FCA Cost Benefit Analysis Panel – Authorised firm member

Requirements of the role

The FCA undertakes a CBA in order to analyse and estimate, where possible, the likely impacts of a policy on different groups such as industry, consumers, markets and the FCA. As well as providing transparency to the public and our stakeholders that we are using our powers appropriately, a CBA helps us to understand whether our proposed interventions are likely to be effective and proportionate to the harm we are trying to address.

The role of the Panel

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Cost Benefit Analysis Panel (the Panel) is an independent panel of experts, established under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023.

Appointments to the Panel are made by the FCA Board.  The Panel comprises of members with CBA expertise, including members from FCA authorised firms. Membership of the Panel is made by individual appointment and is not as a representative of any organisation.  A list of current members can be found on the Panel’s website.

Panel members bring constructive challenge and advice to how the FCA and PSR produce CBAs for regulatory interventions. The panel has the statutory duty to:

• provide the FCA and PSR with advice in relation to the preparation of their statement of policies on CBA (the CBA framework);
• provide the FCA and PSR with advice in relation to the preparation of individual CBAs;
• keep under review how the FCA and PSR are performing generally in carrying out their duties to undertake a CBA; and
• provide to the FCA and PSR whatever recommendations the Panel thinks appropriate as a result of such review.

The Panel is expected to review a selection of CBAs produced by the FCA/PSR before publication, and provide published advice on those CBAs. In order to ensure that the Panel focuses on reviewing the CBAs associated with high-impact interventions, only proposed interventions with an expected impact above a certain threshold are required to be reviewed by the Panel. The threshold and any exemptions from the obligation for the FCA or PSR to consult the Panel on a CBA before publication is set out in the statement of policy on CBA.

Key requirements for the role

All successful candidates must hold a current role in an FCA-authorised firm to be eligible for this role.

Candidates must have significant professional experience in the financial services sector and should be able to demonstrate knowledge and deep understanding of at least one of the following: retail markets, wholesale financial markets, or payment systems.  Successful individuals will have significant professional experience working as an expert in financial services, with a background, ideally, as an economist or in a related profession; they should be able to demonstrate the following skills:

• A sound understanding of the importance of evidence and analysis in the regulatory process, and the impact of regulation on a range of stakeholders including businesses and consumers;
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to critically assess evidence and make sound judgements in the face of uncertainty;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to make constructive challenge, support colleagues to achieve a shared consensus and make effective recommendations to improve approaches to CBA;
• Ability to deliver collaboratively as part of a senior level team, possibly but not necessarily with experience on a committee or board;
• Ability to work effectively at pace and undertake reviews of CBAs to tight deadlines;
• Understanding of the FCA and PSR role and objectives, and the impact of FCA and PSR policy and regulation on financial services and the broader economy
• The ability to act in an independent advisory capacity and to respect the confidential nature of the Panel’s discussions and other work.

View on member website