Scaling and Growth Senior Associate

Division: Data, Technology and Innovation / Department: Innovation

Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) £53,800–£67,200 per annum; London £59,200–£73,800 per annum (based on skills and experience).

About the FCA and team

We regulate financial services firms in the UK to keep 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 financial 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, within DTI, 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 that supports high‑growth and rapidly scaling firms.

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 supporting the UK fintech ecosystem by helping ensure a competitive environment for firms to start and scale, generating value for the wider economy.

Skills required

• Minimum: 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 adopting a flexible and pragmatic approach to your work.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Hybrid model: employees work a minimum of 40% in the office each month (expectation 50% for senior leaders). From September, expectation 50% office work, 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.

Values & Culture

Our colleagues are the key to our success as a regulator. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture that is 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 part‑time and job‑sharing where applicable.

Disability Confident: our hiring approach – 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.