Address At the FCA, we’re creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We’re establishing more transparent relationships between financial services and customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers.
We’re currently on an exciting journey as we drive forward significant organisational, people, process, and technology transformation to become a more forward-thinking, proactive regulator. We will use data more effectively to drive better regulatory decisions and build greater cohesion across our broad financial services remit
The Roles
Head of Department, Wholesale Investigations
One vacancy is in Wholesale 1, which sits in the Wholesale and Unauthorised Business Investigations directorate and is one of two departments focused on taking regulatory, civil and, criminal proceedings against firms and individuals who commit market misconduct or wholesale conduct breaches. Wholesale Enforcement investigates a wide range of cases covering insider dealing rings, market abuse cases, market manipulation, benchmark manipulation, Listing Rule breaches, transaction reporting breaches and issues of wholesale misconduct (for example, those relating to systems and controls or corporate governance failings within wholesale insurers or banks). The department carries a busy portfolio of varied Investigations and litigation including several upcoming criminal trials.
Head of Department, Retail Investigations
The other vacancy is in Retail 2, which sits in the Retail & Regulatory Investigations directorate and is one of three departments focused on taking regulatory, civil, and criminal proceedings against firms and individuals in retail/consumer markets. Retail investigates sectors covering retail banking, stockbroking, asset management, mortgage broking and lending, insurance, financial advice, consumer credit and payment services. It deals with firms that sell unsuitable products or services to consumers, mishandle client money and assets, or have governance and systemic issues. It also investigates financial crime matters and takes action against individuals under SMCR, APER and/or fitness and properness regimes.
Both roles will lead a Department comprising multi-disciplinary teams of experienced professionals including lawyers, accountants and investigators, and the successful candidates will be members of the Division's senior leadership team. As such they will be expected to take a full role in supporting and challenging others to deliver the full range of the Division's responsibilities (which also include Market Oversight and Intelligence), in ensuring that the Division offers its staff a challenging and high-performance place to work and that the Division is constantly focussed on improving efficiency and innovation in its work and contributing to the leadership and strategy of the FCA as a whole
The main responsibilities of the post holder will include:
- Lead and motivate a diverse multi-disciplinary department of investigators.
- Build a strong and inclusive department that attracts and develops diverse talent in support of the FCA’s diversity, equality and inclusion commitments.
- The active management and delivery of a varied caseload of on-going investigations at a variety of stages and to tight timeframes. Ensuring those cases are delivered fairly, effectively, and efficiently, with an emphasis on delivering and demonstrating value for money.
- Act collaboratively with other enforcement HoDs to support the Directors in the delivery of Wholesale and Retail enforcement expertise to the FCA.
- Be accountable for divisional budget and resource management decisions as part of the senior divisional leadership team.
- Drive a culture of high performance, relying on coaching, influencing, and negotiating skills with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Setting the strategic direction of the department (and with other senior management contributing to the strategic direction of the Division).
- Leading negotiations in high profile and sometimes controversial cases.
- Contributing to the strategic development of the FCA, including through participation on programme and project boards across the organisation.
What will the candidate get from the role?
You’ll join the FCA’s senior leadership team at an exciting period of change for financial services and its regulation. You will lead a division of talented and committed people, working collaboratively on significant projects and programmes. You’ll get exposure to a broad range of issues and will contribute to both Enforcement and Market Oversight’s and the wider FCA’s senior leadership team, helping to shape and influence the organisation’s strategy.
Skills/Experience required
We’re a signatory to the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. This means that we guarantee an interview to any disabled candidates entering under the scheme, should they meet the minimum criteria for a role. A minimum criterion needs to be measurable from reviewing a candidate’s CV.
Minimum
- Strong people management and leadership experience - proven ability to lead, motivate and inspire large teams as well as experience in tackling performance issues to build high performing teams.
- Extensive experience in major case and/or investigations.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with evidenced experience influencing internally & externally,
- Demonstrates an understanding of the regulatory, and political, environment in which the FCA operates.
Essential
- Good technical understanding of the overall regulatory framework in the UK and the FCA's place within it.
- Negotiation and influencing skills - to deploy internally and externally.
- Investigation experience.
- Budget management experience and experience of managing external resources and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Ability to form strong working relationships across different business areas and to set joint goals for delivery
- Robustness in the face of challenge, ability to make decisions in a rapid and balanced way.
- High level of personal resilience with a track record in delivering results against business priorities.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the provisions of FSMA and the FCA's powers and policies in relation to investigation and enforcement activity including criminal Investigations and prosecutions.
- Innovative thinker, open to utilising the benefits of technology to improve processes and decision making across the function.
The FCA’s Values & Diversity
Our ambition is to create a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the society we serve, helping us to be a better regulator. We serve the public and our decisions directly affect the wellbeing of people, businesses and the UK economy. So our values matter. They represent the culture we aspire to every day, guiding our judgements, building trust and helping us to be ‘At our best’.
All FCA colleagues are expected to demonstrate behaviours in line with our five values – Deliver in the public interest, Act with integrity, Be ambitious, Work inclusively and Connect and deliver. These are embedded in all roles, and through the selection process we check for alignment to our values. For more detail on our values and core skills, please see
here
. As an inclusive employer, we are open to considering flexible working arrangements, including job shares. Please contact our recruiter if you wish to apply for this role on a flexible basis.
We particularly welcome applications from women, disabled, and minority ethnic candidates, as under-represented groups.
Application Instructions
- The closing date for this role is 23:55 on Tuesday 2 April 2024
- This role can be based in any of our office locations- London, Leeds, or Edinburgh
- Salary range for this role is £140K - £170K + benefits + up to 12% non-contributory pension
- Selection will be via a two-stage interview and psychometric assessment
- If successful, you will be required to obtain and retain SC Clearance.
- We operate a hybrid working policy with an expectation all colleagues are in the office a minimum of 40% of their time. We expect senior leaders to spend a minimum of 50% of their working time each month in the office.
- The role could be offered on a flexible basis such as part-time or job share.
Please do not apply directly to the FCA - The recruitment process is being undertaken by Odgers Berndtson on behalf of the FCA.
Please apply by submitting your CV and cover letter by visiting -
www.odgers.com/91086
For a conversation in confidence, please contact:
henry.martin@odgersberndtson.com
Conflicts of interest
All applicants to the FCA are required to demonstrate that they do not have other interests likely to conflict with their responsibilities as an employee of the FCA. You should declare any potential conflict of interest as early as possible in the selection process, and also disclose information or personal connections that, if appointed, might be open to misperception.
And
potential conflicts of interest
will not prevent candidates going forward to interview but may, if appropriate, be explored during the interview to establish how the candidate would address the issue(s) should they be successful in their application. 
