Cryptoassets Policy Lead

at  Financial Conduct Authority

Cryptoassets Policy Lead
Division – Payments & Digital Assets
Salary - National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from 67,600 to £71,900 and London £73,300 to £79,100 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
.
We are looking for a Lead Associate to join the Cryptoassets Policy Team within the Payments and Digital Assets Directorate. The Cryptoassets Policy Team is at the forefront of developing the FCA’s policy solutions on cryptoassets.
As digital technology and crypto assets market develop and evolve, regulators also need to innovate and adapt our regulatory framework to deal with new and evolving opportunities and risks. We are in the process of designing a more comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptoassets to help shape the future of this diverse, fast-paced, and ever-changing sector.
Cryptoassets and associated activities are due to be phased into the FCA’s perimeter. Our work includes the development, consultation and implementation of cryptoasset policy for retail consumer issues.
You will be a key member of the team, shaping creative and evidence-based policy solutions that benefit consumers, markets, and competition.
What will you be doing?

The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering a future regulatory regime for cryptoassets through:

• Supporting the Manager in overseeing the team, helping to motivate and set direction, allocating and tracking delivery of tasks, and pushing forward high-quality performance
• Line managing 2/3 associates, coaching and developing team members, and sharing knowledge actively across the team
• Developing high-quality policy advice and solutions, communicating these proposals for public consultation
• Working closely with departments across the FCA to harness expertise and knowledge in policy development, for example, Wholesale Cryptoassets Policy, Authorisation, Supervision, Enforcement, and International
• Helping to manage relationships with a diverse range of external stakeholders (industry, trade and consumer bodies) as well as to engage effectively with key domestic partners including HMT, The Bank of England and as applicable the Payment Systems Regulator and the Prudential Regulation Authority

What will you get from the role?

This role is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of policy in the FCA in a new and evolving area of policy. You will join a dedicated team of policy professionals and have the opportunity to:

• Develop line management skills in a growing team and department
• Manage high priority projects which will impact how we regulate this new sector
• Get significant exposure to FCA and external stakeholders, working closely with market participants and other regulatory and government bodies
• Gain exposure to FCA Senior Management, with periodic discussions at both Executive Committees and the FCA Board
• Consolidate an improved understanding of the financial services and cryptoasset sector

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

• Prior experience of leading and delivering complex pieces of work using a project-based approach
• Prior experience of managing, developing, motivating or coaching others
• Prior stakeholder management experience with senior individuals, including being able to make sound judgment in complex situations

Essential

• Proven experience of policy making and familiarity with financial services regulation, or digital assets
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with good self-management skills to meet deadlines, while also having the flexibility to change priorities when required
• Excellent drafting, oral communication, and presentation skills
• Working effectively and collaboratively as part of a team, contributing to an environment where all opinions are listened to and respected
• Working in an inclusive manner – respects the diversity of cultural, social and academic backgrounds found in the organisation and able to adapt personal style to effectively engage individuals from a wide-range of backgrounds
• Understanding of FCA governance or the end-to-end policy-making process

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.
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 our Lead Associate role.

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 Lead Associate, Regulatory
• Applications for this role close on Thursday 6th February (midnight)
• CVs will be reviewed by the Recruiting Team from Friday 7th February onwards
• Interview process: a case study mid-February followed by a 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:
For internal candidates: please speak to Jen Wishart on
Jennifer.Wishart@fca.org.uk
For external applicants, please contact Chhavi Bartaria on
Chhavi.Bartaria@fca.org.uk
Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted.

The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering a future regulatory regime for cryptoassets through:

• Supporting the Manager in overseeing the team, helping to motivate and set direction, allocating and tracking delivery of tasks, and pushing forward high-quality performance
• Line managing 2/3 associates, coaching and developing team members, and sharing knowledge actively across the team
• Developing high-quality policy advice and solutions, communicating these proposals for public consultation
• Working closely with departments across the FCA to harness expertise and knowledge in policy development, for example, Wholesale Cryptoassets Policy, Authorisation, Supervision, Enforcement, and International
• Helping to manage relationships with a diverse range of external stakeholders (industry, trade and consumer bodies) as well as to engage effectively with key domestic partners including HMT, The Bank of England and as applicable the Payment Systems Regulator and the Prudential Regulation Authorit

This role is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of policy in the FCA in a new and evolving area of policy. You will join a dedicated team of policy professionals and have the opportunity to:

• Develop line management skills in a growing team and department
• Manage high priority projects which will impact how we regulate this new sector
• Get significant exposure to FCA and external stakeholders, working closely with market participants and other regulatory and government bodies
• Gain exposure to FCA Senior Management, with periodic discussions at both Executive Committees and the FCA Board
• Consolidate an improved understanding of the financial services and cryptoasset secto