Personal Assistant to Head of Department

Financial Conduct Authority; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial regulatory body is seeking a Personal Assistant to support the Head of Department. This role involves managing information, liaising with stakeholders, and providing essential support for departmental operations. The position offers exposure to senior management and opportunities for professional growth within the organization. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent organizational and communication skills, with a strong ability to prioritize tasks effectively.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Hybrid working (up to 60% remote)

Private healthcare with Bupa

Non-contributory pension

Life assurance of eight times your salary

Income protection

Flexible benefits scheme

Qualifications

• Prior experience as a Personal Assistant required.
• Experience in building relationships with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Providing professional assistance to the Head of Department.
• Managing inboxes, preparing agendas, and following up on actions.
• Overseeing agendas and meeting papers for stakeholders.

Skills

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Confidentiality

Prioritization

Relationship Management

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

OneNote

Job description

Personal Assistant to Head of Department

Title – Personal Assistant to Head of Department (9 Month Fixed-Term Contract)

Division – Authorisations

Salary - National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £28,800 to £43,100 and London £31,600 to £47,400 per annum (Salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

About the FCA

The FCA regulates the conduct of 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive. Follow this link to find out more About the FCA.

The Team

The Authorisations Division ensures firms and individuals applying for authorization or approval understand how we test their compliance. We use authorization to support our public offerings and protect consumers from misconduct in the financial services industry. An opportunity has arisen for a Personal Assistant to support the Head of Department for Controllers & Cancellations in Authorisations. This role offers the chance to be involved and support a busy department that handles applications for Change in Control and Cancellations across all financial sectors.

What will you be doing?

• Providing professional assistance to the Head of Department, managing information and progressing actions, liaising with senior management, external stakeholders, and their offices.
• Managing inboxes, monitoring emails, preparing agendas for management meetings, and following up on actions.
• Investigating queries, managing departmental communications, and supporting management with ad hoc tasks.
• Overseeing agendas, meeting papers, and pending actions for stakeholders, coordinating briefings effectively.

What will you get from the role?

• Deep understanding of departmental functions, processes, and priorities.
• Opportunity to learn and expand internal knowledge.
• Supporting leadership and strategic direction of the department.
• Exposure to senior stakeholders within the FCA.
• Potential to grow within the organization by providing essential support for smooth operations and decision-making.

Which skills are required?

We are a Disability Confident Employer; therefore, disabled people or individuals with long-term conditions who meet the minimum criteria will progress to the next stage of recruitment. (Learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme here.)

• Prior experience as a Personal Assistant with excellent organizational skills.
• Experience in building and maintaining relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, OneNote, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
• Effective prioritization skills and ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Skilled in engaging and influencing internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong team player with the ability to work independently.
• Excellent communication skills adaptable to different audiences.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and willingness to take on new tasks.

Our Values & Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive workplace that respects individual differences, which enable better decision-making, innovation, and regulation. We offer access to employee resource groups supporting work/life balance and diversity initiatives.

Did you know? 50% of our Executive Committee members were the first in their family to attend university.

Benefits of working at the FCA

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Hybrid working (up to 60% remote).
• Private healthcare with Bupa.
• Non-contributory pension (at least 8%, up to 12% after age 35).
• Life assurance of eight times your salary.
• Income protection.
• Flexible benefits scheme to tailor your package.

We support flexible working arrangements, including part-time, staggered hours, and job shares, and are committed to accessible recruitment processes. Please contact us if you require adjustments during the application process.

Useful Information and Timeline

• Role graded as Senior Professional Support – Corporate.
• Closing date: 30th May 2025 (Midnight).
• Shortlisting: 3rd June 2025.
• Interviews: WC 9th June 2025.
• Applications via our online portal only; email applications will not be accepted.

About the company

The FCA is an independent UK financial regulatory body, funded by fees from the financial industry, operating separately from the UK Government.