Job Title: Senior Capital Markets Policy Advisor
Division: Infrastructure & Exchanges
Department: Capital Markets
Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £53,800 to £64,000 and London £59,200 to £70,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)
This role is graded as: Senior Associate – Regulatory
Your external recruitment contact is Steve Christopher via [email protected].
Your internal recruitment contact is Iona Magee 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 financial services in the UK.
Sitting within the Infrastructure & Exchanges Directorate, the Capital Markets Department helps shape the regulatory framework for UK capital markets, supporting market integrity, competition and growth across areas including primary markets, market abuse, wholesale cryptoassets and benchmarks.
You will join a collaborative team of policy specialists who develop evidence-based solutions to complex market challenges. Working closely with colleagues across the FCA, industry participants and other regulators, we encourage knowledge sharing, fresh perspectives and continuous learning.
The team leads on the FCA's Listing Rules and disclosure framework, broader capital-raising activities such as crowdfunding and sustainability and ESG disclosures. This provides a unique opportunity to help develop high-profile policy initiatives that help businesses raise capital, build confidence in UK markets and deliver positive outcomes for consumers
Role responsibilities
Lead and shape policy initiatives that support innovation and efficiency across UK wholesale markets, helping to deliver better outcomes for firms, investors and consumers during a period of significant market change
Partner with colleagues and stakeholders to develop, communicate and consult on policy proposals, gaining exposure to senior leaders and building productive relationships across the financial services sector
Collaborate across the FCA to bring together diverse experience, drawing on insights from Legal, Supervision, Market Oversight, Competition and Economics teams to develop effective policy solutions
Build trusted relationships with key UK and international regulatory partners, helping to guide decisions, shape policy thinking and support positive change across financial markets
Develop deep knowledge in primary markets, gaining unique insight into market developments and regulation while building skills and experience that support long-term career growth
Skills required
Minimum:
Prior experience of developing and delivering policy, with a clear understanding of UK policymaking and legislative processes and their practical application
Prior experience of policymaking within wholesale financial markets, with the ability to analyse complex issues and contribute to effective regulatory solutions
Essential:
Well-developed analytical skills with the ability to review complex information and data, identify key themes, draw evidence-based conclusions and develop effective policy solutions
Ability to prioritise competing demands, manage risks and deliver high-quality outcomes in a fast-paced environment
Clear verbal communication skills, with confidence presenting complex issues clearly to a range of audiences
Highly developed writing and drafting skills, with the ability to prepare policy materials that are clear, concise and effective
Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with senior leaders, regulatory partners and colleagues across all levels of the organisation
Effective project planning and organizational skills, with the ability to coordinate workstreams and deliver against agreed objectives and timelines
A collaborative and inclusive approach, with the ability to work effectively as part of a team and contribute to a positive team culture
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 and 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 timelines
Timeline:
Job advert close: 23rd August 2026 at Midnight
CV Review/Shortlist: 25th August 2026
Case Study Assessment & Interviews: w/c 1st September 2026
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.
The FCA regulates the conduct of 50,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive. We do this to make sure markets work well for individuals, businesses, and the economy as a whole. For more information on what we do, our three-year strategy can be found here.
Working inclusively
We work best when we work together. We encourage our people to contribute fully and feel valued, to be innovative and creative by collaborating in an inclusive culture.
We're also committed to reflecting the diverse lived experiences of the communities we work in and the consumers we protect. We have a strategy to achieve a more diverse and inclusive workplace that is free from discrimination. This includes increasing the representation of women in our senior team to 50% and minority ethnic colleagues to 25% by 2025 – representative of the UK population.
We were recently voted 'Employer of the year' at the Women in Finance awards and our commitment to LGBT+ inclusion means we're recognised as a Stonewall Top 100 employer.
Flexible Working
We believe that giving our people greater flexibility fosters an inclusive culture and a healthy work-life balance.
We currently operate a hybrid working model, working up to 40% in the office each month (50% for senior leaders). This way of working applies in our Stratford, Leeds and Edinburgh offices.
We also offer career and family leave provisions, generous annual leave so you can take time off when you need or want to, and a range of other benefits.
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Programme for parents returning to work after Parental Leave? |
We don’t have a formal programme, but we have hired several Returners through the assisted hiring route (working with Women Returners)
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Leadership development programmes? |
Yes – we are launching a female progression programme |
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Mentoring programmess? |
Yes |
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Coaching programmes? |
No |
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Employee-led diversity networks? |
Yes |
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Internal women’s networking groups? |
No |
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Open to discussing flexible work arrangements at interview stage? |
Yes |
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No. of weeks paid maternity leave at full salary: |
52
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Minimum weeks tenure required to be eligible for paid maternity leave: |
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No. of weeks paid paternity leave at full salary: |
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Minimum tenure required to be eligible for paid paternity leave: |
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Gender pay gap reporting information (2024) |
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Average pay gap: |
12.2 % |
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Median pay gap: |
11.5 % |
| For more information visit - FCA pay gap data 2024 | FCA | |
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Signatory of the UK Women in Finance Charter? |
Yes |
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Targets to raise the number of women in leadership? |
Yes – 50% female target across all pipeline roles |
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Targets to raise the number of BAME individuals in leadership? |
Yes |
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Listed in the Bloomberg Diversity & Inclusion Index? |
No |