Senior Policy Lawyer NEW

Senior Policy Lawyer

£109,900 + benefits

The mission of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is to serve the public interest by setting high standards of corporate governance, reporting and audit and holding to account those responsible for delivering them. Further information about our role can be found on our website.

The FRC’s Enforcement Division conducts investigations into accountants, actuaries and auditors in respect of their corporate reporting, actuarial and audit obligations, and takes enforcement action when appropriate.  More details about our powers and processes can be found on our website.  

Many of the investigations are large, complex and high-profile.  Our cases regularly require liaison with other investigators including the Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Insolvency Service and the Pensions Regulator.  Examples of our recent case outcomes can be found on our website. 

Job Description

The Role:

To lead a team of specialist policy lawyers as part of a multi-disciplinary Enforcement team dealing with enforcement policy issues in respect of complex investigations and litigation. The role includes:

• Leading a team of lawyers in the development and implementation of policy and strategy for the Enforcement Division’s complex investigations.
• Providing high-quality advice and analysis for the Enforcement Division legal and policy issues.
• Leading workstreams to create, implement and maintain the Enforcement Division’s policies and procedures.
• Drafting advice and guidance on cross-cutting policy issues, in areas of existing and emerging policy on legal issues.
• Engaging with lawyers and policy advisers within the FRC, Government Departments and other agencies on legal and policy matters.
• Preparing and delivering training and presentations to internal stakeholders.
• Instructing specialist counsel to advise on enforcement legal and policy issues of high complexity or risk.
• Understanding and demonstrating best practice in complying with applicable laws, regulations and internal policies for the protection of personal, confidential and/or sensitive data.
• Co-ordinating the Enforcement Division’s relationships with key stakeholders within the FRC and with other regulators and enforcement agencies.
• The role may also include line management of junior lawyers or legal assistants.

The Person:

The successful candidate will be a solicitor or barrister with significant experience of regulatory law, public law, commercial litigation and/or white-collar crime.

In addition to enthusiasm for carrying out work in the public interest, candidates will be expected to demonstrate the following: 

• A strong intellect and good judgement;
• Excellent legal and analytical skills, including the ability to understand technical accounting issues;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with others at all levels within and across teams;
• Experience of managing and driving forward large and complex cases with minimum supervision;  
• Credibility to lead the engagement with senior professionals;
• Determination and self-motivation to pursue matters and make fair and robust legal decisions;
• Ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines;
• Sound financial management and budgeting skills; and
• Ability to coach and develop colleagues as part of case teams or as a line manager.

The role will be based in our Birmingham or London office (although the FRC’s hybrid working policy currently permits 3 days per week remote work).

Please apply by uploading a copy of your CV and covering letter as a single document upload. In the covering letter, please set out, by reference to the person specification above how you meet the required skillset.

Rewards and benefits

• The FRC offers remuneration packages, including 30 days annual leave, ability to buy extra leave.
• Generous employer pension contribution of 10%.
• Staff Employee Assistance Programme including confidential counselling and work life services.
• The FRC offers staff the opportunity to save at least 25% on the purchase of a new bike through the Cycle to work scheme.
• The FRC has a strong work/life balance ethos.
   

The FRC believes that equality of opportunity and diversity is important in the work that we do and we are strongly committed to being an inclusive employer. Our values of being fair and independent supports this commitment. Equal opportunities monitoring is an important means of demonstrating and implementing our commitment to promoting equality of opportunity and diversity. Completing our diversity form will assist the FRC to identify any barriers that prevent access to employment and career development for certain groups of people, and to develop solutions, such as action plans, new policies and practices. The FRC operates a hybrid working arrangement, with a expectation that 40% per month of a person’s working time will be located at one of our offices, with precise arrangements to be agreed between the employee and the line manager

The FRC is a Disability Confident Employer and we welcome applications under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme from disabled people as defined by the Equality Act 2010 that meet the minimum requirements for the role. To learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme see our website.