Job title: Lead Associate – Payment Systems Supervision
Department: PSR - Payment Systems Market Interventions
Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £60,700 to £70,000 and London from £66,600 to £80,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)
This role is graded as: Lead Associate – Regulatory
Your external recruitment contact is Raimonda via Raimonda.Stankute@fca.org.uk
Your internal recruitment contact is Katie via Katherine.Baker@fca.org.uk
Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.
About the PSR and team
Every time anyone uses a cash machine, transfers money, uses contactless, or gets paid, they use a payment system. Payment systems are always evolving and the PSR is here to make sure they work well for everyone. Follow this link to find out more About The PSR.
The PSR is an independent economic regulator led by interim Managing Director, David Geale – who is also FCA Executive Director, Payments and Digital Finance. Operationally the PSR is currently an independent subsidiary of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), however in March 2025 the Prime Minister announced that the PSR would be consolidated into the FCA, a pragmatic next step in simplifying regulation of payments. This transition will likely take some time and will follow a Government consultation, although the Government has already been clear that payment systems must continue to be effectively regulated. For the time being, therefore, the PSR continues to focus on delivering its important and impactful programme of work, collaborating closely with the FCA.
The Payment Services Market Interventions Department (PSMI) you are applying to join will ultimately move into the FCA when the new legislation takes effect. Candidates should be aware, therefore, that there may be changes to their responsibilities as consolidation into the FCA progresses.
The PSMI division helps maintain confidence in UK payment systems through supervision, monitoring and enforcement. The division monitors compliance, addresses emerging risks and drives better outcomes for users of payment systems.
The Supervision team oversees key payment systems, including Faster Payments, LINK, Visa, Mastercard and, following legal cutover, systems such as Open Banking. Supervision plays a vital role in managing regulatory relationships, assessing market developments and ensuring regulatory interventions deliver positive outcomes.
Role responsibilities
Acting as coordinator across the Supervision team’s casework, supporting strategic oversight, prioritisation and progression of supervisory cases
Managing and handling complex supervisory relationships with one or more payment system operators
Supporting the Manager of Supervision with development and delivery of the overall supervision strategy, including identification of emerging risks and areas of focus
Championing innovation and continuous improvement in supervisory practice, including development of tools, approaches and ways of working
Providing coaching, guidance and informal mentoring to colleagues across the team, supporting development, consistency and collaboration
Building and maintaining a deep understanding of supervised firms, the environments they operate in and the strategic and operational risks they pose
Supporting senior colleagues in the transition of payment systems supervision into the FCA’s supervision framework, including new ways of working, governance and engagement models
Promoting a culture of collaboration, inclusion and learning within the Supervision team, acting as a role model for PSR values and behaviours
Skills required
Minimum:
Demonstrated experience in supervision, monitoring or regulatory relationship management roles within a regulator or regulated environment
Experience of operating with significant internal and external influence, including engagement with senior stakeholders
Ability to analyse complex information, identify key issues and produce clear, well-reasoned written outputs, including contribution to strategic assessments
Essential:
A solid understanding of supervision and its role in delivering effective, proportionate regulation
Demonstrable experience of managing or coordinating complex regulatory or supervisory casework, including through periods of change or organisational transition
Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing, on complex issues
Clear judgement, decision making capability and professionalism when working on sensitive or high-profile issues
Effective organisational and planning skills, with the ability to balance strategic work with delivery of day-to-day priorities
Experience of leading casework or project-based teams in achieving good regulatory outcomes
Benefits
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Non-contributory pension (8–12% depending on age) and life assurance at eight times your salary
Private healthcare with Bupa, income protection and 24/7 Employee Assistance
35 hours of paid volunteering annually
Hybrid model where employees work a minimum of 40% in the office each month (expectation of 50% for senior leaders). Changing from September to a minimum of 50% in the office each month (expectation of 60% for Directors and Executive Directors)
A flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyle
For a full list of our benefits and our recruitment process as a whole visit our benefits page.
Our values and culture
Our colleagues are the key to our success as a regulator. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture: one that’s free from discrimination and bias, celebrates difference and supports colleagues to deliver at their best. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation and delivers better regulation.
If you require any adjustments due to a disability or condition, your recruiter is here to help - reach out for tailored support.
We welcome diverse working styles and aim to find flexible solutions that suit both the role and individual needs, including options like part-time and job sharing where applicable.
Disability confident: our hiring approach
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and therefore, people or individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. In cases of high application volumes we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role’s key requirements.
Useful information and timelines
Timeline:
Job advert closes: Midnight, 22nd June 2026
CV Review/Shortlist: 24th June 2026
Interview: w/c 29th June 2026
Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.
Want to learn more before applying?
Join our upcoming webinar on Tuesday, 16 June 2026 from 13:00 to 14:00, to hear directly from our hiring team about this role, our company culture and what we’re looking for in the ideal candidate.
Webinar Details:
Tuesday, 16 June 2026 from 13:00 to 14:00
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/353601493804443?p=in4Hmyf3qgH4WrNHlA
Meeting ID: 353 601 493 804 443
Passcode: Mf7QK7Bm
Dial in by phone
+44 20 3321 5238,,757514082# United Kingdom, City of London
Phone conference ID: 757 514 082#