Director, Wholesale and Unauthorised Business Investigations

Director Wholesale and Unauthorised Business Investigations Enforcement and Market Oversight

About the FCA

At the FCAwerecreating a fair and more resilient financialsystem.Wereestablishingmore transparent relationships between financial services and customers building trust in financialmarketsand protecting vulnerable consumers.

Werecurrently on an exciting journey as we drive forward significant organisational people process and technology transformation to become a more forward-thinking proactive regulator. We will use data more effectively to drive better regulatory decisions and build greater cohesion across our broad financial services remit.

Significant improvements in digital enablement business intelligence marketdataand information management maturity are all being pursued tomaintainour position as a world leader in financial services regulation.

In March 2025 the FCA launched a new 5-year strategy to deepen trust rebalance risk support growth and improve lives. The FCA will focus on four priorities:

• Be a smarter regulator; predictablepurposefuland proportionate. The FCA will improve its processes and embrace technology to become more efficient and effective.

• Support sustained economic growth by enabling investment innovation and ensuring the continued competitiveness of the UKs world-leading financial services.

• Help consumers navigate their financial livesby working with industry to boost trust product innovation and ensuring the right information and support is available for people to take financial decisions.

• Fight financial crime focusing on those whoseekto use the fact they are regulated to do harm. It will go further to disrupt criminals and support firms to be an effective line of defence.

Background

Wearelooking to appoint aDirector ofWholesale and Unauthorised Business Investigations(WUBI).WUBI is a core function within ourEnforcementand Market Oversight Division focused onmarket misconduct policing theperimeterand providing investigation services. WUBI actions help tofight financial crime toprotect the interests of consumersandensure that markets work well andoperatewith integrity.

WUBI conducts forensic investigations into regulatory breaches and criminal offences by firms and individualsoperatingin the wholesale arena as well as those carrying on regulated activities without authorisation in breach of the general prohibition. Typical WUBI cases include insider dealing market manipulation systems and controls failingsfraud/scamsandorganised crime activity linked to the financial services sector.The portfolio includes both regulatory and criminal operations.The FCAsProceeds of Crime teamalso sits within WUBI.

WUBI collaborates closely with the wider FCA and other regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies both within the UK and abroad to ensure an effective and co-ordinated approach to tackling issues affecting UK markets and consumers.

The Role

Reporting toExecutive Directorof Enforcement and Market Oversightthe Director of Wholesale and Unauthorised Business Investigations willbe responsible forthe development and delivery of the enforcement strategy for all wholesaleand unauthorised businesscases and accountable overall for case outcomes and external engagement on those outcomes.The role holderwillalso play a key role in driving forward the FCAswideractivity todisruptfinancial crime.

As such this is a critical appointment for a creative thought leader with strong relationship building skills who can lead from the front.

Youwill be a member of EMOsDirector Team and specificallyresponsible for leading a team ofover200 staff throughthe Heads of Department who sit on the WUBI leadership team.

Key responsibilities:

• Managing complex portfolios of wholesale and unauthorised business investigations and resulting criminal civil and regulatory enforcement action

• Being theSettlementDecision Maker on Enforcement Operations

• Role model for the whole ofFCA/EMOwitha commitment to continuous improvement through delivery of the impactful deterrence agenda

• Developing and delivering a long-term strategy for the directorate aligned to broader divisional and organisationalstrategies

• Leading on performancecapabilityand culture within the directorate with a strong focus on operational excellence

• Delivering through others by relying on coachinginfluencingand negotiating skills with a range of internal and external stakeholders

• Building a strong and inclusive directorate that attracts and develops diversetalent

• Working effectively across organisational boundaries to achieve outcomes particularly in relation to financial crime

• Operational responsibility for the running of the team (and the wider Division as partof the EMO Director Team) in terms of budgeting forecastingresourcingand external costs

What will the candidate get from the role

• Leading a directorate of talented and committed people through significant projects whilst also delivering on business-as-usualobjectives

• Exposure to strategic issues and key players in the world of finance both nationally and internationally

Skills/ExperienceRequired

Wereproud to be a Disability Confident Employer and therefore people or individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions who best meet theminimumcriteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment cases of high applicationvolumeswe may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the roles key requirements. (To learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme Click Here)

Minimum

Significant experienceof:

• Managing and influencing key stakeholders including senior decision makersinternallyandexternally(both domestically andinternationally)

• Conducting and overseeing a wide range of complexinvestigations not necessarily gained in the financial servicessector

• Working across organisational boundaries with proven delivery of cross-organisational projects

• Effectivelyleadingalargebusiness area made up ofmulti-disciplinary teams

Essential

• The ability to deal with competing priorities and workstreamsand to balance immediate high priority sometimes politically sensitive issues with longer term strategicthinking

• A high levelof personal resilience you should be able to manage challenging situations and work across organisationalboundaries

• Strong judgement and ability to take well-informed boldforward-thinkingdecisions

• An excellent leader of people who improves capability leads through change builds a diverse and inclusiveteamandexhibitsan engaging and adaptable style that connects with people at alllevels

• Ability to quickly develop a technical understanding of the FCAs powers and risk-based approach in relation to investigation and enforcementactivity

• Understanding of the role of intelligence in fighting serious crime

• Good technical understanding of the overall regulatory and legal framework in the UK and the FCAs place within it

• Understanding of the international dimension within which the FCA operates

• Understanding of the financial services market in the UK and how firmsoperatewithinitisdesirable

The FCAs Values & Diversity

Our ambition is to create a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the society we serve helping us to be a better regulator. We serve thepublicand our decisions directly affect the wellbeing of peoplebusinessesand the UK economy. So ourvaluesrepresentthe culture we aspire to every day guiding our judgements buildingtrustand helping us to be At our best.

The FCA is committed to achieving greater diversity across all levels of our organisation. Given thiswe particularly welcome applications from women disabled and minority ethnic candidates as under-represented groups.

As an inclusive employer we are open to considering flexible working arrangements including job shares. Please inform your recruiter if you wish to apply for this role on a flexible basis.

Application Support

We want to remove anypossible barriersand are committed toprovidinga wide range of reasonable adjustments so that you can keep the focus on your conversations and be at your best.

If you have an accessibility requirement disability or condition that means you might require changes to the recruitment process please contact your recruiter to discuss this further. Our aim is to make your application as easy as possible and your recruiter will be happy to work with you to make any necessary arrangements where possible.

Benefits

Our competitive benefits scheme gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package tailored to suit your lifecycle. You can use this allowance topurchaseadditionalbenefits such as dental or cycle to work or you have the option to top up your base salary by taking this as cash.

Core benefits that you will receive as standard are:

• 30 days holiday per year plus bank holidays

• Private healthcare with Bupa

• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8% of basic salary each month (there are several contribution levels that increase depending on your age - up to 12% a month once you reach age 35)

• Life assurance of eight times your basic salary

• Income protection

Conflicts of interest

All applicants to the FCAare required todemonstratethat they do not have other interests likely to conflict with their responsibilities as an employee of the FCA. You should declare any potential conflict of interest as early as possible in the selection processand alsodiscloseinformation or personal connections that if appointed might be open to misperception.

Anypotential conflicts of interestwill not prevent candidates going forward to interview but may ifappropriate be explored during the interview toestablishhow the candidate would address the issue(s) should they be successful in their application.

Useful information

• The closing date for this role is 23:55 on22ndFebruary2026

• Selectionwill be via a two-stage interview and psychometric assessment.

• If successful you willbe requiredto obtain andretainSC Clearance.

• This rolecan be London Edinburgh or Leeds the successful applicant is based in Edinburgh or Leedsfrequenttravel to the London office will be.

• We currentlyoperatea hybrid working model working a minimum of 40% in the office each month (50% for senior leaders). This way of working applies in our StratfordLeedsand Edinburgh offices.From September2026 FCA employees willbe requiredto spend a minimum of 50% of their working time in the and Directorswill be expected tobe ina minimum of 60% per month.

• The salary range for the role isLondon 200000-260000and National 180000-234000

To apply pleasesubmityour CV and cover letter via the FCA careers page (workday). Please note we are unable to accept applications by email.

For further information about the role please contactRoyBingcang Executive Recruiter onR