Head of Department- Digital Services Learning and Business

The FCA hasretainedGatenbySanderson to look after this role on our behalf.

The following link will take you to the GatenbySanderson website where you will be able to applyhttps://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe132929

About the FCA

At the FCA,we’recreating a fair and more resilient financial system.We’reestablishingmore transparent relationships between financial services and customers, building trust in financialmarketsand protecting vulnerable consumers.

We’recurrently 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; predictable,purposefuland 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 UK’s 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

This role is within the Enforcement and Market Oversight Division and part of the Enforcement Intelligence Specialist Services (EISS) Directorate. The successful candidate will lead four teams delivering a range of specialist services and business activities in support of the EMO mission to fight financial crime and protect consumers. They willbe responsible forhigh-impact significant projects in addition to delivering operational support to investigations. They willseektoidentifymore efficient and innovative ways of working, managing information and enhancing central functions in collaboration with a range of internal and external stakeholders. The broader remit will require the postholder to understand a diverse range of business activity, including investigator training, risk management, business-planning, crisismanagementand financial issues across the division. A strong knowledge of technical delivery within digital forensics and eDiscovery is core to the role. The role also oversees the delivery of all ICT services for the Specialist Intelligence Department (also within EISS),andinvolves extensive collaboration with internal ICT teams as well as a range of external software suppliers to ensure the delivery of FCA operational requirements. The role will require previous experience of having delivered broader digital services that support investigations and an in-depth knowledge of ISO17025, the expectations of the Forensic Science Regulators Act and Code of Practice as well as experience of UKAS accreditation in addition, the applicant will need to demonstrate a good understanding of investigative procedures, CPIA and disclosure. Associated professional accreditation would be an advantage.

The role will support the Director in developing the strategic direction of EISS, delivery of business as usual, including project delivery and embedding other transformation priorities. Other key business accountabilities include oversight of the generation of management information, oversight of the management of property, risk, Freedom of Information Act requests and delivery of investigator training knowledge and learning systems.

Critically, it will includemaintainingand continuously developing strong strategic and operational partnerships, internally and externally, to enhance effective business delivery across the enforcement division and wider FCA. The postholder will lead andmaintainrelationships with external partners across law enforcement, other regulators, and the public sector,representingthe FCA and promoting our priorities. The post holder shouldpossessa strong balance of leadership skills in delivery,governanceand innovation.

What will the candidate get from the role?

• Joining the Senior Leadership Team at the FCA during an exciting and challenging time ofgreat changein financial services and its regulation

• Leading adepartmentof talented and committed people through significant projects whilst also delivering on business-as-usual objectives

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

Key responsibilities:

• Delivering Digital forensics in support of investigations, ensuring progression towards ISO17025 accreditation and maintenance of key standards.

• Be responsible forthe delivery of management information and business support roles for EISS and EMO (Enforcement & Market Oversight).

• Delivery of the eDiscovery function making best use of the latest technology and ensuring value for money on investment.

• Leading the work with key stakeholders and Transformation Project Management tomaintainand enhance systems that promote integration and enable a more proactive identification of harm. Be innovative and open to new ways of working.

• Maintain and enhance target="_blank">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 process. In cases of high applicationvolumeswe may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role’s key requirements. (To learn more about the Disability Confident SchemeClick Here)

Minimum

• Significant experienceof leadership in managing and influencing key stakeholders, including senior decision makers internally and externally.

• In-depth experience and a strong working knowledge in digital forensics, eDiscovery and associated technology are essential.

• Strong investigative background and ability tostrategicallylead investigator training for Enforcement and Market Oversight Division.

• Demonstrates leadership experience in crisis management, criticalthinkinganddemonstratestheability to deliver large scale multi-year projects.

• Experience in leading the work of a large department of approx. 50 people and managing staff (including managing workstreams through others effectively, resolving conflict, developing individuals to deliver at their best and motivating team members to achievehigh standardsthrough empowerment and trust).

Essential

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

• The ability to inclusively lead a department of approx. 50 people across a varied portfolio within four key business areas.

• An open and flexible leadership style with the ability to communicate effectively and use datato improve business.

• Good operational knowledge of RIPA/IPA.

Desirable

• An understanding of Fighting financial/organised crime would be a significant advantage

• While formal qualifications are not necessary, they will be a benefit to the role.

The FCA’s 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,businessesand the UK economy. So, ourvaluesmatter. Theyrepresentthe 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 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 FCA’s on-going commitment to develop our national presence, most of our vacancies are now open to working in our Edinburgh,Leedsor 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 can this this allowance to purchaseadditional 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 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 process,and 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 is9:00amon Friday 10 July

• Selectionwill be via atwo stageinterview alongside assessment with MercuriUrval

• You willbe requiredto obtain DV 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 Stratford,Leedsand 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.

• This role is London based onlyand the salary range is £140,000-£165,000

• To apply pleasesubmityour CV and cover letterto the below link via Gatenby Sandersononly.

The FCA hasretainedGatenbySandersonto look after this role onourbehalf.

The following link will take you to theGatenbySandersonwebsite where you will be able to apply

https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe132929