Senior Investigator - Senior Associate Level 7 in Edinburgh

The FCA regulates the conduct of 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive.

The FCA’s Enforcement and Market Oversight (EMO) is recruiting permanent and FTC Regulatory Investigators - Senior Associate Level 7. There is currently a vacancy in the Retail and Regulatory Directorate and FTC vacancies in Wholesale 2; further vacancies may arise in the Directorates. EMO investigates misconduct in financial services that affects UK consumers and the financial markets. We bring regulatory, civil and criminal cases against firms and individuals to punish wrongdoers, deter others from wrongdoing and change behaviours. Effective, fair and impactful enforcement is critical to the success of the FCA.

Our work covers a diverse range of issues including fraudulent conduct, corporate governance failings, market abuse and product mis-selling. Working in EMO at the FCA is a great career option if you have a strong sense of public duty and are motivated to do the right thing and make a positive difference to the lives of consumers and the UK financial market generally.

Retail and Regulatory Investigations (RRI)

RRI investigates potential misconduct by regulated firms, and individuals working within those firms, involved in retail banking, stockbroking, asset management, mortgage broking and lending, insurance intermediation, financial advice, consumer credit and payment services. We take action against firms that sell unsuitable products or services to consumers, mishandle client money and assets, or have governance and systemic issues. We also investigate financial crime matters including fraud and misconduct related to AML systems and controls.

Wholesale Enforcement Department (WUBI)

The Wholesale department ensures that suspected wrongdoing in the wholesale financial markets is investigated and where serious misconduct by firms and/or individuals is identified they are held to account. Our investigation teams undertake criminal, civil, and regulatory investigations spanning insider dealing, market manipulation, misleading statements by listed companies and systems and controls failings.

Unauthorised Business Department (UBD)

UBD investigates firms that are not authorised by the FCA but are carrying out activities that require authorisation. Unauthorised firms pose a significant risk to consumers – UBD has civil and criminal powers to tackle these firms and protect consumers. UBD cases typically involve high-loss investment/Ponzi type frauds, illegal trading schemes and boiler room operations.

What will you be doing?

• Senior Associates are senior members of our case teams and play a vital role throughout the wider department.
• You will help progress and, in some cases, lead investigations, taking on differing degrees of responsibility depending on their nature and complexity, and managing your work to meet competing deadlines.
• You will be involved in all aspects of investigations from strategic planning, delegating tasks within the team, obtaining evidence using appropriate powers, drafting and reviewing all forms of documents, taking part in interviews of subjects and witnesses, analysing evidence and making judgements and recommendations throughout the lifetime of an investigation.
• You will be a role model within your team, always willing to share your knowledge and expertise and have mentoring responsibilities for junior colleagues.
• You will contribute to Departmental or Divisional Corporate Projects which are designed to support and improve our processes and systems and the way that we work.
• You will build and maintain effective working relationships with senior colleagues in other areas within the FCA and with counterparts at key external stakeholders.
• Legally qualified candidates in this role would also be expected to provide legal advice to the case team and where appropriate take responsibility for the preparation of privileged correspondence.

What will you get from the role?

• Exposure to some of the most fascinating, challenging and rewarding investigations in the UK.
• A chance to work with colleagues from across EMO and other parts of the FCA.
• Satisfying, worthwhile and responsible work with the opportunity to use your skills in complex situations.
• Working in a high-energy and stimulating Division, within a supportive environment with exposure to a range of senior internal and external stakeholders.
• The opportunity to help develop junior colleagues and positively contribute to the development of their career.
• If you are successful, we will set you up for success. Your manager will work with you to help you meet your professional goals.
• In your first six months you will attend a three-week investigation foundation course which will ensure, if you are new to investigations or have displayed your investigation or advisory skill set in a different setting, you can apply your skill set successfully in the context of the FCA’s approach to investigations.

Which skills are required?

• Demonstrable significant ability working on complex investigations involving fraud/financial crime litigation within a criminal, civil or regulatory environment.
• Experience of working collaboratively and communicating effectively with colleagues and motivating and assisting more junior colleagues, as well as having the ability to work independently and take responsibility for delivering against deadlines and managing operational risks.
• Experience of analysing large amounts of information, drawing out key findings and producing formal written reports including making recommendations.
• Drive forward and coordinate work on complex investigations involving large volumes of documents/data.
• Build and maintain strong and effective relationships with colleagues in other business units and with external bodies.
• Work collaboratively and inclusively with colleagues with different perspectives and backgrounds.
• Make clear, concise, logical and persuasive oral and written presentations on complex subjects.

Our Values & Diversity

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and our ambition is to cultivate a culture for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. 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.

Within the workplace you will have access to various employee resource groups which aim to promote and achieve a healthy work/life balance and support our diversity ambitions.

Benefits of working at the FCA

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays.
• Hybrid working (work from home up to 60% of your time).
• Private healthcare with Bupa.
• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8%.
• Life assurance.
• Income protection.
• We also have a competitive flexible benefits scheme which gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifestyle.
• We welcome applications from candidates who are looking for flexible arrangements. Many of our staff work flexibly including working part-time, staggered hours, and job shares.

Application Support

We are dedicated to removing barriers and ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible. If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition requiring changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter using the details below and they will be happy to discuss this further with you.

Useful Information and Timeline

This role is graded as – Senior Associate - Practising legal or Senior Associate - Regulatory.

Advert Closing Date: 14th July.

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.

Got a question? If you are interested in learning more about the role, please contact Raimonda at Raimonda.Stankute@fca.org.uk. Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted.