Job Title: Lead Investigator

Division: Enforcement & Market Oversight

Directorate: Retail and Regulatory Investigations (RRI)

Department: Retail 3 & Retail 2

• 2 available vacancies – 1 role on a permanent basis and 1 role on a 12-month Fixed Term basis

• Salary: Lead Associate – Regulatory - London ranging from £66,600 to £86,600 and National ranging from £60,700 to £78,700 OR Lead Associate – Practising Legal - London ranging from £76,600 to £96,600 and National ranging from £69,700 to £88,700 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience) 

• This role is graded as:  Lead Associate – Regulatory OR Lead Associate – Practising Legal

• Your recruitment contact is Riley Fox at [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.  

Enforcement & Market Oversight (EMO) is responsible for the FCA’s responsibilities for market monitoring, delivery of the functions of the UK Listing Authority (UKLA) and the investigation and prosecution of misconduct using the whole spectrum of criminal, civil and administrative sanctions and remedies against firms and individuals.

Retail & Regulatory Investigations (RRI) sits within the Enforcement & Market Oversight (EMO) Division and investigates firms and individuals across consumer markets to tackle misconduct, combat financial crime, and promote fair consumer outcomes.

Within RRI, the Retail 1, Retail 2 and Retail 3 Departments focus on consumer-facing investigations, ensuring firms and individuals meet regulatory standards and deliver fair treatment to consumers.

Role responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of complex investigations with competing deadlines, taking overall responsibility for investigation strategy, scope, risk management, evidence gathering, and timely outcomes

• Build and maintain effective relationships with FCA colleagues and external bodies, working collaboratively and effectively under pressure

• Obtain and assess evidence using appropriate regulatory, civil and criminal powers, including conducting detailed analysis of high-volume, complex evidence to formulate findings and recommendations

• Lead challenging interviews with subjects and witnesses using compulsory powers, voluntary attendance or under caution, determining the most appropriate approach in each case

• Draft or oversee the drafting of key investigation documents and correspondence, including witness statements, statutory notices, settlement papers, and communications with subjects, legal representatives and witnesses

• Oversee, manage and coach junior team members, ensuring effective investigation progression, providing training where required, and supporting delivery of high-quality outcomes

• Manage junior staff performance and development through line management responsibilities, including appraisals, development planning, and timely management of any performance or conduct issues

• Own the production of regular and ad hoc management information (MI) and support the recruitment of junior team members, including candidate identification and interviewing

Skills required  

Minimum:

• Significant experience (typically at least five years post-qualification or equivalent) in financial markets, regulatory investigations, serious fraud or complex financial crime investigations, or complex litigation and disputes

• UK-qualified lawyer with a valid practising certificate issued by either the Solicitors Regulation Authority for England and Wales or the General Council of the Bar for England and Wales (for solicitor or barrister candidates)

Essential:

• Experience in leading complex and challenging cases, including those involving potential criminal conduct or significant regulatory breaches

• Capable of assessing, analysing and interpreting complex evidence to determine appropriate action, identify further evidence requirements, and decide how additional evidence can be obtained

• Ability to communicate analysis, findings and recommendations clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing

• Effective at supporting the development of case strategies by identifying key risks, recommending mitigation actions and contributing to the overall investigation approach

• Able to make timely, evidence-based decisions, exercising sound judgement and confidently justifying conclusions where required

• Experience in building and maintaining strong working relationships with colleagues across business areas and external organisations, while effectively managing a varied portfolio of projects and workstreams

• Proven experience of managing, overseeing and mentoring staff, including supporting development, providing coaching and constructive feedback, and fostering high performance within a team

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: 21st July at 23:59

• CV Review/Shortlist: 29th July

• In Person Interviews: w/c 10th August

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.