Covert Intelligence Techniques Associate - Fixed Term Contract until 31st October 2026

Financial Conduct Authority; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial regulatory body is seeking a Covert Intelligence Techniques Associate in Leeds. The role requires prior experience with OSINT and HUMINT within criminal investigations. Responsibilities include advising internal teams, managing intelligence, ensuring compliance with legislation, and driving best practices in financial crime investigations. Benefits include a hybrid work model, private health care, and 25 days annual leave. Candidates should possess strong communication and relationship management skills.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Hybrid model with up to 60% remote work

Non-contributory pension

Private healthcare

35 hours of paid volunteering annually

Flexible benefits scheme

Qualifications

• Prior experience in a specialist intelligence/investigation environment.
• Proven experience working within the legislative parameters of RIPA/CPIA.

Responsibilities

• Advise teams on advanced intelligence and investigative techniques.
• Build partnerships to support criminal investigations.
• Manage intelligence development and analysis.
• Ensure compliance with legislation.
• Shape innovative approaches to tackling financial crime.
• Collaborate with industry professionals to drive best practices.
• Apply specialist skills to uphold market integrity.

Skills

OSINT (Longarm)

Humint experience

Strong communications skills

Relationship management skills

Logical decision-making

Job description

Job title: Covert Intelligence Techniques Associate

Division: EMO

Department: Intelligence

• Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £43,100 to £49,100 and London from £47,300 to £53,300 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)
• This role is graded as: Associate - Regulatory
• Your recruitment contact is: Riley Fox via [e-mail]. Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.

About the FCA and team

We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. By joining us, you’ll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth, and shaping the future of UK finance services.

Enforcement & Market Oversight (EMO) is responsible for the FCA’s responsibilities for market monitoring, delivery of the functions of the UK Listing Authority (UKLA) and the investigation and prosecution of misconduct using the whole spectrum of criminal, civil and administrative sanctions and remedies against firms and individuals.

The Intelligence department works across the FCA, providing specialist financial crime support to Authorisations, Supervision, Enforcement and Market Oversight and delivers insight and impact from intelligence to support FCA in its statutory objectives.

Role responsibilities

• Advise internal teams on advanced intelligence and investigative techniques (Humint, OSINT), enabling effective and timely decision-making
• Build strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to secure specialist resources that support FCA criminal investigations
• Lead intelligence development and management, from handling Humint deployments to OSINT analysis, delivering insights that drive operational success
• Ensure compliance with CPIA, RIPA, and related legislation, safeguarding the integrity and legality of FCA activities
• Shape innovative approaches to Humint, and OSINT, influencing how the FCA tackles complex financial crime and meets public commitments
• Gain a strategic perspective on the financial sector during a period of transformation, contributing to work that protects consumers and markets
• Collaborate with and influence a wide range of industry professionals and regulators to drive best practice and impactful change
• Make a tangible difference by applying specialist skills to investigations that uphold market integrity and public trust

Skills required

Minimum

• Prior experience of working with OSINT (Longarm), Relevant Source / HUMINT within a specialist intelligence/investigation environment
• Proven experience of working within the legislative parameters of RIPA/CPIA

Essential

• Experience of working within the criminal investigations/intelligence arena within the UK Criminal Justice System
• Ability to manage Humint / Relevant Source, OSINT taskings and associated issues, including knowledge and/or experience of the issues linked to the deployment of such
• Strong communications skill – orally and in writing
• Developed relationship management skills to build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues within the team, other business units and with external partners.
• The ability to make logical and timely decisions, cutting through complexity and seeing the big picture to achieve outcomes in both formal and informal teams

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Hybrid model with up to 60% remote work
• 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
• 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 adverts close: 21st December at 11:59pm
• CV Review/Shortlist: 23rd December
• First Interview: w/c 5th January

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.

SC Clearance is required for this role (SC Guidance) - you will hold or will be required to obtain Security Check (SC) level vetting.