Cryptoasset and Technology Policy Technical Specialist
Division: Supervision, Policy & Competition (SPC)
Department: Market Analysis and Policy - Payments and Digital Assets
Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £74,900 to £88,966 and London £82,300 to £97,800 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)
This role is graded as: Technical Specialist – Regulatory
Your external recruitment contact is Steve Christopher via [email protected].
Your internal recruitment contact is Jennifer Wishart via [email protected].
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.
SPC oversees firms and individuals (supervision), creates and reviews the rules by which they operate (policy) and identifies and remedies ineffective competition in markets (competition).
The Cryptoassets and Technology Policy Team is at the forefront of developing the FCA's policy solutions on cryptoassets.
As digital technology and cryptoassets market develop and evolve, regulators need to innovate and adapt our regulatory framework to deal with new and evolving opportunities and risks. We are designing a more comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptoassets to help shape the future of this diverse, fast-paced, and ever-changing sector.
Cryptoassets and associated activities are due to be phased into the FCA’s perimeter. Our work includes the development, consultation and implementation of cryptoasset policy for retail consumers.
You will be a key member of the team, shaping creative and evidence-based policy solutions that benefit consumers, markets, and competition.
Role Responsibilities
As a Technical Specialist, you will have the opportunity to apply deep technical expertise in regulatory and financial services, cryptoasset markets and products when formulating policy options
You will lead and guide departmental initiatives, drive high-quality policy development and delivering impactful presentations, sharing regulatory policy that supports the FCA’s strategic priorities
You will coach, mentor, and develop talent across the FCA, building analytical and risk management capabilities that elevate organisational performance
You will role model FCA values as part of the senior leadership team, fostering a culture of integrity, collaboration, and excellence
Skills Required
Minimum
Proven experience of managing and resolving complex policy development, or related industry experiences
Prior policy, regulatory or industry experiences in financial services and cryptoasset markets
Demonstratable experience with regulatory frameworks globally
Essential
Significant professional experience in a subject related to financial regulation, financial services, cryptoassets and other digital assets, decentralised finance
Evidence of leading complex projects, problem solving and organisational skills with the ability to manage a variety of competing priorities and issues
Experience of teaching/coaching/mentoring colleagues
The ability to influence senior managers with both oral and written presentations of complex issues in a manner that demonstrates judgement
An inclusive team player who can identify and manage key stakeholders to build a constructive relationship with the ability to persuasively explain complex issues succinctly and with clarity to both internal and external audiences and deliver difficult messages when needed
Benefits
28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Colleagues spend a minimum of 50% of their working time in the office each month (60% for Directors and Executive Directors) across our London, Leeds and Edinburgh offices.
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 closes: Sunday 6th September (midnight)
CV Review/Shortlist: Tuesday 8th September
Case Study / Competency Based Interview: w/c 14th and 21st September
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 |