Economist – Financial Services Regulation Senior Manager/Associate Director

More than you expected

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Job Description:

NEW GROUND WON’T BREAK ITSELF.

Every day our teams help people in businesses and communities to do what is right and achieve their goals.

Grant Thornton’s Economic Consulting division comprises 30 postgraduate economists who provide specialist regulatory, competition and economic valuation services on an advisory and independent expert basis to economic regulators, government, corporates and their legal advisors.

We advise on high profile issues in all major sectors of the economy including financial services which is our largest industry sector. Frequently working alongside colleagues from across Grant Thornton, we work on an advisory and independent expert for regulators e.g. FCA and PSR, financial services institutions e.g. high street banks, asset managers and payment operators and their advisors on regulatory, competition and strategic matters.

Examples of our projects in the financial services and payments sector include:

• Independent report for a leading high street bank being investigated by the Financial Ombudsman for potential misselling
• Independent expert on securities litigation matters (FSMA90/90A)
• Independent expert on competition investigation into alleged cartel in the European bonds market
• Advising banks and asset management firm’s on complying with consumer duty requirements
• Support to the FCA on its motor finance investigation
• Advising PSR on its market investigation into payments operations
• Advising PSR with regards to the future direction of Openbanking
• Developing and reviewing regulatory costing models for assessing fair value
• Options analysis for an international payments operator
• Supporting financial institutions appraise the value of their investment products and services as part of complying with consumer duty regulations.

We’re happy to talk flexible working and consider reduced hours and job shares, we’ll support you to balance your work and life.

A look into the role

The Economic Consulting team is expanding its regulatory and competition economics capability and we are specifically looking for an economist to help us grow our presence in our financial services and payments. This will involve providing economic consulting services to our clients as well as supporting on business development and writing proposals – very often working alongside others from across Grant Thornton’s 500 strong financial services team.  You may have a regulatory or competition economics background and have experience gained in a corporate, regulator or another consultancy – but you will be keen to develop your career within financial services and payments either on an advisory or independent expert basis and enjoy working as a part of a cross-disciplinary team.   

As an Economist - Financial Services Regulation Senior Manager/Associate Director within our Economic Consulting team, you will be:

• Responsible for economic projects for clients, leading economic analysis on large cases or a portfolio off cases.
• Produce quality economic analysis, insights and arguments (including ability to source data from multiple sources, manipulate large data sets and work with complex Excel models).
• Be able to interpret and challenge data and economic/financial models and communicate economic concepts effectively.
• Be able to scan the regulatory and supervisory landscape and execute evidence-based qualitative and quantitative analysis of the impacts of new policies and regulation on market efficiency.
• Experience supporting or challenging companies’ business plans.
• Preparing PowerPoint slides, memorandums and formal written reports and presenting the results, alongside other members of the team, and directly with clients.
• Liaising with clients including project updates and presentation of analysis
• Identifying opportunities for business development including drafting thought leadership material

Knowing you’re right for us

Joining us as an Economist - Financial Services Regulation Senior Manager/Associate Director within our Economic Consulting, the minimum criteria you’ll need is an MSc in Economics. It would be great if you had some of the following skills, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box, we’ll help you develop along the way.

• Experience as a competition or regulatory economist gained in consultancy, industry or at an economic regulator
• Expertise gained in the financial services and / or payments sectors
• Strong understanding of the financial services and / or payments regulatory environment
• Previous experience in conducting fair value assessments and cost modelling
• Experience of working with legal advisors on competition investigations
• Experienced using Microsoft Office including Excel
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Experience of presenting complex arguments to a range of stakeholders

Knowing we’re right for you

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone.  Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.

Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.

Beyond the job 

Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.

The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.

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