Job Description

Job title: Lead Policy Advisor

Division: Supervision, Policy and Competition

Department: Payments and Digital AssetsSalary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from 59,100 to 73,700 and London from 64,900 to 81,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience) This role is graded as: Lead Associate, Regulatory Your recruitment contact is Shafika via Shafika.shaikh@fca.org.uk. Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.

About the FCA and team

We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. By joining us, you'll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth, and shaping the future of UK finance services.
SPC oversees firms and individuals (supervision), creates and reviews the rules by which they operate (policy) and identifies and remedies ineffective competition in markets (competition). Sitting in the Payments and Digital Assets directorate, the Open Banking & Finance department develops policy to enable a flourishing and sustainable open banking ecosystem that drives competition, innovation and growth in the UK. Embracing opportunities for greater data sharing will make consumers' and businesses' lives easier, increasing choice and allowing for easy-to-access, personalised support.

Role responsibilitiesLead and manage a capable team of associates, ensuring effective work allocation, promoting collaborative efforts, and delivering high-quality outcomes Engage with internal FCA teams and external stakeholders, including Government, regulators, industry professionals, and consumer groups, shaping market developments and steering positive change Oversee complex projects and stakeholder relationships, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with FCA's strategic priorities Build and maintain effective partnerships with HM Treasury, other Government departments, regulators, and financial services stakeholders, cultivating trust and supporting impactful policy decisions Analyse data and insights to develop policy proposals and conduct public consultations, creating regulatory frameworks that protect consumers and promote competition and market integrity Guide stakeholders and market trends to integrate FCA priorities into industry changes, ensuring the UK financial sector develops in line with our strategy

Skills required
Minimum:Prior experience in leading work to deliver on high profile and complex strategic initiatives, including experience of working to deadlines and managing risk Demonstrable policy making experience or practical experience of analysing and using information from a range of sources to form a judgement in a regulated field

Essential:Experience of analysing information and developing policy Evidence of problem solving and organisational skills with the ability to manage a variety of competing priorities and issues Good stakeholder management, to build a network across and beyond the organisation and work collaboratively on strategic initiatives and deliver high priority work Demonstrated ability to translate strategic policy objectives into a structured, actionable delivery plan, setting clear milestones and ensuring alignment across teams An ability to take into account potentially very different views which may be conflicting, without losing sight of the overall strategic aims and objectives Demonstrated ability to communicate complex issues and recommendations clearly and confidently to build consensus, support effective decisions, and produce high?quality written outputs. A collaborative professional, with a positive approach and outlook to their work with experience of motivating others, mentoring and coaching less experienced team members, sharing knowledge and giving high-quality feedback.

Benefits25 days annual leave plus bank holidays Hybrid model with up to 60% remote work Non-contributory pension (8-12% depending on age) and life assurance at eight times your salary Private healthcare with Bupa, income protection, and 24/7 Employee Assistance 35 hours of paid volunteering annually A flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyle

For a full list of our benefits, and our recruitment process as a whole visit our benefits page.
Our values and culture
Our colleagues are the key to our success as a regulator. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture: one that's free from discrimination and bias, celebrates difference, and supports colleagues to deliver at their best. 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.

If you require any adjustments due to a disability or condition, your recruiter is here to help - reach out for tailored support.

We welcome diverse working styles and aim to find flexible solutions that suit both the role and individual needs, including options like part-time and job sharing where applicable.

Disability Confident: our hiring approach

We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and therefore, people or individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. In cases of high application volumes, we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role's key requirements.

Useful information and timelineJob advert close: 28th January CV Review/Shortlist: 30th January 2026 First Interview/Case Study: w/c 9th February 2026 * 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.