Future Payment Systems & Infrastructure Senior Associate

Financial Conduct Authority; Greater London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Non-contributory pension 8–12%

Private healthcare with Bupa

35 hours volunteering annually

Office time in London/Leeds/Edinburgh

Job summary

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) invites applications for the Future Payment Systems & Infrastructure Senior Associate within the Payment Systems Market Interventions department. The role will help shape the regulatory approach to UK payment systems as the PSR consolidates into the FCA, impacting the National Payments Vision and oversight of evolving payment platforms.

You will work with senior stakeholders across authorities and industry, contributing to policy delivery, regulatory

Qualifications

• Experience in a regulatory, supervisory, monitoring, compliance, policy or similar environment with evidence of managing stakeholder relationships and contributing to regulatory, policy or compliance-related outcomes.
• Experience analysing complex information and making recommendations through reports, briefings, policy papers or assessments that informed decisions.
• Understanding of payment systems and the broader payments landscape, including how payment systems operate and support effective regulation.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with other authorities and payment systems participants on issues for the National Payments Vision.
• Contribute to PSR’s approach to new and developing payment systems.
• Develop a deep understanding of payment systems, their operating environments and governance.
• Support robust regulatory assessment and delivery of improved outcomes for users of payment systems.
• Build effective relationships with internal stakeholders and teams involved in delivery.
• Model PSR values and foster collaboration, inclusion and learning within the Supervision team.

Skills

Regulatory environment

Stakeholder management

Payment systems knowledge

Job description

Job title: Future Payment Systems & Infrastructure Senior Associate

Department: Payment Systems Market Interventions

• Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £53,800 to £67,200 and London from £59,200 to £73,800 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)
• This role is graded as: Senior Associate, Regulatory
• Your external recruitment contact is Raimonda via [e-mail]
• Your internal recruitment contact is Katie via [e-mail]

About The PSR 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. Follow this link to find out more About The PSR.

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 Future Payment Systems and Infrastructure team 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.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the PSR's Future Payment Systems and Infrastructure team, helping to shape the future of the UK's retail payments landscape. The role will support the PSR's contribution to the National Payments Vision, engagement with new and emerging payment systems, and the development of a consistent, transparent regulatory approach as oversight transitions into the FCA. Working closely with other authorities, industry participants and senior stakeholders, you will play a key role in regulatory cooperation, policy delivery and influencing the future oversight of payment systems to support better outcomes for consumers, businesses and the wider economy.

Role Responsibilities

• Working in collaboration with other authorities and payment systems participants on key issues for the National Payments Vision
• Contributing to the PSR’s approach to new and developing payment systems
• Building a deep understanding of payment systems including emerging models, their operating environments, business strategies and governance arrangements
• Using this understanding to contribute to robust regulatory assessment and the delivery of improved outcomes for users of payment systems
• Building effective working relationships with key internal stakeholders and teams whose work is material to delivery of the team’s work
• Promoting a culture of collaboration, inclusion and learning within the Supervision team, acting as a role model for PSR values and behaviours

Minimum Skills required

• Experience in a regulatory, supervisory, monitoring, compliance, policy or similar environment, with evidence of managing stakeholder relationships and contributing to regulatory, policy or compliance-related outcomes
• Experience analysing complex information and making recommendations, demonstrated through written reports, briefings, policy papers, assessments or similar outputs that informed decisions or actions
• Understanding of payment systems and/or the broader payments landscape, including how payment systems operate and support effective regulation

Essential

• Experience leading or taking ownership of complex projects, workstreams or policy initiatives, demonstrating accountability for delivery and outcomes
• Demonstrated skill in working with internal and external stakeholders, building effective partnerships and negotiating toward strategic goals
• Demonstrated ability to resolve complex strategic or operational problems, including identifying root causes, evaluating options and delivering proportionate, evidence-based solutions
• Knowledge of the economic regulation, competition and/or payments landscape, including an understanding of how regulatory frameworks impact firms, consumers and market outcomes
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical, regulatory or policy issues clearly to diverse audiences and senior stakeholders
• Sound judgement and decision-making capability, demonstrated through balancing risks, evidence and stakeholder considerations in challenging or ambiguous situations
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results, including planning, organising and reprioritising work to meet deadlines and quality standards
• Effective project management skills, including coordinating activities, managing delivery against plans and ensuring objectives are delivered within agreed timescales

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
• Colleagues spend a minimum of 50% of their working time in the office each month (60% for Directors and Executive Directors) across our London, Leeds and Edinburgh offices. 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, 18 September 2026
• CV Review/Shortlist: 22 September 2026
• Interview: w/c 28 September 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.