Senior Manager - Payments Regulatory Consulting

Senior Manager - Payments Regulatory Consulting

Expertise: Regulatory Advice, FCA Authorisations, Payments & E-Money

Location: Belfast or London, hybrid working

THE ROLE

A leading specialist financial services consultancy is continuing to grow its Payments practice and is looking to appoint an experienced Senior Manager - Payments Regulatory Consulting.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior regulatory professional to join a specialist team advising some of the UK's most innovative and fast-growing financial services businesses.

You will work with payment institutions, electronic money institutions, banks, challenger banks and other regulated financial services businesses, providing practical and commercially focused regulatory advice.

A key focus of the role will be supporting clients through the FCA authorisation process, from initial regulatory assessment and application preparation through to engagement with the FCA and successful authorisation.

Alongside authorisation work, you will advise established regulated businesses on their ongoing regulatory obligations, governance, compliance frameworks and wider regulatory strategy.

The successful candidate will take ownership of senior client relationships, lead complex engagements and play an important role in the continued growth and development of the Payments practice.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Lead a portfolio of advisory and retainer clients, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, timely and commercially focused regulatory advice.
• Lead and advise clients through the FCA authorisation process, including regulatory readiness assessments, application preparation and engagement with the FCA.
• Provide pragmatic regulatory advice to payment institutions, EMIs, banks and other regulated financial services businesses.
• Review and challenge clients' governance, systems and controls against regulatory expectations and industry best practice.
• Support clients in responding to FCA requirements, queries and regulatory engagement.
• Lead complex regulatory projects, overseeing delivery, quality, timelines and client outcomes.
• Develop trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders and become a credible long-term regulatory adviser.
• Identify opportunities to develop existing client relationships and generate new business.
• Contribute to proposals, tenders and wider business development activity.
• Represent the consultancy at relevant industry events, conferences and networking opportunities.
• Contribute to thought leadership through industry insight, presentations, articles and other content.
• Lead, coach and develop junior colleagues, providing technical guidance, mentoring and feedback.
• Contribute to the continued development of the Payments proposition and wider regulatory advisory offering.
• Maintain strong knowledge of developments across UK payments regulation, FCA expectations, legislation and industry best practice.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Join a highly regarded specialist consultancy with a strong reputation across financial services regulation and payments.
• Work with innovative and fast-growing businesses across the UK payments and financial services market.
• Gain exposure to complex and high-value regulatory projects, including FCA authorisations.
• Build senior-level client relationships and develop your own commercial profile.
• Play a key role in the continued growth of an established Payments practice.
• Work alongside experienced regulatory specialists with deep sector expertise.
• Develop your leadership, consulting and business development capabilities.
• Benefit from a flexible hybrid working environment, with the opportunity to work from Belfast or London.
• Access a strong benefits package and dedicated learning and development support.
• Enjoy a collaborative culture with a genuine focus on professional development and work-life balance.

REQUIREMENTS

• 7+ years' experience advising on financial services regulatory compliance, with strong experience across the payments and/or e-money regulatory landscape.
• Proven experience advising payment institutions, EMIs, banks or similar FCA-regulated businesses.
• Strong practical experience supporting clients through FCA authorisation and licensing processes.
• Strong understanding of the FCA regulatory framework and expectations applicable to payments and e-money businesses.
• Proven ability to provide pragmatic, commercially focused solutions to complex regulatory issues.
• Strong client management skills, with experience influencing and advising senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience leading complex regulatory projects and client engagements.
• Evidence of business development activity and developing client relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to make complex regulatory requirements clear and approachable.
• Experience managing, coaching or developing junior colleagues.
• Strong commercial awareness, personal drive and motivation.

DESIRABLE

• Experience within a specialist financial services regulatory consultancy, Big 4 or professional services regulatory team.
• Financial services regulatory legal experience.
• Experience managing retainer-style client relationships and providing ongoing regulatory advice.
• An established network across the UK payments, e-money or wider financial services regulatory market.
• Relevant professional qualifications such as ACAMS, ICA or CISI.

WHO THIS ROLE COULD SUIT

This role could be particularly well suited to an experienced regulatory consultant currently working within a specialist regulatory consultancy or professional services firm.

It could also appeal to a financial services regulatory lawyer who is looking to move away from private practice and build a career within a specialist consulting environment, offering strong client exposure, faster progression and improved work-life balance.

The role is open to candidates across the UK, recognising that the strongest talent within this specialist area may not currently be based in Belfast.