Head of Controls, Capabilities and Frameworks Directorate

Head of Department – Controls, Capabilities and Frameworks Directorate

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.

The Role

We’re looking for a talented and influential permanent Head of Department to play a key leadership role as we transform into a more innovative, adaptive and assertive regulator.

The Controls, Capabilities and Frameworks Directorate (CCF) is at the heart of the Supervision, Policy and Competition Division (SPC). CCF drives excellence within the operational frameworks of SPC, the FCA’s largest front-line operational division. We also act as the single point of contact for central FCA functions. By doing this, we enable our 3 Executive Directors, 13 Directors and more than 1300 colleagues work consistently and efficiently to deliver the FCA’s strategic outcomes and regulatory obligations.

In particular, CCF acts as custodians of our operational frameworks, the capabilities, assurance and risk management activities required to ensure these are working effectively, and the operational grip (resources, finances, technology) of the whole SPC Division working in collaboration with central functions and front-line areas.

This role reports to the Director of Controls, Capabilities & Framework and is a key role within our broader senior leadership team.

What will the candidate get from the role?

• Joining the Senior Leadership Team at the FCA during an exciting and challenging time of great change in financial services and its regulation
• Leading a department of talented and committed people through significant projects whilst also delivering on business-as-usual objectives
• Exposure to strategic issues and key players in the world of finance, both nationally and internationally
• Gain insights into how a world class regulator uses innovation and great change management to drive operational excellence and efficiency in partnership with others
• Deepen your knowledge about how the FCA’s front line business divisions interface with key central operational and technology functions to deliver – in partnership – business requirements
• The chance to develop and broaden your networks across the FCA and advise the Executive Committee and the FCA Board on the evolution of business-led ownership

Key responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction for ongoing improvement of processes and controls within Supervision, Policy and Competition (SPC) in the FCA. Work alongside the CCF Director, SPC Directorates and FCA operations colleagues to deliver operational excellence and embed strategic business outcomes across…