Head of Data

Head of Data

The FCA is recruiting an exciting role, Head of Data, to support our ambition be a data-led regulator of the future. Having embarked on our digital transformation in 2020, this role will build on a strong data foundation, and bring our data strategy to the next level, helping the FCA to harness data effectively leading to better regulatory decisions and outcomes across the financial services sector.

With a broad and evolving remit, the FCA’s goal is to be a world leader in data-driven financial regulation, leveraging technology and data to provide improved firm data collection services alongside a wide range of data sources to deliver business intelligence.

Our ambitious data and technology programmes are designed to enhance our ability to regulate UK financial services firms, detect misconduct, and drive better market outcomes. As Head of Data, reporting to the Director of Intelligence and Digital, you will play a pivotal role in leading and maximising the FCA’s use of economic, firm, and market data. You will be accountable for delivering high-profile, complex, and strategically significant initiatives that have data at their core—spanning technology, policy, regulatory transformation, and enterprise data capabilities.

This role sits within the Data, Technology, and Innovation Division led by Jessica Rusu the Chief Data, Information and Intelligence Officer, and resides in the Intelligence and Digital Directorate, a specialised team combining Innovation, Data, Digital, Intelligence, and Advanced Analytics to deliver a fast-moving, agile, and high-impact environment at the forefront of shaping the FCA’s regulatory future. You will work partner across the DTI division Technology and Product Development teams, and across the FCA,  as well as externally with regulated firms, academia, government, and technology leaders to drive our data-led regulatory vision.

As Head of Department, you will have a unique opportunity to:

• Shape the FCA in our data-led practices and priorities, ensuring that data is at the heart of regulatory decision-making

• Lead and inspire a diverse and talented team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence

• Work with cutting edge technology, in a cloud environment, leveraging AI and a suite of digital tools

• Develop innovative, impactful solutions that enhance the way we regulate financial services

• Influence strategic priorities, embedding data-driven approaches across the FCA and shaping the future of financial regulation

• Be a thought leader in data, with visible public speaking engagements to support the FCA's Strategy

This is a high-impact leadership role—ideal for an experienced data-driven leader who thrives on tackling complex challenges, driving innovation, and making a tangible impact on the future of financial regulation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Data Function – Provide strategic leadership for data capabilities across the organisation, ensuring alignment with our regulatory objectives.

• Drive Data-Led Regulation – Develop and implement innovative data strategies that enhance our ability to regulate effectively and efficiently.

• Build and Lead a High-Performing Team – Inspire, develop, and manage a team of data specialists, ensuring they have the skills and support to excel.

• Shape Policy and Strategy – Influence the organisation’s approach to data governance, analytics, and technology adoption.

• Collaborate Across the Organisation – Work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure our data capabilities are integrated into key regulatory processes and decision-making.

• Partnership with Organisational Capability on effective implementation and positioning of the Data Skills Programme for our workforce.

• Build Trust in Data by ensuring Data Integrity and Governance – Oversee the management of data quality, governance, and ethical use of data in regulatory activities.

• Champion Innovation and Best Practices – Stay ahead of emerging trends in data, AI, and analytics, ensuring the organisation remains at the cutting edge of data-led regulation.

About You

We are looking for a strategic and agile leader with a deep understanding of how data can drive regulatory outcomes. The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven leadership experience in a data, analytics, ideally within financial services

• Strong regulatory knowledge and the ability to translate complex data insights into actionable regulatory decisions.

• A track record of building and leading high-performing teams.

• Deep expertise in data management, analytics, and governance.

• Excellent stakeholder management and the ability to work cross-functionally to deliver complex projects

• Comfort with public speaking, high-impact communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior leaders

• A passion for innovation and continuous improvement in the use of data

What will the candidate get from the role?

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead transformational change in an organisation at the heart of the UK financial services industry. As Head of Data, you will drive high-impact initiatives, shape the FCA’s data-led regulatory future, and lead talented operational teams in a fast-moving and strategically critical environment.

You’ll join the DTI senior leadership team at a pivotal time, contributing to the FCA’s strategy to become a data-driven, technology-enabled regulator. This role offers unparalleled exposure to a broad range of regulatory and technological challenges, along with the opportunity to shape strategy at the highest levels. You’ll be a key voice in the FCA’s senior leadership team, influencing policy, innovation, and the future of financial regulation.

This is more than just a leadership role—it’s a chance to make a lasting impact on the financial services sector, drive meaningful change, and lead in a forward-thinking, data-first organisation.

Skills/Experience required

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 candidate’s CV.

Minimum

• The Head of Data needs to have a broad understanding of the full range of strategic data capabilities, and the ability to communicate these concepts, methods and techniques in ways easily understood by other stakeholders

• Proven ability to set strategic vision based on a user-centred ethos, alongside the operational excellence to lead delivery of multiple programmes and diverse large teams in complex, ambiguous and fast paced, data-rich environment, with experience gained in either the public and/or commercial sector

• Deep data knowledge and expertise encompassing advanced data analytics, the supporting cloud infrastructure, automation, AI and application technologies, and how they can be used for transformative benefit

• Role model strong leadership behaviours in line with the FCA values and capabilities, embedding the Mission and delivering organisational priorities.

Essential

• Demonstrated knowledge of information systems/tools, related software and data management, enterprise content management, and record-keeping policies and practices in a complex organisational environment

• Proven track record of business process transformation, including the ability to understand how data can help redesign the way work is done and track how impactful the changes are.

• Proven track record of successful deliver in mature Lean, Agile, Cloud Native, DevOps and Product led technology organisations

• Demonstrated ability to lead large programmes of work with multiple functional and technical capabilities

• Strong record of working in complex data and technology architectures, in multi-supplier systems integration functions

• Analytical and numerically agile with natural ability, enthusiasm and passion to break down complex data sets and find the intelligence insights to enable better informed business decision making. Standardising processes and technology releases in a controlled manner

• Breadth of data and technology exposure and evidence of having exploited new and emerging technologies in response to business need/opportunity;

• Management of a multi-location team. Coaching, supporting and developing the whole team as we drive to increase high performance across the FCA

• Experience of leading numbers high value software development projects in complex, data rich environments and managing their successful transition into Live environments and/or Continuous Delivery value streams, whilst meeting all service delivery standards

• Mixture of strong business acumen, understanding of data, information and intelligence and project delivery skills

• Experience of using data to drive digital transformation in acute business environments

• Resilience and intellectual curiosity, ability to align activity to business objectives and thrive in a constantly changing environment

• Inspiring and coherent leadership style, ability to engage and win the cooperation and support of multiple internal and external parties to achieve common goals. Able and willing developer of others, able to build the skills required within blended teams to deliver required outcomes

• Sophisticated approach to commercial management within the context of technology change, able to establish and maximise effective working relationships with external partners to stimulate innovation and guarantee successful delivery whilst delivering value for money from investment.

Desirable

• Understanding of the regulatory, and political, environment in which the FCA operates

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​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. We serve the public and our decisions directly affect the wellbeing of people, businesses and the UK economy.  So our values matter.  They represent the culture we aspire to every day, guiding our judgements, building trust and helping us to be ‘At our best’. 

All FCA colleagues are expected to demonstrate behaviours in line with our five values – Deliver in the public interest, Act with integrity, Be ambitious, Work inclusively and Connect and deliver. These are embedded in all roles, and through the selection process we check for alignment to our values. For more detail on our values and core skills, please see here.

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

Application Support 

We want to remove any possible barriers and are committed to providing a wide range of reasonable adjustments so that you can keep the focus on your conversations and be at your best.  

If you have an accessibility requirement, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter to discuss this further. Our aim is to make you application as easy as possible, and your recruiter will be happy to work with you to make any necessary arrangements where possible. 

Benefits

Our competitive benefits scheme gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifecycle. You can this this allowance to purchase additional benefits such as dental or cycle to work, or you have the option to top up your base salary by taking this as cash. 

Core benefits that you will receive as standard are: 

• 30 days holiday per year plus bank holidays  

• Private healthcare with Bupa 

• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8% of basic salary each month (there are several contribution levels that increase depending on your age- up to 12% a month once you reach age 35) 

• Life assurance of eight times your basic salary 

• Income protection 

Conflicts of interest  

All applicants to the FCA are required to demonstrate that they do not have other interests likely to conflict with their responsibilities as an employee of the FCA. You should declare any potential conflict of interest as early as possible in the selection process, and also disclose information or personal connections that, if appointed, might be open to misperception.   

Any potential conflicts of interest will not prevent candidates going forward to interview but may, if appropriate, be explored during the interview to establish how the candidate would address the issue(s) should they be successful in their application.   

Useful information  

• The closing date for this role is 23:55 on 21 April 2025. 

• Selection will be via a two-stage interview and psychometric assessment   

• If successful, you will be required to obtain and retain SC Clearance.   

• This role is based at our office Stratford, London. We operate a hybrid working policy with an expectation that senior leaders spend a minimum of 50% of their working time each month in the office.  

• The salary range for the role is £140,000 - £180,000

TO APPLY

The FCA has retained Gatenby Sanderson to advise on this appointment.

Please apply by submitting your CV and cover letter via this link where you can find further details about the position https://gatenbysanderson-fca.co.uk/

For a confidential discussion about the role or to find out more about the application process, please contact recruitment advisers at GatenbySanderson who will be delighted to speak with you:

Email: FCAData@gatenbysanderson.com

Contact: Katherine O’Donnell – 07570 654 500

Contact:  Sarah Luxford – 07812 150 386

For application queries, contact Toria Lorman-Connolly on 0113 205 6062 or Toria.Lorman-Connolly@gatenbysanderson.com