Policy Associate (10475) in Birmingham

Overview

The FRC published a new UK Corporate Governance Code in 2024 and listed companies will produce the first annual reports following the new Code in 2026. In 2025 the FRC published a new Stewardship Code, with Stewardship Code signatories reporting against this Code from 2026 onwards. This role is part of a dynamic team developing the FRC’s approach to corporate governance and stewardship, through monitoring, assessment and obtaining evidence to support policy development. The postholder will be expected to work flexibly on both corporate governance and stewardship matters.

Responsibilities

• Detailed and comprehensive critical analysis of the quality of corporate governance reporting by UK listed companies, researching evidence and examples for the annual review of corporate governance reporting.
• Drafting the annual UK corporate governance reporting review and producing high quality content on areas of expertise.
• Promoting and supporting the Wates Governance Principles for Large Private Companies, providing analysis and developing policy.
• Accurate and comprehensive analysis of the quality of reporting from asset managers, asset owners and service providers applying to become the signatories to the UK Stewardship Code.
• Supporting the end‑to‑end assessment process for UK Stewardship Code applications, collecting evidence and examples, and identifying trends to contribute to the annual review of stewardship reporting and to develop future policy proposals.
• Analysing and summarising relevant research, policy papers and consultations, and preparing briefings for senior colleagues.
• Accompanying senior colleagues to external meetings, providing high quality briefing and records.
• Working on cross‑organisational initiatives that promote good governance and stewardship or support organisational transformation.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• A degree level qualification, relevant qualification, and/or relevant experience in business, governance or stewardship.
• An understanding of the UK corporate governance and stewardship frameworks, and the interaction between government, regulators and stakeholders.
• Understanding the requirements of company annual reports, in particular narrative reporting, and stewardship reports.
• Knowledge of policy making, including how different policy options can be used to achieve objectives.
• Ability to manage priorities, own workload and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to draft clearly for a professional and public audience.
• Understanding the work of the regulator and government departments.
• Good proficiency using Microsoft applications.
• Drafting informative reports and guidance to influence future behaviours.
• Working closely and effectively with other organisations who have interests in these areas.
• Maintaining effective internal FRC relationships and cross‑working.
• Good standard of written and verbal communication.
• Being comfortable working in a changing business and policy environment.
• Ability to analyse corporate governance and stewardship reporting in‑depth.
• Ability to communicate findings of analysis accurately and succinctly both in writing and orally.
• Understanding how findings of analysis can support future policy making.
• Identification of trends and key issues and resulting in convincing recommendations.
• Communicating existing and new ideas confidently and recommending policy proposals.
• Being a collaborative team player.
• Work flexibility across projects and teams.
• Managing time and priorities effectively.
• Working effectively with third parties on external projects.

Application Process

Please apply by uploading a single document that includes your CV and covering letter. In the covering letter, set out, by reference to the person specification above, how you meet the required skillset.

Rewards and Benefits

• 30 days annual leave.
• Ability to buy extra leave.
• Generous employer pension contribution of 10%.
• Staff Employee Assistance Programme including confidential counselling and work‑life services.
• Opportunity to save at least 25% on the purchase of a new bike through the Cycle to Work scheme.
• Strong work/life balance ethos.

Equal Opportunities and Inclusion

The FRC believes that equality of opportunity and diversity is important in the work that we do and we are strongly committed to being an inclusive employer. Our values of being fair and independent support this commitment. Equal opportunities monitoring is an important means of demonstrating and implementing our commitment to promoting equality of opportunity and diversity. Completing our diversity form will assist the FRC to identify any barriers that prevent access to employment and career development for certain groups of people, and to develop solutions, such as action plans, new policies and practices.

Working Environment

The role is based in our central Birmingham office. The postholder should be able to work flexibly to support the team’s activities and also provide cover within the FRC as necessary. The FRC operates a hybrid working arrangement, with an expectation that 40% of a person’s working time will be located at one of our offices. Precise arrangements will be agreed between the employee and the line manager.