Job Description

Lead Data Scientist
Division - Data, Technology and Innovation
Department - The Advanced Analytics and Data Science Units
Salary - National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from 59,100 to 80,233 and London from 64,900 to 88,100 (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 Advanced Analytics and Data Science Units (AA&DSUs) is a department within the Intelligence & Digital (I&D) division of Data, Technology & Innovation (DTI). Our mission in I&D is to drive digital innovation and deliver data solutions that benefit our colleagues, consumers, firms and markets.
You will sit within the Consumer Data Science Unit (CDSU), one of 4 data science units in the department. We primarily help the FCA better understand issues with consumer access to and performance in core retail financial markets through using robust, accessible and large-scale datasets. Our team is multidisciplinary and combines deep technical expertise with regulatory knowledge to ensure that data-driven insights translate into real-world action.
What will you be doing?Lead major work programmes, managing scope, timelines, risks and stakeholder engagement while supporting junior team members in delivering impactful outcomes Apply technical expertise to conduct analysis, ensuring code and output quality through data science best practices to generate valuable insights for the organisation Support professional growth by line-managing at least one individual, providing mentorship and fostering skill development within the team Strengthen stakeholder relationships to promote the adoption of advanced analytics, integrating data-driven approaches across the FCA and shaping future projects Contribute to departmental strategy, leading at least one cross-functional initiative to enhance efficiency, collaboration and innovation

What will you get from the role?Contribute to data-driven regulation by developing innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and effectiveness across the organisation Collaborate with a knowledgeable and dedicated team committed to leveraging data and advanced analytics to support regulatory efforts Grow within an inclusive and diverse environment while addressing key regulatory challenges in a supportive and forward-thinking workplace Access a dedicated training budget to attend conferences, events and supporting ongoing professional development and expanding your expertise

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)
MinimumExperience working projects involving retail financial data at a transaction or consumer level Experience in using tools like Git and JIRA

EssentialQuantitative degree (Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science or Economics) Proficient in Python, R or other object-oriented languages, applying diverse data science techniques Skilled in designing and delivering analytics projects using large, structured datasets Effective collaboration with technical and non-technical stakeholders to develop solutions Experience in project leadership, mentoring and developing junior data scientists Clear communication of insights to internal and external stakeholders to support financial regulation

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 are women
The FCA is committed to achieving greater diversity across all levels of the organisation. Given this, we particularly welcome applications from women, minority ethnic, disabled, and neurodivergent candidates for this role.
Benefits of working at the FCA25 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% Life assurance 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 TimelineThis role is graded Lead Associate - Regulatory Advert Closing Date: Sunday 8th June (please send your application by the 7th of June at 11:59) CV Review/Shortlist: 11/06 - 12/06 Competency Based Interview: 23/06 Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 60-minute competency-based interview.

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 benjamin.paulon@fca.org.uk
Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted.