Senior Associate - Freedom of Information Appeals
Division - Communications
Department - Internal Communications, External Affairs & Public Information
Team - Information Disclosure
Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £43,300 to £60,000 and London from £46,400 to £64,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)
This role is graded as: Senior Associate - Corporate
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.
In the Communications division at the FCA we change opinions and behaviours to enable a fair and thriving financial services market for the good of consumers and the economy. It's an exciting time as we're expanding our team and changing how we do things to deliver more engaging, insight-led, audience focused communications. If you want to be part of a supportive and fun team, work across a wide range of issues and are ready to be challenged, curious and creative then come and join us.
The Information Disclosure and Appeals teams are responsible for managing Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, personal data access requests and related appeals. The team plays a key role in helping the FCA meet its statutory obligations, supporting our transparency agenda and ensuring compliance with information rights legislation. This role is critical in managing legal, regulatory and reputational risk, as failure to meet statutory deadlines could result in action from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and impact confidence in the FCA as a regulator.
Role responsibilities
- Manage FOIA appeals, including Internal Reviews, Information Commissioner investigations and First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights) appeals. Support the wider Information Disclosure team with the Publication Scheme, data protection witness statements and Re-use of Public Sector Information requests
- Produce high quality oral and written communications to key stakeholders and to members of the public (Requesters)
- Provide expert advice, training and guidance to stakeholders across the FCA, promoting awareness of FOIA requirements and ensuring the organisation remains informed of legislative and regulatory developments
- Oversee the triage and allocation of work, ensuring service levels and agreed SLAs are met
- Line manage and develop junior colleagues through coaching, mentoring and knowledge sharing, while acting as a key escalation point for complex and high-profile cases
Skills required
- Minimum: Exceptional writing and verbal communication skills, with proven ability to explain complex disclosure-related issues to diverse audiences
- FOIA legislation experience and good knowledge of the ICO code of practice
- Experience researching regulatory developments and analysing information from multiple sources to identify risks, trends and emerging issues
- Essential: Excellent organisational skills with the ability to meet deadlines while maintaining high service standards
- Meticulous attention to detail in drafting responses, coupled with sound decision‑making abilities
- Proven ability to build strong relationships and networks across an organisation to ensure a cohesive approach and timely delivery
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders through clear and persuasive guidance
- Proficiency in document redaction using various applications and software
- Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, coach, develop and motivate teams effectively
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 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
- Hybrid model where 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
- 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.
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Senior Associate - Freedom of Information Appeals in London employer: FCA
Foster Care Associates (The FCA) is an outstanding employer that prioritises the well-being and professional development of its staff. With a supportive work culture, generous benefits including a £2,000 car allowance and up to 35 days of annual leave, employees are encouraged to grow within their roles while making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families across the South West. Located in Ivybridge, this position offers a unique opportunity to work in a vibrant community dedicated to fostering excellence in care.
