Policy Advisor

Job title: Policy Advisor Division: PSR Department: Policy Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £43,100 to £53,700 and London from £47,300 to £59,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience) This role is graded as: Associate - Level 8 - Regulatory Your recruitment contact is Cameron Nunn via Cameron.Nunn@fca.org.uk. Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted. About the PSR and team The PSR is an independent economic regulator led by Managing Director, David Geale – who is also Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Executive Director, Payments and Digital Finance. The PSR is a subsidiary of the FCA. In March 2025 the Prime Minister announced that the PSR would be consolidated into the FCA, a pragmatic next step in simplifying regulation of payments. The Government has been clear that payment systems must continue to be effectively regulated - see the Government’s consultation (which was published in September 2025) - and so the PSR is continuing to focus on delivering its important and impactful programme of work, collaborating closely with the FCA. The transition is taking place in phases, with some teams already moving to the FCA where they continue to support PSR activity. The policy department you are applying to join will ultimately move into the FCA – either when the new legislation takes effect or before. Candidates should be aware, therefore, that there may be changes to their responsibilities as consolidation into the FCA progresses. The policy team drives delivery of our strategy, providing you with an exciting opportunity to work on different aspects of policy development and analysis, project delivery and stakeholder engagement. We publish our annual Plan and Budget which sets out our work programme in detail. The policy project you will be involved in focuses on realising the opportunities of open banking in the UK, including through unlocking the full potential of Variable Recurring Payments. This will give consumers and businesses more choice and control over how they pay and get paid. Role responsibilities Contribute to delivering policy projects and analytical work, both when managing your own workload and collaboratively, ensuring decisions are grounded in robust evidence and contribute meaningfully to high-quality regulatory outcomes Work within multi-disciplinary project teams, building strong relationships with colleagues in policy, economics, legal and communications, so that diverse expertise is brought together to produce well-rounded, high-impact work Engage professionally with a wide range of stakeholders, including firms, government bodies, regulators and consumer groups, to gather vital insights, test policy options and clearly communicate our approach, ensuring well-informed and transparent policymaking Conduct thorough policy analysis, using data and evidence to shape recommendations, so that our work is both credible and aligned with the needs of consumers and the wider market Draft clear, concise briefings that explain complex issues, often to demanding deadlines, enabling project teams and senior PSR leaders to make timely, well-informed decisions that strengthen our policy direction Skills required Minimum: Experience of working in a policy or regulatory environment Experience of project delivery – including ability to plan and work to deadlines, and understand risks and opportunities Essential: Prior working experience a policy or regulatory environment role and familiarity with the policy development cycle Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to distil complex issues into succinct messages and present confidently to a variety of internal and external stakeholders Strong relationship and influencing skills and an ability to work with other team members and experts, internally and externally Excellent prioritisation skills with the ability to define priorities and provide high quality contributions where it is most needed An ability to exercise judgement in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, including economists, lawyers, payment specialists and other policy advisors An ability to take into account potentially conflicting views without losing sight of overall strategic aims and objectives 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 & 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 timeline Advert Closing: Tuesday 10th March CV Review/Shortlist: Thursday 12th March Interviews: W/C 23rd March 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. At the FCA, we’re creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We’re establishing more transparent relationships between financial services and their customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers. Click here to learn more about the FCA.