Regulatory/Operational Change Lead in Banking & Insurance, Early & High Growth Oversight Department

Division: Authorisations

Department: Banking, Insurance, and Early & High Growth Oversight

• Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £59,100 to £74,700 and London from £64,900 to £82,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

• This role is graded as: Lead Associate - Regulatory

• Your recruitment contact is Riley via [email protected]. 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.  

The Authorisations Division serves as the initial point of contact for firms and individuals seeking to provide regulated financial services in the UK, making authorisation decisions to ensure applicants meet the FCA’s standards. 

This is an exciting time to join the Department as a Lead Associate, in a unique part of the FCA that features both authorisation and supervision components, across multiple portfolios. Although the initial focus of the role will be working on topics for the Early & High Growth Oversight teams, over the longer term there will be exposure to the Banking and Insurance teams too.

Role responsibilities

• Work with the Technical Specialist to enhance departmental processes, technical capability, and ways of working

• Support delivery of the department’s FY26/27 workplan and initiatives to identify risks and promote innovation in the financial sector

• Learn and upskill in new technologies and sector‑specific topics to support an evolving operating model

• Develop and deliver training, conduct horizon‑scanning, and generate insights from authorised and supervised firms

• Map systems and processes, contributing to operational change and continuous improvement

Skills required 

Minimum:

• Prior experience in change management, project management or consultancy in the financial services sector

• Demonstrable experience managing a portfolio of tasks/projects

Essential:

• A blend of experience in overseeing technical projects (focussing on financial services regulatory matters) coupled with delivering technical work yourself in the same domain

• A willingness and ability to work on, and learn about, topics that may be unfamiliar to you

• A self-motivated and delivery focussed mindset

• Knowledge of the regulatory framework for banking, insurance or other sectors

• Skills in producing structured approaches to work through problems

• Effective communication skills, with the ability to engage and build rapport with both internal and external stakeholders

• Collaborative approach and experience working in cross-functional teams

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

• Hybrid model where employees work a minimum of 40% in the office each month (expectation of 50% for senior leaders). Changing from September to a minimum of 50% in the office each month (expectation of 60% for Directors and Executive Directors)

• 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 & 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 timeline

• Advert Closing: 26th April

• CV Review/Shortlist: 28th April

• Interviews/Case Study: w/c 11th 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.