Senior Trading Policy Associate

Job Title: Senior Trading Policy Associate
Division: Supervision, Policy & Competition (SPC)
Department: Infrastructure & Exchanges (I&E)

• Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £53,800 to £62,000 and London £59,200 to £69,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience) 

• This role is graded as: Senior Associate – Regulatory

• Your recruitment contact is Steve Christopher via [email protected]. Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted. 

About the FCA and team

We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. By joining us, you’ll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth and shaping the future of UK finance services.   

SPC oversees 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 Infrastructure & Exchanges directorate, the MI Trading Venues & Corporate Finance Firms Department oversees key market infrastructure and around 440 corporate finance firms, while shaping trading venue policy to support fair, orderly and transparent markets across asset classes.

 
Role responsibilities 

• Develop targeted policy initiatives that improve the UK’s wholesale financial markets, building deep expertise that supports long-term career growth

• Shape end‑to‑end policy reforms by drafting consultation documents and public statements that guide market behaviour and support fair outcomes

• Partner closely with internal teams and external stakeholders including senior FCA leaders and advisory committees to co-create reforms that shape the wider financial ecosystem

• Identify emerging risks in trading and conduct, contributing to a safer and more resilient market for millions of UK consumers

• Horizon scan wholesale markets, analysing quantitative insights to inform policy design and ensure the FCA stays ahead of evolving trends

• Provide clear, accessible policy advice and briefing materials that help colleagues deliver key regulatory priorities

• Offer ongoing policy support to supervisory teams, helping them engage effectively with trading venues and firms to reinforce market integrity

Skills required 

Minimum: 

• Prior experience within financial services regulation or a related sector, with an understanding of regulatory frameworks and market dynamics

• Proven experience delivering complex projects or initiatives, effectively managing multiple stakeholders and navigating challenging environments to achieve successful outcomes

• Demonstrable experience producing clear, well structured written and verbal communication, including the ability to translate complex issues into concise messages and present effectively to diverse audiences

Essential:  

• Experience addressing complex policy issues within regulated industries

• Strong understanding of UK and EU regulatory frameworks and how to navigate them effectively

• Ability to analyse large volumes of complex information, identify key themes and develop clear, actionable strategies

• Confidence in sourcing, interpreting and working with data to build insight and support policy development

• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, with the ability to build constructive relationships at all levels, including senior leaders and other regulators

• Ability to plan and prioritise tasks, exercise sound judgement and escalate issues

• A motivated, inquisitive mindset with a commitment to delivering outcomes that serve the public interest

Benefits 

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays 

• Hybrid model where employees work a minimum of 40% in the office each month (expectation of 50% for senior leaders). Changing from September to a minimum of 50% in the office each month (expectation of 60% for Directors and Executive Directors

• Non-contributory pension (8–12% depending on age) and life assurance at eight times your salary 

• Private healthcare with Bupa, income protection and 24/7 Employee Assistance 

• 35 hours of paid volunteering annually 

• A flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyle 

For a full list of our benefits and our recruitment process as a whole visit our benefits page. 

Our values and culture

Our colleagues are the key to our success as a regulator. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture: one that’s free from discrimination and bias, celebrates difference and supports colleagues to deliver at their best. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation and delivers better regulation. 

 
If you require any adjustments due to a disability or condition, your recruiter is here to help - reach out for tailored support. 

 
We welcome diverse working styles and aim to find flexible solutions that suit both the role and individual needs, including options like part-time and job sharing where applicable. 
 

Disability confident: our hiring approach 
 
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. 
 

Useful information and timelines 

Timeline:  

• Job advert close: 21st April 2026 at Midnight  

• CV Review/Shortlist: 23rd April 2026

• Interviews: w/c 4th May 2026

• Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.