Manager, Digital Assets, Authorisations

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Digital assets in the UK are entering a more practical phase, moving beyond pilots toward real products, operating models and market infrastructure. That shift is creating important strategic choices for financial institutions across banking, markets, payments, wealth and asset management. It’s creating phenomenal market momentum and transformation potential.

Within EY’s Financial Services Risk Consulting team, we’re looking to expand our team to help clients navigate this transition and turn momentum into tangible outcomes. You will contribute to the delivery of high profile and complex risk engagements across a wide range of financial services clients.

The opportunity: We are seeking a high-performing Manager to join our financial crime and regulatory consulting business with strong digital assets exposure. This role will support clients in navigating the evolving digital asset landscape, helping them design and implement robust risk and control frameworks across emerging products and services. You will work at the intersection of innovation and risk, advising clients on governance, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience across digital asset ecosystems.

Your key responsibilities: Your contribution will play a significant part in helping our clients deliver successful results covering a range of risk projects. There are multiple aspects to the role:

• Support banks, investment firms or digital asset firms on their FCA licence applications for regulated crypto asset activities – this could be in the form of MLR registration and / or FSMA authorisations.
• Support on the end-to-end licensing process, including drafting regulatory business plans, policies and procedures and supporting the licence application pack.
• Design and implement target operating models and develop governance, risk and compliance frameworks for digital asset firms.
• Conduct operational readiness assessments.
• Understand and define the credit risk, market risk, operational risk, capital, liquidity and funding risks requirements for firms undertaking crypto asset activities whether that is a traditional bank or a digital native firm.
• Develop risk and control enterprise-wide risk management frameworks for digital assets whether that is for a traditional bank or a digital native firm.
• Develop and support other team members through appropriate training, guidance and mentoring.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (technology, regulatory, compliance) to deliver holistic client solutions.

Skills and attributes for success: You will bring a passion for delivering an exceptional client service experience. You have a collaborative mind-set. You will be outcome focused, but also intellectually curious with a creative approach to problem solving. You have excellent written, listening and verbal communication skills and a track record of building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders. You bring strong analytical skills and are confident in tackling new topics.

To qualify for the role you must have:

• Experience of working with banks, investment firms or digital asset firms on their FCA licence applications for regulated crypto asset activities.
• Experience on end-to-end licensing process.
• Understanding of credit risk, market risk, operational risk, capital, liquidity and funding risks requirements for firms undertaking crypto asset activities.
• Experience in Digital Asset products / services, e.g. tokenised deposits / tokenised assets, collateral and margining, stablecoin payments, digital asset trading, custody of digital assets.
• Experience in digital assets in one or more of the following sectors: retail and investment banking, investment firms, fintechs, payments and crypto asset firms.
• Ability to work independently with clients, manage project workstreams, and deliver quality outcomes.

Ideally, you’ll also have:

• Experience in Capital Markets, Payments, Wealth/Asset Management, or Banking.
• Prior consulting experience in risk, compliance, or digital transformation.
• Exposure to digital asset platforms, exchanges, custodians, fintechs or other crypto asset firms.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• A constructive and action‑oriented approach.
• A self‑starting attitude with the ability to think and act quickly.
• Experience of operating in a project‑based environment.
• An ability to guide and coach team members to help them develop their EY careers.

What we look for: We are seeking risk professionals, with good knowledge of DLT and digital assets processes and products, to join our growing team to build our business and support our clients build more resilient, efficient and profitable businesses. We are looking for a proactive problem solver with:

• Strong analytical capabilities.
• An ability to operate in ambiguous and rapidly evolving environments.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to link risk insights to business value.
• A passion for innovation in financial services and digital assets.

What we offer: We offer an attractive remuneration package where you’ll be rewarded for your performance. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with FlexEY you can select benefits that suit your needs, covering holidays, health and well‑being, insurance, savings and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions.

Plus, we offer:

• Continuous learning: You’ll develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next.
• Success as defined by you: We’ll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.
• Transformative leadership: We’ll give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs.
• Diverse and inclusive culture: You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.