Payment Services Compliance Specialist

Division: Supervision, Policy & Competition (SPC)

Department: Market Interventions - Payments & Digital Assets

Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £74,900 to £95,000 and London £82,300 to £95,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience). This role is graded as: Technical Specialist - 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). The Market Interventions - Payments department plays a central role in the FCA’s supervision of the UK payments sector. We oversee more than 1,200 FCA-authorised e-money institutions and payment service providers, using a range of proactive and responsive interventions to identify and address risks, protect consumers, support market integrity and promote effective competition. You'll join a collaborative team working on high-profile issues that help shape the future of payments and deliver positive outcomes for millions of people across the UK.

Role Responsibilities

• Apply your experience to help shape FCA payments supervision, protecting consumers and building confidence in the UK payments sector.
• Provide specialist insight on firm cases, cross-sector initiatives and emerging risks, supporting balanced and effective regulatory outcomes.
• Shape the FCA’s approach to payments by translating market and policy developments into practical supervisory action.
• Lead on key supervisory priorities, including safeguarding and financial crime, building trusted relationships across the organisation.
• Represent the FCA with senior external stakeholders, helping to shape discussions on the future of payments regulation.
• Share your knowledge, coach colleagues and build capability across the department, contributing to a collaborative culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Skills Required

• Minimum: Prior experience applying or advising on UK payment services and/or e-money regulatory requirements within a senior regulatory, legal, or compliance environment.
• Minimum: Demonstrable experience of judgement-based decision making, with in-depth knowledge in prudential regulation, safeguarding of customer funds and/or operational resilience.
• Minimum: Prior experience leading, coaching, mentoring and supporting the development of less experienced team members.
• Essential: Advanced analytical skills with the ability to rapidly assess complex information and identify key implications and insights.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex issues clearly and effectively.
• Deep understanding of the payments sector, including business models, regulatory frameworks and market dynamics, coupled with the ability to quickly acquire new knowledge where required.
• Demonstrated ability to build credibility and engage effectively with senior stakeholders, including regulatory bodies and government institutions.
• Ability to work effectively with a high degree of autonomy, managing priorities and delivering outcomes with minimal supervision.
• Sound judgement and a risk-based approach to decision-making, with the ability to make timely, well-reasoned decisions and clearly articulate the rationale.
• Proficiency in working with both centralised and local data sources to develop reports, generate insights and support evidence-based decision-making.

Benefits

• 28 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 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. 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 timelines

Timeline: Job advert closes: Monday 31st August 2026 (midnight). CV Review/Shortlist: 2nd September 2026. Case Study Assessment: w/c 7th September 2026. Interviews: w/c 14th September 2026. 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.

At the FCA, we’re creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We’re establishing more transparent relationships between financial services and their customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers.