Lead Economist

Lead Economist - Lead Associate - Regulatory
Department: Policy Analysis - Markets
Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) £60,700-£75,600; London £66,600-£83,100 (based on skills and experience)

Overview

The FCA regulates financial services firms in the UK to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. Economics is at the heart of the FCA's work, providing insight that underpins regulatory decisions and shapes responses to complex challenges across financial services.

Role Responsibilities

• Deliver high quality policy advice and analysis across a range of live policy issues with a focus on wholesale markets, including capital markets.
• Produce careful analysis to tight deadlines and conduct longer term research to support complex policy questions.
• Manage multiple workstreams, including the design, management and delivery of projects.
• Lead cost benefit analysis for proposed policy interventions, ensuring outputs are robust and credible.
• Provide line management and day to day oversight to junior colleagues, supporting their development.
• Set direction, promote a balanced work culture, and deliver continuous professional development.
• Work closely with the team manager to plan, prioritise and allocate work and act as an escalation point for complex or high profile matters.

Skills Required

• Graduate level or higher degree in economics or a closely related field, supplemented by relevant professional experience.
• Solid knowledge of wholesale financial markets through professional experience or academic study.
• Experience delivering cost benefit analysis in a high volume or policy driven environment.
• Demonstrated experience providing high quality economic advice on regulatory and/or public policy issues.
• Extensive experience conducting and delivering robust economic policy analysis.
• Comfortable working in ambiguous environments, identifying key policy questions, structuring complex problems, prioritising analytical work and generating clear, actionable insights.
• Well developed stakeholder management skills, building and maintaining trust based relationships with internal colleagues and external partners.
• Effective communication skills, translating complex technical concepts into accessible messages for non technical audiences.
• Experience leading complex analytical projects, including planning, prioritising and coordinating team activities.
• Ability to perform effectively in high pressure environments while maintaining quality and pace.
• Commitment to continuous learning and self awareness, building supportive networks and resilience.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• 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.
• Hybrid model: minimum 40% office attendance per month, with increasing expectations for senior roles.
• Flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyle.

Disability Inclusive

The FCA is a Disability Confident Employer. Applicants with disabilities or long term conditions who meet the minimum criteria will progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.