Senior Risk Specialist in Edinburgh

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. SPC oversees firms and individuals (supervision), creates and reviews the rules by which they operate (policy) and identifies and remedies ineffective competition in markets (competition). Sitting within the Specialist Directorate, the Financial Resilience department (FRD) leads the FCA’s efforts to minimise consumer and market harm from weaknesses in firms’ financial resilience by setting standards through rules and guidance, and by providing specialist supervision and data capabilities.

Role responsibilities:

• Conduct and support in-depth financial resilience assessments across a diverse portfolio of wholesale and retail firms, identifying vulnerabilities and helping safeguard consumers, markets and financial stability.
• Deliver high-quality analysis and recommendations that support timely, evidence-based regulatory decisions.
• Evaluate and apply the most appropriate regulatory tools, helping firms meet financial resilience standards.
• Coach and mentor Associate colleagues, sharing technical expertise and supporting capability across the team.
• Collaborate closely with front line supervisors, contributing to joined up regulatory outcomes.
• Demonstrate sound judgement, effective stakeholder engagement and personal accountability.
• Apply prudential regulatory frameworks across a range of firm types and business models.
• Engage professionally with senior internal and external stakeholders, providing clear advice and shaping outcomes.

Skills required:

• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in prudential risk management and regulatory frameworks.
• Prior experience of FCA-regulated firms, including an understanding of their business models and the risks they face.
• Demonstrable experience of assessing, managing, challenging, or making decisions on risk and financial resilience.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate and resolve complex prudential issues.
• Demonstrated analytical capability with the ability to interpret complex information.
• Experience leading projects to completion within defined timelines and quality standards.
• A collaborative professional with a commitment to inclusion.
• Experience in coaching and mentoring colleagues on professional and technical subjects.

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.
• Colleagues spend a minimum of 50% of their working time in the office each month.
• 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.

If you require any adjustments due to a disability or condition, your recruiter is here to help - reach out for tailored support.

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.

Useful information and timelines:

• Advert Close Date: 27th September 2026.
• CV Review/Shortlist: 29th September – 1st October 2026.
• First Interview: from 8th October 2026.

Summary:

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