Business Continuity Associate

The position being recruited is an Associate role which sits within the internal facing Business Continuity Team within the FCA. The team is responsible for ensuring effective business continuity for the FCA’s critical impact response activities including recovery by ensuring that adequate plans, procedures, resources and IT services are – developed, maintained and proven, to ensure the best outcome for the FCA and its customers should there be a disruption to normal operations.

We would expect the successful candidate to have a good working knowledge BC principles and FCA operations, and have good verbal and written communication skills and be able to build effective relationships at various levels. And where they are unsure of specific FCA procedures, we would expect the candidate to actively learn and apply them as necessary.

In return, we will give the successful candidate the opportunity to learn and participate in various projects, including planning high profile Business Continuity exercises (at all levels including ExCo), to develop effective relationships with the business, and to develop/enhance your facilitation skills.

We will also provide training in Business Continuity skills to support the candidate, and provide opportunity to develop sound core competencies, e.g., problem analysis, stakeholder management, personal accountability, etc.

At the FCA, we’re creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We’re establishing more transparent relationships between financial services and their customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers.

Finance and Business Services look after the finances and working environment to protect our reputation and enable us to meet our objectives. The division focuses strongly on customer service, providing both support and appropriate challenge to the wider business to help ensure we utilise available resources in the most effective, efficient and economical way.

What does the role involve? What are the key responsibilities?

• Facilitation of the maintenance of divisional crisis plans and senior leadership crisis action plans
• Engagement with business representatives to facilitate the review of crisis plan and business continuity plan contents. Building and maintaining effective relationships through the Business Partner model
• Supporting the BC training & exercising strategy and schedule, working on preparation, delivery and review of the FCA specific exercises at strategic, divisional and xFCA level
• Support additional high profile Business Continuity projects undertaken by the BC team
• Supporting the provision of general awareness of Business Continuity within the FCA
• Assisting with the relationship management of 3rd party suppliers and external key stakeholders

The Key Stakeholders Are Wide Ranging Including

• Nominated Contingency Planning Champions in all Divisions
• The Chief Operations Officer, the Accountable Executive for contingency planning across the FCA
• The Executive Committee, providing oversight and challenge for the effectiveness of the BCM framework
• All senior management, including the Chairman, CEO, Executive Committee, Directors and wider Senior Leadership Team
• Key external suppliers including our recovery site provider, the Bank of England, HM Treasury, Financial Services Compensation Scheme, Financial Ombudsman Service and Stratford estate management

What will the candidate get from the role?

It is expected the candidate will develop a skills set that is transferrable internally or externally. This role will give the opportunity to work and develop your career in a high-profile area within the FCA.

Due to the nature of the work the candidate will be expected (with support and following training) to be able to converse knowledgably with all areas within the FCA in relation to Business Continuity Management. This will mean that the candidate has exposure to a wide range of topics and personnel, including senior management.

Skills/Experience Required

Minimum

We’re a signatory to the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. This means that we will offer an interview to 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. Exceptions may apply if due to the volume of applications we are not able to interview all eligible candidates who qualify under the scheme.

• Understanding of FCA operational environment and regulatory principles
• Proven experience, knowledge and understanding of BCM principles including the use of innovative solutions, and the ability to use innovative solutions to solve problems
• Experience of helping to develop, plan and deliver of projects, and the ability to complete a heavy workload to a high standard and within tight timeframes

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of disaster recovery and IT
• Requires a good understanding of the FCA’s activities and a good appreciation of the issues that impact the BC Teams area of responsibility
• Ability to undertake or contribute to tasks and projects sometimes of a complex nature, to support the team/key stakeholders
• Good stakeholder management skills. With the support of the team, to work with, understand and solve issues with stakeholders, managing expectations accordingly through clear communications, both orally and in writing
• Evidence of teamwork and collaboration – the ability to work actively with others to achieve outcomes in both formal and informal teams. Can demonstrate how they work individually in support of team and organisational goals, and have the confidence to ensure delivery targets are met
• The ability to work actively as part of a team both within the BC team but also within the wider network of key stakeholders and demonstrate good stakeholder management
• Action oriented; taking responsibility for actions and being accountable for following them through to completion
• Ability to contribute to tasks and projects sometimes of a complex nature, to support the team/key stakeholders
• Ability to work with limited supervision, but know when and how to escalate issues appropriately
• Good IT skills with working knowledge of standard Microsoft Office products including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Visio
• Consistently deliver to agreed standards with soft skills aligned to the FCA’s Cultural Characteristics
• Inquisitive, and confident to challenge ways of working

Desirable

• The ability to work within a highly changing environment able to adapt and exploit change to the benefit of the organisation
• A good knowledge and understanding of the FCA’s activities and an appreciation of the issues that impact the BC Teams area of responsibility
• Problem analysis able to assess situations, identify alternatives and make recommendations for the best course of action
• Flexible approach to working, adapts to working styles and preferences, and adopts the FSA culture
• Awareness of other corporate functions i.e. Risk, Health & Safety, Environment and Security

About The FCA

At the FCA, we’re creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We’re establishing more transparent relationships between financial services and their customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers.

The FCA is currently trialling a new hybrid way of working, requiring colleagues to spend 40% of their time in the office each month until the end of July. This trial period will allow us to identify the most appropriate balance of hybrid working, enabling us to benefit from the best of both working in an office environment and remotely.

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.

As an inclusive employer, we are open to considering flexible working arrangements. Please contact our recruiter if you wish to apply for this role on a flexible basis.

Useful Information

• This role is graded as Corporate Associate
• The salary range will be approximately £38,000 to £42,000 GBP plus a competitive benefits package and non-contributory pension
• Applications for this role close on 22 March 2022

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has recently set out a new employment offer designed to reward strong, consistent performance, aid career development and close pay gaps.

This follows an extensive, wide-ranging and comprehensive consultation with all FCA colleagues and the FCA’s Staff Consultative Committee. The changes, including updates to the proposals consulted upon, will mean that the FCA continues to provide one of the best reward packages of any regulator or enforcement agency in the UK.

If you have any questions please speak to your recruiter or visit the FCA website (or intranet for internal colleagues).

If you are interested learning more about the role please contact Sara Holland on [email protected]

Please note – Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted.