Lead economist

Financial Conduct Authority

Regulating financial services firms and financial markets in the UK, https://www.fca.org.uk/careers

Role Overview

Economics is at the heart of the FCA’s work. Economic insight underpins our regulatory decisions and shapes how we respond to some of the most complex challenges across financial services.

We are seeking a permanent Lead Associate to join our Economics Division. The team plays a key role in supporting policy development through in-depth economic advice, thorough assessment and constructive challenge across both wholesale and retail markets. Our work spans market failure assessment and cost‑benefit evaluation, alongside overseeing and commissioning high‑quality research to improve policy.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled individual to contribute to the FCA’s work on critical issues in wholesale financial markets, including capital markets, and to help shape fair, effective and competitive markets.

Role Responsibilities

• Using your economic knowledge and experience, you will play a central role in delivering high‑quality policy advice and analysis across a range of live policy issues, with a particular focus on wholesale markets, including capital markets.
• Deliver the economic input into policy development, working across a varied portfolio of projects, producing careful analysis to tight deadlines where needed and undertaking more in‑depth, longer‑term research to support complex policy questions.
• As a Lead Economist, manage multiple workstreams, including the design and management of projects and leading cost‑benefit analysis for proposed policy interventions, ensuring outputs are robust and credible.
• Support and develop more junior colleagues through line management and day‑to‑day work oversight; help set direction, provide guidance and promote a culture of balanced work and continuous professional development.
• Work closely with the team manager to plan, prioritise and allocate work effectively across the team and act as an escalation point for complex or high‑profile issues.

Location

• London
• Edinburgh
• Leeds

Contract type

• Full time, Permanent

Profession

• Analysis
• Economics
• Financial Services
• Policy

Working pattern

• Flexible working, Hybrid

Closing Date

15/06/2026