Associate - level 8 - Retail & Regulatory Investigations

Associate Lawyer – Enforcement & Market Oversight Division, Retail & Regulatory Investigations Do you want to help ensure that consumers that have been the victims of scams get their money back or prosecute a bank for money laundering failures? If so, take a look at these links and read on to see how you can join the FCA’s Enforcement team to work on such cases: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/barclays-fined-agrees-voluntary-payment-premierfx-customers https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/natwest-fined-264.8million-anti-money-laundering-failures Background We have a number of permanent roles for Associate Lawyers in our Retail and Regulatory Investigations Directorate (RRI). In this role, you will have responsibility for investigating and taking action against serious misconduct by regulated financial services firms and their management. This ranges from conducting investigative interviews, gathering and analysing evidence for contentious regulatory and criminal proceedings. You will gain experience of leading investigations and also work as part of larger, multi-disciplinary teams. Investigation teams have a mixture of criminal, civil and regulatory investigations and teams are likely to have a broad-ranging portfolio. Cases involve a wide range of issues including mis-selling of financial products to consumers, financial crime systems and controls and corporate governance failings. Examples of recent case outcomes include corruption in the consumer credit market, pensions transfers misconduct, prohibition of unfit individuals and money laundering systems and controls failings. Candidates should have a background in any relevant discipline, including commercial/civil/banking litigation, criminal/fraud investigations, internal or regulatory investigations, as well as commercial disputes and litigation.
What does this job involve? Within investigation teams, Associates are involved at every stage of the investigation process, which includes:

• Taking on differing degrees of responsibility for cases depending on their nature and complexity. This could range from running smaller cases with operational oversight, to working as part of a wider team on larger more complex cases.
• Progressing a portfolio of demanding investigations often with competing deadlines. Obtaining evidence through the use of appropriate tools and powers.
• Providing specialist legal advice to investigation teams on matters relating to, for example, limitation and jurisdiction.
• Drafting all forms of documents (including witness statements, the statutory notices, settlement papers, papers before the Regulatory Decision Committee and case update papers) and correspondence with subjects, their legal representatives and witnesses.
• Leading challenging interviews of subjects and witnesses using compulsory powers, on a voluntary basis and under caution and recommending on when each format is appropriate.
• Leading meetings with external legal advisors, which will often be challenging and require the use of sound legal and factual analysis.
• Exploring detailed evidence and making recommendations.
• Preparing for, and presenting cases at, internal case committees when required.
• Building and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues in other areas within the FCA and with external bodies.
• Overseeing the work of others where required and escalating issues as necessary.
• Training and coaching staff when required.

What will the candidate get from the role?

• An opportunity to work on unique high-profile cases of public importance investigating and tackling the most serious financial services matters.
• A challenging and varied portfolio of work that directly protects consumers and furthers the FCA’s objectives.
• A chance to develop and enhance your legal abilities and knowledge through exposure to novel problems and the opportunity to use your legal professional skills in complex situations.
• A challenging, interesting and diverse portfolio of work, working with colleagues with varied skills from across Enforcement and in other parts of the FCA.
• The ability to use powers creatively and innovatively to address a variety of risks.
• The opportunity to change behaviour within the financial services industry for the benefit of consumers and the market.
• Regular direct contact with senior management from across the organisation.
• As an Academy business we place great value on learning and at the FCA we offer world-class development opportunities which will assist you in achieving your career aspirations.

About you Minimum
We're a signatory to the Government's Disability Confident scheme. This means that we guarantee an interview to any disabled candidates entering under the scheme, should they meet the minimum criteria for a role. A minimum criterion needs to be measurable from reviewing a candidates CV. To perform at our best, we create multi-disciplinary teams and we are recruiting for candidates from a range of backgrounds. We are currently looking for candidates who have the following experience:

• You are a qualified lawyer, with a valid practising certificate issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for England and Wales (if a solicitor), or the General Council of the Bar for England and Wales (if a barrister) (or a similar internationally recognised qualification).
• Post qualification experience in any of the following areas: contentious financial services or other regulatory investigations or proceedings; financial markets; investigations involving serious fraud or other complex financial crime; complex litigation or disputes.
• Experience of analysing large amounts of information, drawing out key findings and producing formal written reports including making recommendations.
• Experience of making oral and written presentations
• Experience of managing and progressing a challenging and varied caseload.

Essential

• Ability to analyse complex evidence to make legal judgements.
• Ability to apply sound principled legal and evidential analysis to novel situations.
• Ability to form a view on the appropriate legal action, what further evidence may be required/available and how it might be obtained.
• Strong communication skills in order to present the outcome of that analysis clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.
• Ability to make timely decisions based on relevant analysis, exercising judgement on the evidence and being able to defend those judgements where appropriate.
• Ability to assist the investigation team in focusing the scope of an investigation and developing a case strategy, including identifying key risks and suggesting steps to mitigate those risks.
• Experience of, or demonstrable ability to, conduct interviews and/or take witness statements.
• Ability to draft a wide range of documents and correspondence.
• Strong relationship management skills to build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues in other business units and with external bodies.
• Possesses ability to thrive in a varied multi-project caseload, maintaining appropriate progress across a portfolio of projects and workstreams.
• Works collaboratively as part of a team, valuing different perspectives and backgrounds, and working with other departments and divisions collaboratively.

Desirable

• Familiarity with the responsibilities of, and practices of, the FCA and Enforcement.
• Experience of challenging investigations with another regulator or enforcement agency.
• Experience in financial services investigations involving the FCA.

About us At the FCA, we are creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We are establishing more transparent relationships between financial services providers and their customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers. The FCA's Values & Diversity Our ambition is to create a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the society we serve, helping us to be a better regulator.

As an inclusive employer, we are open to considering flexible working arrangements. Please contact our recruiter if you wish to apply for this role on a flexible basis. Useful Information:

• This role is graded Practising Legal – Associate Level 8
• The salary range will be approximately £42,000 to £64,000 plus a competitive benefits package and non-contributory pension.
• Applications for this role close on 15th February 2023.
• Please provide your CV. Please ensure that your CV clearly describes your experience and/or ability to meet the criteria set out above.

If you are interested in learning more about the role: For internal applications, contact Michael Wood, Michael.Wood@fca.org.uk. For external applications, contact Michael Wood, Michael.Wood@fca.org.uk. Please note, applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted.
We’re a signatory to the Disability Confident scheme. This means that we will offer an interview to disabled candidates entering under the scheme, should they meet the minimum criteria for a role. A minimum criterion needs to be measurable when reviewing a candidate’s CV. Exceptions may apply if due to the volume of applications we are not able to interview all eligible candidates who qualify under the scheme.