict with their responsibilities as an employee of the FCA. You should declare any potential conflict of interest as early as possible in the selection process, and also disclose information or personal connections that, if appointed, might be open to misperception.   

Any potential conflicts of interest will not prevent candidates going forward to interview but may, if appropriate, be explored during the interview to establish how the candidate would address the issue(s) should they be successful in their application.   

Useful information  

• The closing date for this role is 23:55 on 18 November 2024
• Selection will be via a two-stage interview and psychometric assessment   
• If successful, you will be required to obtain and retain SC Clearance.   
• Location: London. We operate a hybrid working policy where senior leaders spend a minimum of 50% of their working time each month in the office.  
• The salary range for the role is between £215k to £265k

Please apply by clicking this link - www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/Gse116352

The FCA has retained Gatenby Sanderson to advise on this appointment.

For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please contact Zoe Bennett at zoe.bennett@gatenbysanderson.com or 07778 178265