Scaling and Growth 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. The Data, Technology and Innovation (DTI) division enables the FCA to be a digital‑first, data‑led smart regulator by delivering a secure, agile, and cost‑effective technology and data ecosystem that drives better decisions, transparency, and operational efficiency. The Innovation department sits within Data, Technology and Innovation (DTI) and works to support the FCA in being an innovative regulator by leading and empowering innovation to drive beneficial and sustainable growth and change. The Scale‑up Unit is a new initiative at the forefront of this ambition, designed to support high‑growth and rapidly scaling firms. The UK has one of the world’s most vibrant financial services ecosystems, yet firms often face challenges as they move from start‑up to scale‑up and may need additional support when growing quickly.

Role Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 5–8 scale‑up firms, including initial strategic assessment, ongoing relationship management, service delivery and contribution to public engagement strategy.
• Operate professionally to design and deliver tailored support plans, addressing complex challenges with judgement and considered decision‑making.
• Liaise across the organisation to coordinate specialist input from relevant FCA teams and secure support.
• Build, maintain and manage positive relationships with key stakeholders and cohort firms.
• Develop high‑quality communications and engagement materials, including case studies and reports, managing end‑to‑end delivery.
• Contribute to the engagement programme, representing the Unit as an effective ambassador at conferences, roundtables and public events.
• Collaborate across Innovation, Supervision, Policy and Authorisations, engaging with a broad stakeholder group and building a network with FCA senior leadership and fintech decision‑makers.
• Contribute to important, experimental initiatives aligned with the FCA’s growth agenda, delivering tangible outcomes in fintech sector development and support the UK’s fintech ecosystem by helping ensure a competitive environment for firms to start and scale, generating value for the wider economy.

Minimum Skills required

• Knowledge of regulatory processes and financial services regulation across firm casework, including work within supervisory or regulated firm environments.
• Demonstrated capability to manage firm casework and stakeholder relationships, communicating clearly with a range of audiences and navigating challenging interactions.
• Demonstrable solid organisational capability by prioritising competing demands and managing workload to meet deadlines and deliver outcomes.

Essential

• Ability to work on your own, applying sound judgement and escalating issues appropriately.
• Understanding of the FCA’s supervisory approach with ability to consider how we use our tools and powers to deliver our work.
• Experience of analysing complex information and making sound, evidence‑based judgements that balance risk and opportunity.
• Demonstrate curiosity and continuous improvement, contributing to team effectiveness and ability to deliver novel and innovative approaches.
• Willingness to learn and develop, taking on new responsibilities and adopt a flexible and pragmatic approach to your work.

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 & 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.