Full-Time
Payment Services Compliance Specialist
Supervision, Policy & Competition
Updated on 8/19/2026
Financial Conduct Authority
5,001-10,000 employees
Regulates financial firms to protect consumers
Compensation Overview
£74.9k - £95k/yr
London, UK + 2 more
More locations: Edinburgh, UK | Leeds, UK
Hybrid
At least 50% of working time must be spent in the office each month.
 Legal & Compliance (1) |
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- Prior experience applying or advising on UK payment services and/or e-money regulatory requirements within a senior regulatory, legal, or compliance environment.
- Demonstrable experience of judgement-based decision making, with in-depth knowledge of prudential regulation, safeguarding of customer funds and/or operational resilience.
- Prior experience leading, coaching, mentoring and supporting the development of less experienced team members.
- Advanced analytical skills with the ability to rapidly assess complex information and identify key implications and insights.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex issues clearly and effectively.
- Deep understanding of the payments sector, including business models, regulatory frameworks and market dynamics, coupled with the ability to quickly acquire new knowledge where required.
- Demonstrated ability to build credibility and engage effectively with senior stakeholders, including regulatory bodies and government institutions.
- Ability to work effectively with a high degree of autonomy, managing priorities and delivering outcomes with minimal supervision.
- Sound judgement and a risk-based approach to decision-making, with the ability to make timely, well-reasoned decisions and clearly articulate the rationale.
- Proficiency in working with both centralised and local data sources to develop reports, generate insights and support evidence-based decision-making.
- Apply experience to help shape FCA payments supervision, protect consumers and build confidence in the UK payments sector.
- Provide specialist insight on firm cases, cross-sector initiatives and emerging risks, supporting balanced and effective regulatory outcomes.
- Shape the FCA’s approach to payments by translating market and policy developments into practical supervisory action.
- Lead on key supervisory priorities, including safeguarding and financial crime, and build trusted relationships across the organisation.
- Represent the FCA with senior external stakeholders and help shape discussions on the future of payments regulation.
- Share knowledge, coach colleagues and build capability across the department, contributing to collaborative learning and continuous improvement.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) oversees the conduct of about 60,000 financial businesses to ensure financial markets work well and that consumers get a fair deal. It does this by setting rules, supervising firms, and enforcing standards to protect consumers, maintain the integrity of the UK financial system, and promote effective competition in the interests of consumers. It is independent and funded by the firms it regulates, with accountability to the Treasury and Parliament. Its goal is a competitive, trustworthy financial market where consumers have access to products that meet their needs and from firms they can trust.
Company Size
5,001-10,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Founded
2013
Get referred to Financial Conduct Authority
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- On July 31, 2026, FCA promised an equity tape within 18 months.
- The July 27, 2026 car-finance campaign drives complaints through free templates, not claims firms.
- Reuters reported August 14, 2026 bans and fines on Blue Horizon executives.
What critics are saying
- Motor finance redress faces Upper Tribunal hearings in December 2026 or February 2027.
- A failed motor finance scheme would weaken FCA credibility with Parliament and regulated firms.
- If London stalls on tokenized gold, Hong Kong's live framework takes institutional flows.
What makes Financial Conduct Authority unique
- The FCA regulates 60,000 firms, pairing conduct supervision with policy-making and enforcement.
- Its August 2026 attachés in Mumbai and Abu Dhabi extend direct international market access.
- The Handbook API and consolidated tape project make FCA rules and markets machine-readable.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Flexible Work Hours
Remote Work Options
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Holidays
Hybrid Work Options
Stock Options
Company Equity
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Performance Bonus
Profit Sharing
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Relocation Assistance
Employee Referral Bonus
Parental Leave
Family Planning Benefits
Fertility Treatment Support
Adoption Assistance
Childcare Support
Elder Care Support
Pet Insurance
Bereavement Leave
Professional Development Budget
Conference Attendance Budget
Training Programs
Tuition Reimbursement
Professional Certification Support
Mentorship Program
Wellness Program
Mental Health Support
Gym Membership
Commuter Benefits
Meal Benefits
Phone/Internet Stipend
Home Office Stipend
Legal Services
Employee Discounts
Company Social Events
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
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↑ 0%FCA names India and UAE attachés as overseas network grows. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) appointed Sabina Saini and Darine Obeid as financial services attachés in India and the United Arab Emirates today (Monday). Saini is based at the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai, while Obeid will work from the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Neither posting carries supervisory powers. The attachés give firms and local regulators a direct FCA contact for cross-border policy and market-entry questions, but the announcement creates no new authorization route. The appointments extend a network that already includes representatives in Washington, Brussels and Singapore, alongside an Asia-Pacific director based in Australia. FinanceMagnates.com covered the first US and Asia-Pacific appointments in April 2025. Mumbai Posting Follows GIFT City Agreement Saini started the Mumbai role on August 10, one week before the announcement. Her remit includes regulatory cooperation with Indian authorities and support for UK firms seeking to operate in India, according to the FCA. Mumbai was already on the calendar. In February, the FCA exchanged letters with India's IFSCA, the regulator for its international financial services centers. They said an attaché would be placed in Mumbai later in 2026 to support their cooperation. IFSCA oversees GIFT City, a special financial zone that has attracted international brokers and infrastructure providers. It hosts more than 1,000 registered entities, including 38 global and Indian banks with combined assets above $100 billion, as FinanceMagnates.com reported in January. Saini joined the FCA in 2024 after more than eight years at the Bank of England. At the FCA, she led work on the UK's critical third parties regime and operational resilience policy. The new attachés "will advance the UK's interests on financial services policy," said Ruairí O'Connell OBE, the FCA's director of international. [#highlighted-links#] Abu Dhabi Confirms the Gulf Expansion Obeid will begin work at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi on August 31. She has spent more than a decade at the FCA, with roles covering retail banking, wholesale banking and fintech supervision. Her previous work also included financial crime, operational resilience, artificial intelligence and customer outcomes. The FCA's 2026/27 work program said it planned to expand into India and China, with a UAE presence still described as a possibility. Monday's appointment confirms the Gulf post and places it in a market where more foreign brokers are seeking local permissions. FinanceMagnates.com has tracked a growing UAE register. Vantage joined Mitrade, PU Prime and Kudotrade in obtaining Capital Market Authority approvals in 2026, while XTB upgraded its permission to fuller brokerage categories in April. Obeid's role at the embassy is an FCA contact point, not a new UAE regulator or a substitute for local licensing. The work program also calls for an expanded FCA presence in China, but Monday's release did not name a China appointee or start date.
FCA appoints financial services attachés for India and the UAE. By Dalvinder Kular 17/08/2026 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced the appointment of Sabina Saini and Darine Obeid as the financial services attachés for India and the UAE. Saini will be based at the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai and Obeid will be based at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The regulator said these appointments expand the FCA's global presence and build on a global network that includes the its existing attachés in Washington DC, Brussels, and Singapore as well as the Asia-Pacific. The network supports international co-operation, exports, and investment into the UK. Saini started her post on 10 August. Previously a manager at the FCA, Saini led work on the UK's critical third parties regime and broader operational risk and resilience policy. She has just under 20 years' experience across financial regulation, audit, and banking, focused on prudential supervision and risk. Before joining the FCA in 2024, she spent over eight years at the Bank of England in roles spanning resolution policy, supervision, and audit. Obeid will start her new role at the end of this month. She has spent more than a decade at the FCA, specialising in supervision across retail banking, wholesale banking, and FinTech. In her prior role, she led high-profile engagement in financial crime, operational resilience, AI and customer outcomes. "Our new financial services attachés in India and the UAE will advance the UK's interests on financial services policy and help drive investment into our open market," Ruairí O'Connell OBE, director of international at the FCA. "The FCA's global network is vital to delivering across all parts of the FCA strategy. "Just as the UK is a global financial services centre, the FCA is a globally connected regulator and international leader in financial regulation. Our new presence will help us and our counterparts in India and the Gulf do even more together."
UK FCA webpage on climate adaptation and resilience. LinkedIn Facebook X The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published a new webpage on climate adaptation and resilience, highlighting the growing impact of physical climate risks on regulated firms. The FCA notes that these risks require financial services firms to consider both climate adaptation, namely taking action to prepare for the effects of climate change, and resilience, meaning the ability to anticipate, respond to and recover from those effects. The FCA has a direct interest in how firms and markets adapt to these risks as they can impact: (i) consumer protection, where consumers' ability to access and afford products on fair terms and at fair value may be impacted; (ii) market integrity, where markets may struggle to price risk accurately; and (iii) competition, where access to financial services may become uneven. The FCA encourages firms to consider how acute and chronic climate risks may affect their operations, risk management and service delivery. It also sets out ways in which firms can engage with the FCA and access support. DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations. Attorney Advertising. (C) A&O Shearman 2026 Help shape its research. Are you... * a law firm C-suite leader? * general counsel/inhouse legal? or * a recent lateral attorney hire? Share your lateral move experience in its confidential 8-minute survey.
London moves to lock in its gold market lead with tokenized framework. Key takeaways. * - The FCA is developing a regulatory framework for tokenized gold to defend London's 70% share of global gold trading volume. * - Hong Kong has already launched a Tokenized Securities Framework, with regulated participants including brokers and asset managers standardizing issuance and settlement. * - The USD/HKD rate sits at 7.8469 as of August 11, 2026, reflecting Hong Kong's pegged currency stability as the city builds financial infrastructure to rival London. The UK's Financial Conduct Authority is drafting rules specifically for tokenized gold - digital tokens backed by physical bullion. The move is a direct response to competitive pressure from Asian financial centers, particularly Shanghai and Hong Kong, which have accelerated their own digital asset infrastructure over the past 18 months. London's 70% grip on global gold trading is the prize the FCA is trying to protect. NEW: The UK's FCA is preparing a regulatory framework for tokenized gold, seeking to protect London's 70% share of global gold trading from growing competition from Shanghai and Hong Kong. pic.twitter.com/aIgiTneEvP - CoinDesk (@CoinDesk) August 10, 2026 Tokenization converts ownership of physical gold into blockchain-based tokens, enabling faster settlement, fractional ownership, and 24-hour trading without the friction of traditional bullion markets. London's over-the-counter gold market has operated largely on phone-based trading and T+2 settlement for decades. A regulatory green light from the FCA would let institutions plug tokenized gold directly into existing digital asset infrastructure. What's driving this move. Hong Kong is not waiting. The city has already rolled out a Tokenized Securities Framework that standardizes issuance, distribution, and settlement across regulated participants. That framework is live, not proposed. MARKETS: Hong Kong launches a Tokenized Securities Framework powered by @Chainlink, standardizing issuance, distribution and settlement of tokenized securities with Cyberport, Apex Group and regulated broker CSpro among participants. pic.twitter.com/6pBtExNOvK - CoinDesk (@CoinDesk) August 6, 2026 Shanghai, meanwhile, has expanded gold trading access through the Shanghai Gold Exchange, drawing volume from Asian buyers who previously routed through London. The FCA's urgency is calibrated: a formal tokenization framework gives global institutions regulatory certainty to hold and trade tokenized gold under UK law, keeping London at the center of price discovery rather than ceding that role to Asian hours and Asian venues. What this means in practice. For institutions trading gold cross-border between London and Hong Kong, the currency leg matters as much as the commodity leg. At 1 USD = 7.8469 HKD, Hong Kong's peg keeps dollar-denominated gold prices highly predictable when converted to local terms. A $1 million gold position translates to roughly HK$7.85 million with minimal currency slippage - one reason institutional flows between the two centers remain efficient. You can track live USD to HKD conversions as the competitive landscape shifts. If the FCA framework advances, the practical outcome is a regulated pipeline for tokenized gold that clears under UK rules but settles in real time - removing one of Hong Kong's current structural advantages. Whether London retains its 70% share depends on how quickly that framework moves from consultation to enforcement, and whether Asian volumes consolidate around Hong Kong's already-live infrastructure before London's rules are finalized. Exchange rate data from Currency.Wiki. Track HKD rates and 170+ currencies. This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available market data and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. Exchange rate data from Currency.Wiki. Read its editorial standards and fact-checking process.
Lexis+ financial services - daily round-up (6 August 2026). Published on: 06 August 2026 Table of contents. * Financial services developments * PRA to hold captive insurance industry roundtable * FCA launches Handbook API to provide machine-readable access to rules and guidance * AMLA surveys EMIs and PSPs on Central Contact Point framework under MLD6 * Other developments Article summary. A round-up of financial services developments, including (among other things) the FCA's launch of the Handbook Application Programming Interface (API). Jurisdiction(s): United Kingdom Read the full article with a Lexis+ free trial START FREE TRIAL