Director, Risk

Please note you should apply through our executive search partners using the link here 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.

The Role

The Director ofRiskwill leadaDirectorate within Risk and Compliance Oversightand reportdirectly to theGeneral Counsel and Chief Risk Officer.

Risk and Compliance Oversight(R&CO)is the second line of defence for the FCA working with each of theFCADivisions to ensure the management of Own Risks (operational execution and public confidence risks)and Risks of Harmis effective to enable the FCA to successfully achieve itsstrategy and business plan and hence itsstatutoryand operationalobjectives.

The Director will lead theirDirectorateto oversee themaintenance of the Risk Management Framework provide ongoing guidance and oversight of risk management across theFCAandoverseetheeffectiveoperation of theAssurancefunction.

The Divisionworks in partnership with Senior Management members of the Board and colleagues across the organisation to manage the internal and externalrisks to the FCAs strategy and Annual Workplan and hence its statutory and operationalobjectives.

This is done by:

• supporting and driving effective risk management and decision making

• improving and embedding FCAwide risk and compliance awareness and understanding

• promoting continuous improvement through quality assurance and lessons learned reviews.

This is an important and exciting roleat a crucial time for the FCA. It will bepivotalinenabling the organisation to rebalancerisk andhelping senior leadership understand and consciously act upon risk vs opportunity trade-offs.

The role holder willchampionrisk managementat a senior level across the organisation actingas apartnerand critical friendin helping the organisation to continuously mature its approach to risk management.The incumbent will alsobe responsible formonitoringand reportingonthe organisations risk profile and recommending ways for key risks to bemanaged.

The role will require liaison withExCothe Boardand its sub-committeeskey regulatorypartnersand other relevant external stakeholders.This is avisiblehigh-profilerole with that will require great awareness and dexterity in liaising with stakeholdersboth internally and externally.

What will the candidate get from the role

• You will join the Senior Leadership Team at the FCA during an exciting and challenging time ofgreat changein financial services and its regulation.

• You will lead a critical function holdinga high-profile role and be at the centre of many significant issues currently facing the FCA and underpinning the transformation agenda.

• You will gain exposure to not just senior stakeholders in the FCA but in Government and fellow regulators.

What does the role involve Keyresponsibilities:

• Oversight of theorganisations Risk Management Framework includingthe operationalisation ofitsRisk Appetite Framework

• Leadreporting onthe organisations risk profile toExecutiveand BoardCommittees including maintenanceand continuous improvementof the organisations strategic risk registersrecommending ways tomanagekeyrisksandidentifyingrisk vs opportunity trade-offs

• Lead the provision ofclearaccurate holisticrisk-based adviceguidanceand oversight to the organisation includingmembership ofrelevantcommittees and other forums

• Help the organisation to continuously enhance its risk management capabilities includingresearchingdevelopingand utilisinginnovative analytical techniques / artificial intelligence

• Oversight of the Risk Assurance team delivering a risk-based assurance plan providing clear oversight on the management of risksand effectiveness of key controlswithin the FCA

The responsibilities of the role may include oversight of theCompliance function and the Data Protection Officerin due courseand depending on the candidates skills and experience.

Skills/Experience

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

• Extensive senior-level experience with a second line of defence function operating at organisational or enterprise scale
  Significant experience within financial services and/or a regulatory environment with accountability for material risk outcomes
  Proven experience of leading and developing senior professionals including setting direction managing complexity and building capability
  Experience exercising independent judgement and influence inhigh scrutinyenvironments including challenge of senior stakeholders
  Demonstrable experience of operating within complex governance frameworks with exposure to Board-level or equivalent decision-making forums

Essential

• Strong problem solving communication and influencing capabilities

• Exceptional stakeholder management skills including demonstrable ability to influence senior leaders both inside and outside the regulatory system.

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to balance creative challenge and pragmatism.

• Role model strong leadership behaviours in line with the FCA values andcapabilities and delivering cross-organisational priorities.

• Strong subject matterexpertisein risk management and compliance and in developing andoperatingassociated frameworks in different contexts including how they can support the strategy of an organisation

• Experience in reporting to and working with Board and Board Risk Committees

• Deepexpertisein the three lines of defence model with the ability to adapt this experience to a regulator if gained in another context

• Strong experience of using insights from second line of defence functions to inform and shape continuous improvement in the first line

Desirable

• Deep understanding of the political and wider external (including media) environment which the FCA isoperatingin

• Experience of data protection and privacy issues

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 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 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 on24thMay

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

• If successful you willbe requiredto obtain andretainSC Clearance.

• This role will be based in London Leeds or Edinburgh.

• 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 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 260000for London and 180000 to 234000 nationally.

• To apply pleasesubmityour CV and cover letter.

The FCA hasretainedGreen Parkto advise on this appointment.

To apply pleasesubmityour CV and cover letter using thislink -

For a conversation in confidence please contact: Kate St John Perry