Deputy Executive Counsel
Posted by: Saxton Bampfylde
Employed By: Financial Reporting Council
Job Title: Deputy Executive Counsel
Salary: £145,924
Contract: Full-time
Location: London/Birmingham, hybrid
Application Deadline: Thursday 7 May 2026
The purpose of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is to serve the public interest and support UK economic growth by upholding high standards of corporate governance, corporate reporting, audit and actuarial work. One of our strategic objectives in meeting this purpose is the proportionate regulation of accounting, audit, assurance and actuarial work. This work expects and encourages high quality by those responsible, acting as an improvement regulator and dealing effectively and fairly with cases where there are significant or serious shortcomings.
The FRC has been through a period of significant transformation, increasing its impact and influence and building its capability and capacity. Alongside supporting public trust and confidence in audit, corporate reporting and governance, it plays a key role in contributing to UK economic growth and competitiveness.
The Deputy Executive Counsel will deputise for and assist the Executive Counsel, Executive Director of Investigations and Enforcement, and will be a senior leader within the FRC’s Enforcement Division, providing leadership across the FRC’s investigations and enforcement activity into matters within remit, including potential breaches of audit, accountancy and actuarial standards and misconduct by members of the professional bodies overseen by the FRC. Acting as a senior decision maker, the Deputy Executive Counsel will ensure the FRC operates a well‑led and governed system for timely, fair, robust and transparent investigations that maintain public confidence in the UK’s financial reporting and governance frameworks, while helping to set strategic direction and providing operational and professional leadership to a large, multidisciplinary team. The role includes representing the Enforcement Division at meetings of the Executive Committee, reporting to the Board and Conduct Committees, contributing to legal and policy development, supporting the effective management of resources, risk and budget, and representing the FRC with senior stakeholders and externally, both within the UK and internationally.
The successful candidate will be a senior solicitor or barrister qualified in England and Wales with significant post‑qualification experience, bringing extensive expertise in public or regulatory law and complex contentious proceedings, together with demonstrable experience of managing large, high‑profile or sensitive investigations or enforcement cases. They will combine strong leadership capability, sound judgement and resilience, with a proven ability to make and take responsibility for robust legal decisions under scrutiny, and will have experience of leading and developing senior professionals, managing substantial budgets, and engaging credibly with senior stakeholders across regulated firms, professional bodies and the legal profession. Experience of working with, or acting for, a regulator, prosecuting authority or disciplinary body would be valuable, alongside a clear commitment to fairness, integrity, continuous improvement and collaborative working to deliver the FRC’s objectives.
How to apply
Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Financial Reporting Council on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit roles.saxbam.com using reference QAMAZJ. Alternatively email Belinda.beck@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by noon on Thursday 7 May 2026.