Division - Data, Technology, Innovation

Salary - National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £43,100 to £64,600 and London £47,300 to £70,900 per annum (Salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

About the FCA

The FCA regulates the conduct of 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive. Follow this link to find out more About the FCA.

The FCA’s Innovation department is looking for a talented, motivated, and outcome-focused individual to join our enthusiastic and diverse team. The Innovation department sits within Data, Technology and Innovation (DTI) and works to support the FCA in being an innovative regulator by leading and empowering innovation to drive beneficial and sustainable growth and change.

Our innovation services are designed to support innovative firms (FinTech/RegTech/EmTech) at any stage of maturity, from collaboration, initial idea and proof of concept, to obtaining authorisation and scaling up in the market (as relevant). We also provide critical research and insights to inform FCA activities and build thought leadership on how technology and innovation are transforming the financial services industry.

The RegTech/SupTech team leads on research, engagement and collaboration activities across regulatory technologies (RegTech) and supervisory technologies (SupTech) to inform FCA activities and enable compliance innovation in the market. We are also responsible for a cross-departmental FinTech Market Analysis function to track trends in the FinTech, RegTech and related markets. This was designed to support our data-led approach to regulatory innovation and supports the Innovation department in the delivery of its ‘horizontal’ priority themes (AI, tokenisation, financial inclusion and open finance).

What will you be doing?

• Engage with the FinTech / RegTech / EmTech ecosystem to identify emerging trends and analyse their current and future impacts on UK financial services
• Build, develop and maintain relationships with firms/trade bodies/academia /other relevant organisations in the areas of FinTech / RegTech
• Support a framework of activity through which supervisory and policy functions gain further understanding of technologies being employed by firms to comply with regulations
• Contribute to a departmental strategy designed to support innovation and growth in UK financial services

What will you get from the role?

• Stimulating, innovative and experimental work to build organisational awareness and understanding of innovation in financial services
• Opportunity to shape the FCA’s ‘tech positive’ position on the use of regulatory technology (RegTech) by financial institutions and contribute to activity to support its adoption in the UK
• Creative freedom to suggest new ideas and approaches – we are a team that values contributions at all levels and gives backing to colleagues to implement them

Which skills are required?

We are a Disability Confident Employer; therefore, disabled people or individuals with long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. (To learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme, Click Here)

Minimum

• Demonstrable expertise in successfully taking initiatives from the planning to the implementation stage
• Ability to translate commercial and industry developments to the regulatory environment and vice versa
• Interest in technology and innovation: You will engage regularly with FinTech and RegTech firms and will therefore need an interest in FinTech and innovation as well as an open-minded approach to responsible innovation and growth

Essential

• Good written and oral communication skills: ability to inspire confidence and clearly explain complex, technical concepts to audiences less familiar with the subject matter
• Good stakeholder management skills: Ability to identify, build and maintain constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to identify relevant issues from a wide range of data points and present the outcomes of your analysis quickly, clearly and effectively
• Good understanding of the FCA’s functions and objectives within the UK financial regulatory framework

Our Values & Diversity

We are proud to be an inclusive employer, and our ambition is to cultivate a culture for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.

Within the workplace, you will have access to various employee resource groups which aim to promote and achieve a healthy work/life balance and support our diversity ambitions.

Did you know? 50% of our Executive Committee were the first in their family to attend university.

Benefits of working at the FCA

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Hybrid working (work from home up to 60% of your time)
• 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  

We also have a competitive flexible benefits scheme which gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifestyle.

We welcome applications from candidates who are looking for flexible arrangements.  Many of our staff work flexibly, including working part-time, staggered hours, and job shares.  We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we can explore what might work best for both sides.

Follow this link to see what life is like at the FCA - Life at the FCA

Application Support

We are dedicated to removing barriers and ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition requiring changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter using the details below and they will be happy to discuss this further with you.

Useful Information and Timeline

• This role is graded as Associate - Regulatory
• Advert Closing Date: Midnight 20th May (please submit your application no later than 11.59 pm on 19th May) 
• CV Review/Shortlist: 21st May - 22nd May
• Competency Based Interview, including Case Study Assessment: W/C 26th May

Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time. 

Got a question?

If you are interested in learning more about the role, please contact Declan Sassman at Declan.Sassman@fca.org.uk

Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted.