Non Executive Directorships

NED for Financial Conduct Authority

Location: London

Date Posted: 01/07/2023

Closing Date: 25/07/2023

£35,000 pa 50 days/year

About the role

Introduction

The UK has one of the most open, innovative and dynamic financial services sectors in the world. It is the engine of our economy, a driving force of global markets, and critical to the creation of sustainable growth at home and abroad

The government’s vision is for an open and technologically advanced financial services sector that is globally competitive and acts in the interests of communities and citizens, creating jobs, supporting businesses, and powering growth across all of the UK. A key enabler of this is an approach to financial services regulation that is coherent, agile and internationally respected.

The FCA is a crucial component of the UK’s financial services regulatory architecture. HM Treasury wishes to appoint two Non-Executive Directors to contribute to the important work of the FCA Board. This is an opportunity to take on wide-ranging and intellectually stimulating role at a large, internationally respected and complex organisation.

Introduction from the Chair

Thank you for your interest in the role of Non-Executive Director of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The FCA’s operational objectives are to protect the integrity of the UK financial system, protect consumers from bad conduct and promote effective competition in the interests of consumers. It is at the forefront of ensuring UK financial services operate in an environment where harm is prevented, and positive innovation is supported. We are accountable to Parliament but operate independently, in the public interest.

As the regulator of over 51,000 firms, our actions have a profound effect on people’s daily lives, and directly and continuously shape UK and global financial markets, and the wider economy.

A large operational organisation, our work covers the breadth of financial services in the United Kingdom, from international wholesale banking and market infrastructure to consumer credit and pensions, and includes authorisation, supervision and enforcement activity.

Following enactment of the Financial Services and Markets Bill, the FCA’s responsibilities across retail and wholesale markets will increase substantially.

This will include new powers to enable a significant re-writing of our rule book, including following HM Treasury’s Future Regulatory Framework Review, as well as enhanced accountability measures recognising the significance of those new powers. The FCA will also have a new secondary objective to facilitate international competitiveness and the medium to long-term growth of the UK economy. In short, the FCA is moving into an exciting era where it’s impact on people and society will be even greater

More broadly, the implications of an increasingly digital market, the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, the transition to a low carbon economy, and the evolving demographics of UK consumers are just some examples of why the FCA itself is changing. Our organisation is undergoing a significant transformation programme, designed to make the FCA more innovative, assertive, and adaptive: a data and technology led regulator that runs towards, not away from, complex problems, built on a strong operating platform.

The FCA Board oversees how the organisation operates, holding the executive to account, and is responsible for developing our strategic direction.

This is a demanding role that requires great judgement, integrity, and independence, but offers the opportunity to help bring about lasting, positive change in an essential market. I hope that a diverse range of people with the skills, experience, and sense of public purpose that this role requires will apply. I wish you every success in your application.

Ashley Alder,

FCA Chair

Role description

Key responsibilities of the Board

· Develop the strategic direction of the organisation in pursuit of its statutory objectives

· Scrutinise the performance of the organisation in meeting agreed goals and objectives

· Oversee the delivery of the FCA’s multi-year transformation programme

· Hold the Chief Executive and the executive team to account and provide appropriate challenge

· Demonstrate and uphold the FCA’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

· Ensure that the regulatory powers and responsibilities specifically reserved to the Board by legislation are exercised appropriately

· Ensure appropriate policies are in place to manage risks to the organisation’s operations and the achievement of its strategic objectives

· Debate and take specific decisions which are of such significance as to be required to be taken by the Board

· Maintain a sound system of financial control

· Approve the annual budget of the FCA, the Payment Systems Regulator, the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Key responsibilities of Non-Executive Directors

· Develop, promote and act at all times in the best interests of the FCA

· Develop, monitor, and hold the Chief Executive and executive team to account for the FCA’s performance and strategic direction

· Apply a constructive style in scrutinising and challenging management recommendations at Board level, respecting the boundary between non-executive and executive responsibility

· Apply relevant knowledge and expertise to the Board’s debates and decision making

· Assist in maintaining positive working relationships with the FCA’s key senior stakeholders

More information about the Board and the governance of the FCA can be found in our Corporate Governance Document.

Organisation description

The FCA is an independent regulator with the strategic objective of ensuring that the UK’s financial markets function well. To do this, the FCA regulates the conduct of over 51,000 businesses, and will for many of them also consider whether they meet prudential standards that reduce the potential harm to consumers and industry if they fail.

The FCA’s operational objectives are to:

· protect and enhance the integrity of the UK financial system;

· secure an appropriate degree of protection for consumers; and

· promote effective competition in the interests of consumers.

The FCA works alongside the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Bank of England to regulate financial services in the UK.

The FCA is made up of a number of divisions, including Supervision, Policy and Competition, Enforcement and Market Oversight, Authorisations and Operations, that work together to deliver its objectives.

The FCA Board maintains oversight of the organisation’s operations and holds the FCA Executive to account. The Board comprises Non-Executive Directors and the Chief Executive. It has several committees to which it delegates certain functions and powers, including:

· Audit Committee;

· Risk Committee;

· People Committee;

· Policy and Rules Committee;

· Oversight Committee; and

· Regulatory Decisions Committee.

Further information can be found at the following links:

· About the FCA and our objectives

· Our strategy 2022-25

· Our annual report and accounts 2021-22

· Our business plan 2023-24

Board composition

Ashley Alder – Chair
Liam Coleman – Non-Executive Director
Bernadette Conroy – Non-Executive Director
Sophie Hutcherson – Non-Executive Director
Richard Lloyd OBE – Deputy Chair
Alice Maynard CBE – Non-Executive Director
Nikhil Rathi – Chief Executive
Sam Woods – Ex-Officio Member

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website

Person specification

Essential criteria

· A strategic mindset, excellent judgement, and strong interpersonal and communication skills.

· An appreciation of the role played by financial services regulation in growing the UK economy, enhancing market integrity, and promoting effective outcomes for consumers.

· Experience of governance and/or strategic leadership in a significant, complex, or changing organisation.

Desirable criteria

· Demonstrated relevant and current private sector and commercial experience working within the financial services industry.

· An appreciation of how proportionate and flexible regulation can be shaped to be a driver of growth and competitiveness and/or regulatory approaches in other jurisdictions.

· Digital markets expertise or demonstrated awareness of the interactions between digital markets and financial services.

Apply here

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