Director, Communications

Director Communications

About the FCA

At the FCAwerecreating a fair and more resilient financial system.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.

What will the candidate get from the role

• Joining theDirector andSenior Leadership Team at the FCA during an exciting and challenging time ofgreat changein financial services and its regulationand a fast-changing geopolitical context

• Leading adirectorate of talented and committed peoplewith major operational responsibilities as well asa steady streamofsignificant projects

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

• An opportunity toshape the deploymenttechnologydataand AI in one of the mostdemanding andwide rangingcommunications roles inUKfinance and regulation.

Key responsibilities:

Strategic Advice and Senior Stakeholder Engagement

• Provide trusted counsel to the Chief Executive Deputy Chief Executive Board and senior leadership on communicationsreputationand stakeholder strategy.

• Support senior leadership in navigating parliamentarygovernmentaland wider stakeholder scrutiny including engagement with accountability bodies industrystakeholdersand consumer groups.

• Ensuretimely well-judged positioning and messaging on complex and high-profile issues.

External Reputation and Narrative

• Shape and deliver a clear and compelling narrative for the FCA as a modernforward-lookingand effective regulatorthatoperatesacross the UK and influences internationally.

• Lead engagement across media public affairsindustryand consumer audiences.

• Ensure complex regulatory priorities are communicated with clarityconsistencyand impact.

• Oversee the effective management of issuescrisesand other high-profile communications activity.

• Oversee the teams responding to freedom of information requests and subject access requests

Enterprise Leadership and Strategic Evolution

• Lead the internal communications at the FCA as a role modelwho inspires and engages colleagues working closely with the Chief People Officer.

• Contribute beyond the communications function to the FCAs broader organisational leadership and decision-making

• Support the delivery of the FCAs strategy ensuring communications effectively enable its priorities and direction.This includesdrivingthe FCAs strategy internallyin particular itsfocus on becoming a smarter regulator

• Help position the FCA externally as a credibleauthoritativeand forward-looking regulator

• Align internal and external communications to support organisational priorities and evolving ways of working

Leadership of the Communications Function

• Lead a directorate of approximately 120 professionals across multiple locations including LondonLeedsand Edinburgh.

• Work through a strong senior team to deliver high-quality outcomes across media relations internal communications digital content publicaffairsand stakeholder engagement.

• Build capability in insight-led data-informedand digitally enabled communications.

• Foster an inclusive high-performingand collaborative culture.

Skills/Experience Required

Wereproud to be aDisability 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 SchemeClick Here)

Minimum

• Significant experienceof managing and influencing key stakeholders including senior decision makers internally and externally

• Established communications professional with experience of leading communications teams in fast-paced and high-profile environmentsand good market and business awareness

• Strategic decision-making skills and judgment including the ability to analyse complex data quicklyidentifysalient issues and agree the actions needed to deal with them

• Proven array of experience and skills to influence a variety of senior stakeholders such as executive committees and boards including communication skills (both written and verbal)

• Role model strong leadership behaviours in line with the FCA values and capabilities

Essential

• Experience of role modelling strong leadership behaviours in line with organisational values.

• Ability to secure confidence of senior stakeholders both internal and external

• Proven track-record of implementing insight-led outcome-driven communications strategies and an ability to evaluate the effectiveness of communication toidentifyfuture areas of improvement

• Track recordof creating a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in capability to reflect the changing communications landscape

• Evidence of strong political awareness and professional judgement

• Experience of providing clear and balanced advice up to Board level

• Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills with the ability to collaborate and engage with a wide range of senior stakeholders across both public and private sectors

• High levelof personal resilience with prior experience of managing media relations in a high profile politically sensitive environment

• 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 all levels

• Ability to successfully navigate complex environments and deliver through effective and collaborative partnerships.

HighlyDesirable

• Understanding of financial services and the different approaches and tools used by the FCA in a regulatory context.

• Enthusiasm for embracing innovation including deployment ofnew technologyand data toolsin internal and external communications.

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 the public and 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 womendisabled 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.

As part of the FCAs on-going commitment to develop our national presence most of our vacancies are now open to working in our EdinburghLeedsor London offices. This means that as part of the application process you will be able to select your preference of which office location you would like to work from.

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 you 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 canthisthis 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 on12thMay 2026.

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

• If successful you willbe requiredto obtain andretainSC Clearance.

• 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 September 2026 FCA employees willbe requiredto spend a minimum of 50% of their working time in the office. Our Executive Director and Directors will be expected to be in a minimum of 60% per month.

• The salary range for the role is200000 to 250000 for London and 180000 to 225000 nationally.

• To apply pleasesubmityour CV and cover letter.

The FCA hasretainedRussell Reynolds to advise on this appointment.

To apply pleasesubmityour CV and cover letter using thislink - a conversation in confidence please contact:Lorcan Lennon-