Executive Director, Prudential Policy

Bank of England; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bank of England is the UK’s central bank and the PRA’s parent. This Senior Director role focuses on strategic leadership of the Prudential Policy Directorate, shaping prudential regulation and policy across the banking and insurance sectors.

You will drive transformation, foster inclusive culture and lead high‑performing teams in a global financial regulatory context. Based in London or Leeds, the role involves high‑level engagement with public bodies, international standard setters and

Job description

Job Description

The Bank of England is the UK's central bank. Our mission is to deliver monetary and financial stability for the British people.

The Bank of England is a diverse organisation. Each of its 5,000-plus people are committed to public service and dedicated to promoting the good of the people of the United Kingdom by maintaining monetary and financial stability.

Within the Bank, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is the UK’s prudential regulator of banks and insurance companies, focused on promoting firms’ safety and soundness, protecting insurance policyholders, facilitating effective competition and supporting the long-term growth and competitiveness of the UK economy.

Prudential Policy Directorate (PPD) is responsible for designing, negotiating internationally and implementing effective prudential regulation. Through this work, PPD seeks to reduce systemic risk, promote the safety and soundness of PRA-regulated firms, and ensure appropriate protection for insurance policyholders. Importantly it seeks to achieve this whilst supporting effective competition within the UK financial sector, while contributing to the UK's international competitiveness and growth.

PPD supports both the Prudential Regulation Committee and Financial Policy Committee in fulfilling their objectives.

Directorate Overview

Prudential Policy Directorate (PPD) is responsible for designing, negotiating internationally and implementing effective prudential regulation. Through this work, PPD seeks to reduce systemic risk, promote the safety and soundness of PRA-regulated firms, and ensure appropriate protection for insurance policyholders. Importantly it seeks to achieve this whilst supporting effective competition within the UK financial sector, while contributing to the UK's international competitiveness and growth.

PPD supports both the Prudential Regulation Committee and Financial Policy Committee in fulfilling their objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Set and communicate a clear vision and strategy for the directorate.
• Lead and develop a large, diverse team of policy professionals and leaders.
• Create an inclusive, high-performing culture that empowers colleagues and supports continuous development.
• Drive cultural change and organisational transformation where required.

Policy Leadership

• Oversee the development and delivery of prudential policymaking and delivery across the banking and insurance sectors.
• Ensure policy decisions are evidence-based, proportionate, practical and demonstrably aligned to the PRA's objectives, both primary and secondary.
• Provide strategic direction on complex regulatory and policy issues.
• Ensure the directorate responds proactively to emerging risks and developments in the financial system.

Stakeholder Influence

• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across the Bank, PRA and wider financial sector.
• Engage with HM Treasury, the Financial Conduct Authority, international standard setters, overseas regulators and industry leaders.
• Represent the Bank externally through high-profile engagements, speeches, conferences, industry forums and international standard setting bodies.
• Support decision-making by the Prudential Regulation Committee and Financial Policy Committee.

Enterprise Leadership

• Contribute as a member of the Bank's senior leadership community.
• Collaborate across functions to deliver organisational priorities and strategic objectives.
• Act as a role model in promoting the Bank's values and leadership expectations through personal example.
• Support a culture of inclusion, innovation and accountability.

Role Requirements

Minimum Criteria

Leadership experience

• Significant experience leading large, complex organisations or functions.
• Demonstrated ability to develop senior leaders and build high-performing teams.
• Proven track record of leading through change while maintaining engagement and delivery.

Strategic and analytical capability

• Strong analytical skills and experience navigating complex policy, regulatory or risk-related issues, with the ability to provide strategic direction on emerging prudential risks.
• Ability to make sound judgements in uncertain and fast-changing environments.
• Experience setting direction across large-scale programmes or portfolios.

Sector knowledge

• Deep understanding of financial services, regulation, supervision, risk management and/or public policy.
• Knowledge of banking, insurance and /or broader financial system dynamics.
• Ability to quickly assimilate complex technical issues and provide strategic direction.

Essential Criteria

• As a member of the Bank’s executive team, the role holder will be expected to contribute to the development of the culture and practices of the Bank as a whole, including by role modelling a strong commitment to the Bank’s mission and values. The Bank is committed to diversity, and inclusion is at the heart of its values; the ED will share that dedication.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and influential engagement with a wide range of stakeholders: the role-holder will interact with a very wide range of individuals including from the PRC, FPC, HMT, FCA, IMF and other international bodies, regulators in other jurisdictions, parliamentarians, regulated firms, trade associations, civil society and academia.
• Excellent communication skills: the role-holder will deliver speeches, interviews, panel discussions, briefings and interviews to the media on the PRA’s operational and financial resilience agenda. They will also represent the PRA before Parliament, including at Select Committee hearings, where they will need to explain the PRA’s approach and decision making. Therefore, they will need to be able to engage with, and articulate, complex concepts to a very wide range of audiences, both technical and non-technical.

Desirable Criteria

• Detailed experience and understanding of financial regulation and the PRA’s supervisory model and approach.

The Bank values diversity and inclusion – we want to reflect the society we serve better, we want the best people to work for us and we want our workplace to be inclusive. We value all forms of diversity, including but not limited to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion and sexual orientation. One way we support diversity and inclusion is through our staff run networks.

As part of our commitment to expand our presence across the UK, this role can be based in either our London or Leeds office.

Where a role can be carried out from home, we are working towards colleagues spending at least half of their time in the office, so that we can all benefit from working together in person, while maintaining the flexibility offered by home working. From 1 st October 2026 we expect colleagues to spend a minimum of 50% of their working time in the office per month. Subject to that minimum requirement, individuals and managers should work together to find what works best for them and their team.

We are also committed to making adjustments for candidates and employees where possible and have partnered with external expert organisations to support us in this. We are a member of the Disability Confident Scheme ,

This role closes on 28 October 2026.

Our Approach to Inclusion

The Bank values diversity, equity and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve.

At the Bank of England, we want all colleagues to feel valued and respected, so we're working hard to build an inclusive culture which supports people from all backgrounds and communities to be at their best at work. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. We believe that it’s by drawing on different perspectives and experiences that we’ll continue to make the best decisions for the public.

We welcome applications from individuals who work flexibly, including job shares and part time working patterns. We've also partnered with external organisations to support us in making adjustments for candidates and employees in the recruitment process where they're needed.

From 1st October 2026, we expect all our colleagues to spend a minimum of 50% of their working time in the office per month. This is to capitalise on the benefits of working together in person across teams, while maintaining the flexibility offered by home working. Subject to that minimum requirement, individuals and managers should work together to find what works best for them and the team.

Finally, we're proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme . If you wish to apply under this scheme, you should check the box in the ‘Candidate Personal Information’ under the ‘Disability Confident Scheme’ section of the application.

Salary And Benefits Information

• Currently a non-contributory, career average pension giving you a guaranteed retirement benefit of 1/80th of your annual salary for every year worked. There is the option to increase your pension (to 1/65th) or decrease (to 1/105th) in exchange for salary through our flexible benefits programme each year. The Bank has the discretion to vary standard accrual rates and dial up and dial down rates at any time and to withdraw dial up and dial down options at any time.
• A discretionary performance award based on a current award pool.
• An 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits.
• 26 days’ annual leave with option to buy up to 12 additional days through flexible benefits.
• Private medical insurance and income protection.

National Security Vetting Process

Employment in this role will be subject to the National Security Vetting clearance process (and typically can take between 6 to 12 weeks post offer) and the passing of additional Bank security checks in accordance with the Bank policy. Further information regarding the vetting and security clearance requirements for the role will be provided to the successful applicant, and information about how the Bank processes personal data for these purposes, is set out in the Bank's Privacy Notice .

The Bank of England welcomes applications from all candidates, but as a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approved sponsor, we have a responsibility to comply with the Immigration Rules and guidance. As such, our ability to employ individuals who require sponsorship for immigration purposes is limited. The Bank cannot guarantee that you and / or the role you are applying for will be eligible for sponsorship and that any application made to UKVI will be successful. Eligibility will therefore be considered on a case by case basis.

About Us

We are the UK's central bank - and we are a bank like no other; known by our peers for our world-leading thinking on policy and strategy.

Our mission is to promote the good of the people of the UK by maintaining monetary and financial stability. We seek to keep prices stable and people's money safe. We know our work matters to people, to families, up and down the UK. We are driven by curiosity and the desire to do important, challenging work.

It takes a great team to run the Bank of England. We rely on each other to play our part. We benefit from a collaborative culture and long-established flexible ways of working, supporting our colleagues balance their work and personal lives. We strive to be a place where people feel they belong and have equal access to opportunities, because different perspectives helps us make the best decisions for the public.

There's much to gain from working with us - from career defining work at the heart of the UK economy, being part of a fantastic team, and a rewarding compensation package.

Join us and find a bank like no other. Together, we can make a difference.

The Bank of England will use and protect the information you provide when you apply for a role with us, in line with our obligations under data protection law. This is so we can assess your suitability for the role and administer your application. If you’re successful we’ll use it to offer you a position and onboard you to join the Bank.

If you would like more details about how your information will be used and your information rights, please visit our recruitment privacy notice