At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of impactful prudential policies and enhance financial resilience across the UK.
- Company: Join the FCA, a key regulator in the UK financial services sector.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, hybrid work, private healthcare, and a flexible benefits scheme.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of finance while making a real difference for consumers and businesses.
- Qualifications: Significant experience in prudential regulation and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 59100 - 90700 € per year.
This role is graded as: Lead 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. The Supervision, Policy & Competition (SPC) Division oversees firms and individuals (supervision), creates and reviews the rules by which they operate (policy) and identifies and remedies ineffective competition in markets (competition). Within SPC, the Prudential Policy team (Specialists Directorate) develops, implements, and maintains prudential regimes for over 46,000 FCA-regulated firms. The team develops and maintains prudential regimes including IFPR/MIFIDPRU, MIPRU, IPRU, and prudential requirements for payments, e‑money and cryptoasset firms. The team works closely with Supervision and other FCA functions to support firm-level assessments and strengthen financial resilience across the sector.
Role responsibilities:
- This is a senior policy role for an experienced prudential specialist. You will lead the development/enhancement of high-impact prudential policy, exercise significant regulatory judgement, and shape how prudential standards are interpreted and applied across FCA-regulated firms.
- You will typically own complex policy areas end-to-end, with responsibilities to:
- Lead the design, review, and enhancement of FCA prudential regimes, including IFPR/MIFIDPRU, MIPRU, IPRU, and prudential standards for payments, e‑money and cryptoasset firms.
- Conduct deep qualitative and quantitative analysis of prudential risks, capital and liquidity adequacy, and firm behaviour to inform policy decisions and senior leadership advice.
- Monitor market developments, supervisory feedback, and emerging cross‑sector risks, translating these into proportionate policy responses.
- Engage extensively with Supervision, Enforcement, Data, HM Treasury, industry bodies and firms, including leading consultations and representing the FCA externally.
- Provide technical advice and briefings to senior management, support colleagues across the organisation with interpretation and application of policy and offer guidance to firms on compliance with new or amended rules.
- Manage multiple workstreams, ensuring timely delivery of policy outputs, identify dependencies and risks, and propose practical solutions.
- Review and assure the quality of work of junior staff members, provide structured feedback and training, help build a high-performing team, and line manage 1–2 team members.
Skills required:
- Minimum: Significant experience in prudential regulation or prudential risk management within a financial services regulator or a prudentially regulated firm (e.g. investment firm, bank, payments or e-money firm).
- Strong working knowledge of prudential frameworks, with deep expertise in one or more of: Basel standards (CRR/CRD), IFPR, payments and e-money regimes, ICAAP, ILAAP or ICARA.
- Proven ability to lead and deliver multiple high-profile, long-term workstreams, balancing competing priorities, tight deadlines, and resource constraints.
- Essential: Demonstrable experience assessing capital adequacy, liquidity risk, stress testing and risk management frameworks (e.g. ICAAP, ILAAP, ICARA).
- Strong understanding of risk management frameworks, including either operational, market and liquidity risk management.
- Senior-level judgement and autonomy, with the ability to rapidly develop expertise, set direction on complex issues, and deliver high-impact initiatives with limited oversight.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex prudential, regulatory and policy issues clearly and persuasively to senior internal 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
Job advert close: 31st May 2026
Pre-interview screening call by hiring manager (up to 30 mins)
CV Review/Shortlist: 2nd - 4th June 2026
In person case study and interview: w/c 8th June 2026 and w/c 15th June 2026, across all locations (London, Leeds and Edinburgh)
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.
Prudential policy lead in London employer: Financial Conduct Authority
The FCA is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Edinburgh and Leeds where you can make a significant impact on the financial services sector. With a strong commitment to employee development, a diverse and inclusive culture, and generous benefits including a hybrid working model and extensive annual leave, you'll find meaningful opportunities for growth and collaboration within a supportive team dedicated to regulatory excellence.
Contact Detail:
Financial Conduct Authority Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Prudential policy lead in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with yours. This will help you answer questions more authentically and show that you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. This will help you articulate your experiences clearly and effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about the role and following the proper channels.
We think you need these skills to ace Prudential policy lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience in prudential regulation and risk management. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your expertise!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language to explain your experiences and achievements. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading complex policy areas, make sure to emphasise any leadership experiences you have. We’re looking for candidates who can manage multiple workstreams and guide junior staff effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:Remember, applications must be submitted through our online portal. We won’t accept applications via social media or email, so make sure you apply through our website to ensure your application is considered!
How to prepare for a job interview at Financial Conduct Authority
✨Know Your Prudential Policies
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the prudential frameworks mentioned in the job description, like IFPR, MIFIDPRU, and ICAAP. Brush up on how these policies impact financial services and be ready to discuss your insights during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your ability to conduct deep qualitative and quantitative analysis. Think of examples from your past experience where you've assessed capital adequacy or liquidity risk, and be ready to explain your thought process and outcomes.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since the role involves extensive engagement with various stakeholders, think about how you’ve successfully communicated complex regulatory issues in the past. Be prepared to share specific instances where you’ve led consultations or provided technical advice.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
As this is a senior role, highlight your experience in managing multiple workstreams and mentoring junior staff. Prepare examples that showcase your leadership style and how you've built high-performing teams in previous roles.