Head of Department- Digital Services Learning and Business

The FCA has retained Gatenby Sanderson to look after this role on our behalf.  

The following link will take you to the Gatenby Sanderson website where you will be able to apply https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe132929

About the FCA  

At the FCA, we’re creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We’re establishing more transparent relationships between financial services and customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers.  

We’re 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 UK’s 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   

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 will be responsible for high-impact significant projects in addition to delivering operational support to investigations. They will seek to identify more 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, crisis management and 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), and involves 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 include maintaining and 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 and maintain relationships with external partners across law enforcement, other regulators, and the public sector, representing the FCA and promoting our priorities.  The post holder should possess a strong balance of leadership skills in delivery, governance and innovation. 

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 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 for the 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 to maintain and 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 data-led business systems and continue to develop the existing culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. 

• Building on and further developing the long-term business plan for the department that supports FCA strategic commitments and leads on performance.  

• Utilising skills such as coaching, influencing and negotiating to engage a range of internal and external stakeholders. 

• Maintaining and enhancing a strong and inclusive department that attracts and develops diverse talent.  

• As a key member of the leadership team, support the Director in the governance and delivery of EISS business, including engagement/representation across the FCA at Executive and Board level.  

• Maintain and build on existing relationships with appropriate networks and stakeholders internally and externally.  

• Aligns Departmental direction with the FCA strategy, in particularly fighting financial crime. 

• Deputise on behalf of Director as required. 

• Undertaking Authorising Officer (RIPA) responsibilities for relevant operational activity, exercising formal decision‑making authority in accordance with statutory, policy and governance requirements. This includes providing assurance that activity is necessary, proportionate and legally compliant, and that appropriate safeguards and oversight arrangements are in place. 

Skills/Experience Required   

We’re 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 process. In cases of high application volumes we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role’s key requirements. (To learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme Click Here) 

Minimum   

• Significant experience of 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 to strategically lead investigator training for Enforcement and Market Oversight Division. 

• Demonstrates leadership experience in crisis management, critical thinking and demonstrates the ability 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 achieve high standards through 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 data to 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, businesses and the UK economy.  So, our values matter. They 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 FCA’s 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 9:00am on Monday 29 June 

• Selection will be via a two stage interview alongside assessment with Mercuri Urval 

• You will be required to obtain DV 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. 

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

• To apply please submit your CV and cover letter to the below link via Gatenby Sanderson only. 

The FCA has retained Gatenby Sanderson to look after this role on our behalf.  

The following link will take you to the Gatenby Sanderson website where you will be able to apply

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