Senior Policy Advisor in Edinburgh

This role is graded as: Senior Associate

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 in the Consumer Investments (CI) directorate, the CI MAP department leads policy, strategy, risk identification, and supervisory support across the consumer investments market through four specialist teams focused on insights, analysis, advice, distribution, and capital resilience.

Role responsibilities:

• Use evidence and analysis to shape policy solutions drive meaningful change by crafting practical policies that directly support the FCA's strategic commitments, ensuring markets work well for consumers and firms.
• Lead policy change and implementation projects manage complex initiatives with strong governance, delivering real-world impact through effective regulation and improved industry practices.
• Build and nurture relationships with key stakeholders collaborate with Government, industry leaders, and consumer groups to ensure policies are informed, inclusive, and widely supported.
• Provide expert policy advice and support respond to queries, share insights, and guide supervisors, firms, and consumer bodies—helping them navigate regulatory expectations with confidence.
• Contribute to high-stakes regulatory decisions be at the centre of setting standards for a sector relied on by millions, influencing how financial services operate across the UK.
• Apply analytical and policy expertise to strategic goals help the team deliver on the FCA's business plan and statutory objectives, ensuring our work is aligned with long-term priorities and public interest.

Skills required:

• Minimum: Prior experience policymaking in a regulator, Government department, firm or other relevant organisation.
• Prior experience in analysing complex information and experience of making judgements based on data and evidence.
• Essential: Experience of identifying key risks to consumers and/or markets, as well as the mitigations available to address these.
• Ability to work autonomously, proactively, and to prioritise and escalate issues appropriately.
• Experience of working to deliver complex projects to tight deadlines, and ability to exercise a high degree of initiative in response to changing circumstances.
• Inclusive approach – respects the diversity of backgrounds across the FCA and are motivated to collaborate with others, contributing to an inclusive environment which enables problem-solving and reflective policymaking.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex information for varied audiences and build effective relationships with internal colleagues and external stakeholders.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Hybrid model with up to 60% remote work.
• 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 & 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 Timeline

Timeline: Advert Closing date: 21st November CV Review/Shortlist: 24th November Competency Based Interview: w/c 1st December Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.