Head of Department (x2 roles), Wholesale and Unauthorised Business Investigations

About this role

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.

Background

We are looking to appoint two additional Heads of Department to help lead our Wholesale and Unauthorised Business Investigations (WUBI) directorate, joining the leadership team which is made up of two other Heads of Departments (HoDs) and the Director. Our efforts help to fight financial crime, disrupt harm, protect the interests of consumers, and ensure that markets work well and operate with integrity.

WUBI conducts forensic investigations into regulatory breaches and criminal offences by firms and individuals operating in the wholesale arena, as well as those carrying on regulated activities without authorisation, in breach of the general prohibition. Typical WUBI cases include insider dealing, market manipulation, individual misconduct, fraud and scams, and organised crime activity linked to the financial services sector. The portfolio includes regulatory and criminal operations, civil proceedings and the FCA’s Proceeds of Crime team sits within WUBI.

By working across the FCA and with domestic and international regulators and law enforcement, WUBI helps ensure a coordinated and effective response to threats facing UK markets and consumers, and disrupting criminal activity.

The Role

Reporting to the Director of WUBI, the Heads of Department ( HoDs) will be responsible for the development and delivery of the Enforcement strategy, in particular through ensuring investigations are delivered to a high standard. They will also play a key role in driving forward the FCA’s strategic work to fight financial crime and disrupt harm.

The appointed candidates will be part of the Division’s senior leadership team and will take an active role supporting and challenging others to deliver the full range of the Division’s responsibilities (which also include Market Oversight and Intelligence). The candidates will be innovative, forward-thinking leaders who look across organisational boundaries, join up our work and drive forward the outcomes that matter most.

Key responsibilities

• Working with other Enforcement HoDs as part of a team to support the Director of WUBI in the delivery of the FCA’s work.
• Setting the strategic direction of the department (and with other senior management contributing to the strategic direction of the Division).
• Leading and inspiring a diverse, multi-disciplinary team of investigators.
• Promoting a culture of high performance, relying on coaching, influencing, and negotiating skills with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Active management of a complex portfolio of investigations across WUBI to tight timeframes and which result in criminal, regulatory and civil action. Demonstrating clear operational grip and ensuring cases are delivered fairly, effectively and efficiently
• Collaborating across organisational boundaries to disrupt harm as early as possible, especially in relation to financial crime.
• Being accountable for divisional budget and resource management decisions as part of the senior divisional leadership team.

What will the candidates get from the role?

The successful candidates will

• join the FCA’s senior leadership team at an exciting period of change for financial services and its regulation.
• lead a department of talented and experienced people, working collaboratively on significant projects and programmes
• get exposure to a broad range of issues and will contribute to the leadership team of both Enforcement and Market Oversight and the FCA, helping to shape and influence the organisation’s strategy.

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

• Sound technical understanding of the regulatory framework in the UK and the FCA's place within it, with knowledge of the FCA’s powers and policies in relation to investigation and enforcement activity including criminal investigations and prosecutions.
• Significant people management and leadership experience, with a demonstrated ability to guide, motivate, and inspire large teams, while addressing performance concerns to build high performing teams.
• Extensive experience leading and overseeing complex investigations, with demonstrated clear operational grip
• Senior stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing internally & externally, and working across organisational boundaries to deliver cross-organisation projects.
• Ability to develop and implement change and process efficiency/improvements, delivering value for money and innovation

Essential

• A clear track record of leading teams to deliver results against business priorities.
• A developed understanding of the regulatory and political environment in which the FCA operates, and an ability to build in-depth knowledge in this area.
• Ability to manage demanding situations, robustness in the face of challenge and able to make practical and balanced decisions quickly.
• Proficiency in maintaining strong working relationships across different business areas and to set joint goals for delivery.
• Negotiation and influencing skills – to deploy internally and externally.
• Ability to work as part of a senior leadership team with a wide range of responsibilities, supporting colleagues and the Director in the delivery of their work.
• Understanding how intelligence supports efforts to prevent and respond to criminal activity.
• Budget management and experience of managing external resources.

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.

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