Head of Department, Advisers, Wealth and Pensions Supervision

About the FCA

At the FCA were creating a fair and more resilient financial system. Were establishing more transparent relationships between financial services and customers building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers.

Were currently 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 market data and information management maturity are all being pursued to maintain our 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; predictable purposeful and 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 lives by 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 who seek to 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.

The Role

Advisers Wealth and Pensions Supervision Department (AWP)

AWP is part of the broader Supervision Policy and Competition (SPC) division. SPC oversees regulated firms and individuals (Supervision) creates and reviews the rules by which they operate (Policy) and identifies and remedies ineffective competition in markets (Competition).

Sitting in the Consumer Investments (CI) Directorate within SPC the AWP Department supervises around 5000 financial adviser and wealth portfolio management firms.

We focus on working to reduce harm from poor advice poor investment portfolio management scams and financial crime while promoting consumer protection sector growth and sustainability and better outcomes through firm engagement and cross-FCA collaboration.

What will the candidate get from the role

• Joining the Senior Leadership Team at the FCA during an exciting and challenging time of great change in financial services and its regulation
• Leading a department of very talented and committed people through significant projects and a new ambitious departmental strategy whilst also delivering on business-as-usual objectives with operational grip
• Exposure to strategic issues and key players in the world of finance both nationally and internationally

Key responsibilities:

• Building on and delivering a long-term supervisory strategy for the wealth and financial advice sector including developing anddemonstratingmeasures of success in a rapidly changing world.
• Developing and deliveringappropriate structuresprocessesand strategies for the department aligning to broader divisional and organisational strategies
• Setting risk appetiteidentifyingconnections with other areas of the value chain and retail and wholesale markets and ensuring that supervisors have the confidence and support to intervene assertively but fairly using the full range of FCA tools.
• Leading on performance capability and culture within the department with a strong focus on operational excellence.
• Consistent with the FCAs Transformation the department has an opportunity to invest in data AI and technology
• Buildingand managinga strong and inclusive department that attracts and developsdiverse department currentlyhas approximately 60 team members.
• Developing and delivering a long-term strategy for the department aligning to broader divisional and organisational strategies
• Leading on performance capability and culture within the department with a strong focus on operational excellence
• Delivering through others by relying on coaching influencing and negotiating skills with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Building a strong and inclusive directorate that attracts and develop diverse talent

Skills/Experience Required

Were 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 cases of high application volumes we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the roles key requirements. (To learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme Click Here)

Minimum

• Significant experience of managing and influencing key stakeholders including senior decision makers internally and externally
• Experience and exposure to the regulation and risks in the wealth and financial advice and related services sector
• Proventrack recordin leadingorganisingand delivering on a broad portfolio of complex and politically sensitive work on highly topical issues
• Ability to drive change and process efficiency/improvements delivering value for money and innovation and encouraging capacity building and continuous improvement
• Experience managing large teamsCirca 60 FTE

Essential

• Understanding of the financial services market in the UK and how firmsoperatewithin it
• Experience with dealing with industry groupsand both small and large wealth and financial advice firms
• Knowledge and awareness of the FCA supervisoryand policy approaches.
• Excellent communication verbal and written including use of evidence and data
• Collaborative and flexible approachinternally and with industry
• Resilience in the face of challenge with an ability to adjust course in the light of evidence to make balanced decisions/judgements
• Ability to deal with a wide range of issues and manage competing priorities effectively
• Experience and desire to inclusively lead and support the development of department colleagues and tackle any performance issues to build a high performing department

Desirable

• Strong understanding of the FCAs regulatory powers responsibilities operations and supervisory frameworks
• Strongproficiencywith data management and visualisation tools such as Tableau and Excel
• Experience setting strategy for asignificant function
• Understanding of the financial services market in the UK and how firmsoperatewithin it

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 people businesses and the UK economy. So our values represent the culture we aspire to every day guiding our judgements building trust and helping us to be At our best.

The FCA is committed to achieving greater diversity across all levels of our organisation. Given this we 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.

As part of the FCAs on-going commitment to develop our national presence most of our vacancies are now open to working in our Edinburgh Leeds or 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 any possible barriers and are committed to providing a 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 can this this allowance to purchase additional benefits 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 FCA are required to demonstrate that 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 process and also disclose information or personal connections that if appointed might be open to misperception.

Any potential conflicts of interest will not prevent candidates going forward to interview but may if appropriate be explored during the interview to establish how 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 on Wednesday 6 May.
• Selection will be via a two-stage interview and psychometric assessment
• If successful you will be required to obtain and retain SC Clearance.
• We currently operate a hybrid working model working a minimum of 40% in the office each month (50% for senior leaders). This way of working applies in our Stratford Leeds and Edinburgh offices. From September 2026 FCA employees will be required to 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 is 135000- 170000 London & 121500- 153000 National
• To apply please submit your CV and cover letter.

For further information about the role please contact