Senior Policy Advisor

at  Financial Conduct Authority

Senior Policy Advisor
Division – Payments and Digital Assets
Salary
London between £56,400 - £65,000 and National between £51,200 - £60,500 per annum
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
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Do you want to shape the future of either Open Banking or Cryptoassets as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Policy teams at the FCA?
We are recruiting five Senior Associates within our Payments and Digital Assets Directorate
Open Banking Policy
The Open Banking team leads on the policy to design the long-term regulatory framework for open banking in the UK. The work touches the lives of everyone in the UK, making sure that access to data and payments is fast, efficient, dependable, and safe.
We want to build on the initial success of open banking in the UK to help unlock and realise further benefits for consumers, businesses, and the wider economy.
Open banking should continue to support innovation and greater competition for consumers and businesses.
Our team is shaping the future regulatory framework for open banking, and it would therefore be advantageous for candidates to have an awareness of regulatory developments in the financial or technological landscapes.
Cryptoassets Policy
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 you will be doing

• As a Senior Associate in either team, you will have the opportunity to support on policy areas conducting research, engaging with teams across the FCA, and studying information to develop policy proposals
• You will build depth and breadth of knowledge as you support the team’s wider work
• You will contribute to public consultation on changes to FCA rules or guidance, as well as work to ensure FCA priorities are reflected in changes taken forward by others. You will consult with government, other regulators, industry, and other opinion formers shaping the market
• You will also provide training, advice, and briefings about payments policy issues to FCA colleagues and senior leadership

What you will get from the role

• This role is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of policy in the FCA in two evolving areas of policy
• These roles would suit someone with a strong background in policymaking and a desire to understand and influence either:
• fintech developments in the banking and payment space; or
• regulations that will shape the future regulation of the cryptoasset sector
• These roles would also suit someone with industry experience of the sectors, interested in making the move to regulatory policymaking
• You will have the opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge of the market dynamics, systems and regulations that underlie payments and cryptoassets that have an increasing impact on consumers and businesses financial lives

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 payments systems or policy making
• Prior experience presenting key issues clearly and succinctly both orally and in writing
• Prior experience of building and managing relationships with stakeholders

Essential

• Experience of analysing information and contributing to the development of policy
• Evidence of problem solving and organisational skills with the ability to manage a variety of competing priorities and issues
• Good stakeholder management with the ability to build a network across and beyond the organisation
• Willingness to learn and develop, taking on new responsibilities and adopting a flexible and pragmatic approach to your work

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 Senior 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 Senior Associate, Regulatory
• We are recruiting five Senior Associates within our Payments and Digital Assets Directorate
• Advert Closing Date: Sunday 9th February (midnight)
• Interview w/c 17 – 28 February

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.

What you will be doing

• As a Senior Associate in either team, you will have the opportunity to support on policy areas conducting research, engaging with teams across the FCA, and studying information to develop policy proposals
• You will build depth and breadth of knowledge as you support the team’s wider work
• You will contribute to public consultation on changes to FCA rules or guidance, as well as work to ensure FCA priorities are reflected in changes taken forward by others. You will consult with government, other regulators, industry, and other opinion formers shaping the market
• You will also provide training, advice, and briefings about payments policy issues to FCA colleagues and senior leadershi

What you will get from the role

• This role is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of policy in the FCA in two evolving areas of policy
• These roles would suit someone with a strong background in policymaking and a desire to understand and influence either:
• fintech developments in the banking and payment space; or
• regulations that will shape the future regulation of the cryptoasset sector
• These roles would also suit someone with industry experience of the sectors, interested in making the move to regulatory policymaking
• You will have the opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge of the market dynamics, systems and regulations that underlie payments and cryptoassets that have an increasing impact on consumers and businesses financial live