Security Vetting Specialist

The FCA regulates the conduct of 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive. The Cyber and Operational Resilience department ensures secure regulation within the FCA and PSR, protecting UK consumers and financial markets. As an Associate in the Vetting Team, you will manage the delivery of the FCA Security & Vetting Framework.

Your responsibilities include:

• Overseeing all vetting-related enquiries, proactively resolving issues and dealing with clearance holders, recruiters, prospective line managers, and external agencies.
• Supporting the clearance decision-making function, identifying risk thresholds and engaging with FCA departments.
• Building and maintaining relationships with UKSV and other agencies, nurturing service deficiencies when necessary.
• Guiding the business on vetting risk appetite, advocating policy breaches, and developing solutions to prevent recurrence.
• Engaging with the Risk & Compliance function to raise the profile of National Security Vetting within the organisation.
• Assessing Security Clearance Requests, making decisions on high-risk cases, and recommending risk mitigation steps to ensure compliance.

What will you get from the role?

• Build a diverse and transferable skill set that holds strong value both within the FCA and across the wider professional landscape.
• Accelerate your career in a high-visibility role, gaining recognition and impactful experience along the way.
• Benefit from comprehensive training and dedicated support to confidently engage with all FCA departments on vetting matters.
• Join a dynamic and supportive team, playing a key role in protecting the FCA and strengthening its organisational resilience.
• Take advantage of ongoing professional development opportunities that support your long-term career growth and success.

Which skills are required?

• Proven expertise in national security vetting, including case decision-making via the UKSV Case Management System and Portal, with working knowledge of national vetting policy, compliance standards, and risk-based decision-making within a regulatory environment.
• Highly detail-oriented with excellent IT proficiency with experience across Word, Excel, Outlook, and related tools.
• Strong relationship management skills with experience of developing relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, prioritise tasks, escalate issues appropriately, and take responsibility for actions.
• Proven track record of working to tight deadlines while maintaining accuracy and confidentiality.
• Flexibility and willingness to take on new tasks and responsibilities.
• Adaptability to changes in the vetting case lifecycle.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and our ambition is to cultivate a culture for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. 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.

Benefits of working at the FCA:

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays.
• Hybrid working (work from home up to 60% of your time).
• Private healthcare with Bupa.
• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8% of basic salary each month.
• Life assurance of eight times your basic salary.
• Income protection.
• A competitive flexible benefits scheme which gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifestyle.

We welcome applications from candidates who are looking for flexible arrangements. Many of our staff work flexibly including working part-time, staggered hours, and job shares.

This role is graded as Associate Level 8 – Corporate Advert Closing Date: Sunday 4th May. CV Review/Shortlist: Week commencing 5th May. First Round Case Study Assessment: Week commencing 12th May. Competency Based Interview: Week commencing 19th May.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition requiring changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter using the details below and they will be happy to discuss this further with you.