Job Title: Behavioural Economics Senior Associate – Fixed term contract until 31st March 2027
Division: Economics
Department: Strategic Economics
Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £53,800 to £59,600 and London from £59,200 to £65,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)
This role is graded as: Senior Associate – Regulatory
Your external recruitment contact is Raimonda via [email protected]
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.
This is an exciting opportunity in the specialist unit responsible for the FCA’s pioneering behavioural science work. This unit’s recent work includes investigating gamification in trading apps , impact of cryptoasset regulation on consumer decisions , and informing communication of motor finance redress scheme .
The Behavioural Insights and Policy Lab team that produces behavioural insights and empirical analysis to understand consumer behaviour using online experiments or field trials. It also uses the same skills to think about how to solve internal challenges that the FCA faces. The team achieves impact by developing practical insights for FCA policy and operational use. This role will particularly focus on the pensions sector, while also offering opportunities to contribute to broader projects across financial markets.
Role responsibilities
Develop and apply behavioural science research, analysis and practical tools to support policy development across financial services sectors
Design and evaluate behavioural interventions and experimental research to generate evidence that informs regulatory decision-making
Translate complex behavioural insights into clear, actionable recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences
Manage multiple workstreams effectively, delivering high-quality outputs to deadlines with strong attention to detail and accuracy
Provide behavioural science guidance, advice and training to colleagues, supporting broader organisational capability and impact
Collaborate with economists, data scientists and policy specialists in a multidisciplinary environment to address complex challenges
Contribute directly to improving consumer outcomes and shaping regulatory approaches through evidence-based analysis and insight
Deepen expertise in behavioural economics within a high-impact, intellectually stimulating environment while influencing the future of financial services regulation
Skills required
Minimum:
Demonstrated experience of applying theoretical and empirical behavioural economics, experimental economics, economics, and/or psychology literature to real-world issues
Experience of producing evidence to support policymaking, for example gained through working in a regulator, government department, or in a consultancy supporting such policymakers
Essential:
Knowledge of experimental methods, including how to design, implement and produce findings from randomised controlled trials
Ability to code in R, or proficiency in another programming language (such as Stata or Python) and willingness to learn R
Comfortable with ambiguity, identify the most important policy issues or use cases, frame problems conceptually, structure and prioritise work to address these, and distil results to generate insight
Working effectively with and influencing internal and external collaborators and stakeholders, developing and maintaining good working relationships. Seek to influence a range of decision-makers, persuading with well-reasoned arguments and challenging where appropriate
Experience in delivering behavioural research with strong project management skills, maintaining pace and quality of delivery
Ability to take initiative and juggling multiple small and large concurrent projects at the same time. Interpret and distil findings into impactful and policy-relevant insights, particularly interpreting complex information for non-expert audiences, both in writing or orally
Role modelling commitment to self-awareness and learning. Build own supportive network and supports others to identify effective coping techniques
Benefits
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
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)
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 & 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 timeline
Advert Closing: 27th July
CV Review/Shortlist: 29th July
Interviews W/C: 3rd August
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.
