Director of Strategy, Policy, Intelligence & International (SPII)

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.

Significant improvements in digital enablement, business intelligence, market data and information management maturity are all being pursued to maintain our position as a world leader in financial services regulation.

The role

The Strategy, Policy, Intelligence & International Directorate (SPII), sits at the heart of the Enforcement and Market Oversight (EMO) Division and provides strategic central support. The work of EMO covers market monitoring, delivery of the functions of the UK Listing Authority (UKLA) and the investigation, prosecution and remedying of misconduct through criminal, civil and administrative sanctions against firms or individuals.

SPII performs important strategic, policy, intelligence, and operational functions within EMO, supporting investigation and enforcement work. You’ll work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure EMO’s strategies, processes and people deliver excellent outcomes and value for money for the FCA.

The Director of SPII will be expected to deliver the FCA’s intelligence strategy with effective gathering, assessment, and delivery of tactical and proactive intelligence, including whistleblowing and our liaison with other law enforcement agencies on intelligence and intelligence-related work.

The breadth of responsibility that comes with this role means that you will have the opportunity to not only make an impact across Enforcement & Market Oversight, but across the whole FCA and into industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy for EMO’s relationships with international regulators and law enforcement to maximize effective international collaboration and co-operation, including the FCA’s participation in IOSCO Committee 4
• Lead the EMO policy capability, influencing government and other policy makers to deliver EMO-related policy outcomes that support FCA objectives
• Deliver central functions for EMO including Learning and Development, Finance and Cyber Forensics
• Ensuring fiscal discipline and value for money in managing EMO’s £65m budget
• Represent EMO on relevant senior cross-divisional governance committees, including the Executive Operations Committee and the Policy Steering Committee
• Developing and delivering a long-term strategy for the directorate, aligning to broader divisional and organisational strategies
• Leading on performance, capability and culture within the directorate, with a strong focus on operational excellence
• Delivering through others by relying on coaching, influencing and negotiating skills with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Building a strong and inclusive directorate that attracts and develop diverse talent
• Working effectively across organisational boundaries to achieve outcomes

What will the candidate get from the role?

• Joining the Senior Leadership Team at the FCA during an exciting and challenging time of great change in financial services and its regulation
• Leading a directorate of talented and committed people through significant projects whilst also delivering on business-as-usual objectives
• Exposure to strategic issues and key players in the world of finance, both nationally and internationally

Skills/experience Required

Minimum

• Significant experience of managing and influencing key stakeholders, including senior decision makers
• Experience of developing and delivering strategy and policy within a complex environment and organisation
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries
• Experience of leading teams of 100+ professionals

Essential

• Strong ability to flex across multiple business areas while maintaining focus and confidence
• The ability to lead a group of talented individuals with a wide variety of professional expertise, experience and backgrounds
• Understanding of the financial services market in the UK and how firms operate within it
• The ability to understand the internal landscape, negotiate internal processes and build strong internal relationships
• A high degree of understanding of the external and political environments affecting financial services, both domestically and internationally
• The ability to deal with complex multi-faceted issues that cut across a range of different interest groups
• Strategic and commercial thinker who can develop and communicate an exciting vision for the future
• An open and flexible management style and the ability to communicate effectively to a wide-ranging audience with different skills and perspectives
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to cover a wide range of different technical areas with credibility and confidence
• An innovative self-starter, you should be able to take control of challenging situations

Desirable

• Qualified and experienced lawyer
• Strong financial services experience

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’.

As an inclusive employer, we are open to considering flexible working arrangements, including job shares. Please inform your recruiter if you wish to apply for this role on a flexible basis.

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.

Any 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.

Useful information

• The closing date for this role is 23.55 on Sunday 20 March 2022
• Selection will be via a two-stage interview and psychometric assessment
• This role will be based in our London office

Internal applicants- This role will be managed by our search partner Odgers . Internal applicants please submit your CV via Workday and follow up directly with Cara Wood [email protected] at Odgers with any questions. Feel free to contact Jennifer Doyle, Executive Resourcing Manager with any further questions.

External applicants- this role will be managed by our search partner Odgers. Please apply via Odgers- www.odgers.com/85274 , Not via the apply button below. Feel free reach out to Cara Wood [email protected] at Odgers with any questions.