Senior Crypto Investigator in Edinburgh

Division: Enforcement & Market Oversight

Department: Retail & Regulatory Investigations (RRI)

Team: Retail 3

Salary: National (Edinburgh & Leeds) ranging from 53,800 to 67,200 and London ranging from 59,200 to 73,800 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

This role is graded as: Senior Associate - Regulatory

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.

Enforcement & Market Oversight (EMO) is responsible for the FCA’s responsibilities for market monitoring, delivery of the functions of the UK Listing Authority (UKLA) and the investigation and prosecution of misconduct using the whole spectrum of criminal, civil and administrative sanctions and remedies against firms and individuals.

Sitting within the Enforcement & Market Oversight Division, the Retail and Regulatory Investigations (RRI) Directorate investigates firms and individuals across consumer markets to tackle misconduct, address financial crime, and ensure fair treatment that supports a safe and trusted financial services industry.

The Retail 3 Department also houses EMO’s Crypto Hub who work with colleagues across EMO and the FCA to join up EMO’s cryptoassets work and pursue an integrated regulatory approach to tackle crypto harm, preparing the Division for the regulation of crypto.

Role responsibilities

• Support complex criminal and regulatory investigations involving cryptoassets, potential criminal conduct and significant regulatory breaches, leading key aspects of complex financial investigations and collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Shape case strategy by identifying risks, recommending practical mitigation actions and communicating effectively with colleagues and stakeholders, and managing competing priorities to drive complex investigative workstreams to completion.
• Conduct detailed investigative work into digital asset transactions using specialist analytical tools and techniques, and identifying key issues, risks and evidential opportunities from large datasets.
• Produce high-quality written outputs, including case reports, summaries and recommendations, while maintaining comprehensive records of investigative findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Contribute across the full investigation lifecycle, from strategic planning and evidence gathering using appropriate powers to conducting interviews, analysing evidence, making decisions and progressing the case.
• Independently manage a varied and demanding caseload while contributing to EMO’s cryptoasset work, supporting complex cases and helping develop wider cryptoasset capability within EMO.
• Engage with colleagues in the EMO Crypto Hub as appropriate to join up on cross-cutting crypto issues and input to the development of EMO’s crypto work.
• Act as a role model within the Division by sharing expertise, coaching junior colleagues and championing continuous improvement and professional development.

Skills required

• Minimum: Prior professional experience of tracing and analysing cryptoassets in complex financial investigations.
• Prior experience and knowledge of the UK financial crime landscape and regulatory frameworks for cryptoassets.
• Prior experience of analysing large amounts of information, drawing out key findings and producing formal written reports including making recommendations.
• Essential: Capable of working on complex and sensitive cases, including those involving potential criminal conduct or high-profile regulatory breaches.
• Effective analytical skills, with the ability to assess complex evidence, identify gaps, and determine appropriate next steps.
• Prior experience of working collaboratively and communicating effectively with colleagues in a multi-disciplinary investigation team, as well as ability to work independently and delivering against deadlines.
• Capable of making sound, evidence-based judgements and recommendations alongside a flexible and adaptable approach, with the ability to anticipate and adapt to changing needs and priorities.
• Ability to manage a varied and demanding caseload, while coaching and supporting more junior team members and demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement and learning.
• Build and maintain strong and effective relationships with colleagues across the Division and with key stakeholders across the FCA, acting as an ambassador for EMO.
• Strong operational capabilities, managing and driving forward complex workstreams.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Hybrid model where employees work a minimum of 40% in the office each month (expectation of 50% for senior leaders). Changing from September to a minimum of 50% in the office each month (expectation of 60% for Directors and Executive Directors).
• 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.

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 closing: 17th August at 11:59pm. CV Review/Shortlist: 19th August. First Interview: w/c 31st August.

Summary Location: London; Leeds; Edinburgh Type: Full time