Head of Department; x2 Wholesale and Unauthorised Business Investigations

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.

We are looking to appoint two additional Heads of Department to help lead our Wholesale and Unauthorised Business Investigations (WUBI) directorate, joining the leadership team which is made up of two other Heads of Departments (HoDs) and the Director. Our efforts help to fight financial crime, disrupt harm, protect the interests of consumers, and ensure that markets work well and operate with integrity.

WUBI conducts forensic investigations into regulatory breaches and criminal offences by firms and individuals operating in the wholesale arena, as well as those carrying on regulated activities without authorisation, in breach of the general prohibition. Typical WUBI cases include insider dealing, market manipulation, individual misconduct, fraud and scams, and organised crime activity linked to the financial services sector. The portfolio includes regulatory and criminal operations, civil proceedings and the FCA’s Proceeds of Crime team sits within WUBI.

By working across the FCA and with domestic and international regulators and law enforcement, WUBI helps ensure a coordinated and effective response to threats facing UK markets and consumers, and disrupting criminal activity.

Reporting to the Director of WUBI, the Heads of Department (HoDs) will be responsible for the development and delivery of the Enforcement strategy, in particular through ensuring investigations are delivered to a high standard. They will also play a key role in driving forward the FCA’s strategic work to fight financial crime and disrupt harm. The appointed candidates will be part of the Division’s senior leadership team and will take an active role supporting and challenging others to deliver the full range of the Division’s responsibilities (which also include Market Oversight and Intelligence).

The candidates will be innovative, forward-thinking leaders who look across organisational boundaries, join up our work and drive forward the outcomes that matter most.

• Working with other Enforcement HoDs as part of a team to support the Director of WUBI in the delivery of the FCA’s work.
• Setting the strategic direction of the department (and with other senior management contributing to the strategic direction of the Division).
• Leading and inspiring a diverse, multi-disciplinary team of investigators.
• Promoting a culture of high performance, relying on coaching, influencing, and negotiating skills with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Acti…