What is a career in regulation?
Those working in regulation provide a crucial link between industries, the laws and regulations concerning them and the bodies that monitor compliance. Opportunities to work in regulation therefore span the public and private sectors. This is a growth area for employment, not least due to increasing regulatory changes around the environment, industries’ role in society and good governance, which is often referred to as ‘ESG’ (Environmental Social Governance).
For those attracted to the idea of processing, interpreting, and questioning large amounts of data, a career in regulation could be of interest. A desire to use or develop technical skills is increasingly sought, but a broader skillset is valuable too, as the focus of work can also be on policy development, public affairs, communications, strategy, audit, or data protection. There can also be an important relationship building element to the work, in encouraging organisations to operate within the regulatory framework.
Where can I work, what can I do, and how can I get there?
Virtually all sectors of the economy require regulatory, compliance and risk professionals, with most opportunities in industry sectors with regulatory challenges, such as the whole financial services sector, as well as energy, health and telecoms.
- Regulatory bodies – these oversee a sector or profession, ensuring that organisations within it operate legally and fairly, that the interests of the public are protected, that fair competition is promoted and that professionals operate with integrity. UK regulatory bodies include:
- OFCOM; the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA); Charity Commission; Advertising Standards Authority; OFGEM; UK Statistics Authority; Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA); and OFWAT.
- gov.uk provides a comprehensive list of UK Government departments, agencies and public bodies.
- Professional services firms and legal firms – where professionally-qualified staff advise their clients and monitor their adherence to legislation.
- Businesses and organisations – regulatory roles exist across all sectors, and LSE alumni work in areas as diverse as health, law, transport, property, and communications, ensuring that relevant regulations are understood and complied with and seeking to influence changes to the way laws affect business.
- Financial organisations and institutions – opportunities exist throughout the world’s commercial banking system. Regulatory roles also exist within international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and other development banks, where the focus will often be on supporting national central banks and the development of appropriate regulatory frameworks and processes in less developed markets.
- Consultancies – Beyond the large professional services firms, specialist consultancies exist to support clients on all aspects of regulation such as implementing regulatory change and supporting clients on dealing with the regulator – such as Bovill and Kroll.
Below, we've outlined some of roles in this sector that are often of interest to LSE students, with links to where you can find more information. If you can, try and talk to someone who's doing the job you're interested in, so you get a real flavour of what it's like.
- Policy regulation – ensures an organisation’s internal policies reflect legislation as well as developing and communicating desired policy changes.
- Regulatory affairs – ensures that products, usually in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and their licensing and marketing are legally compliant and fulfil the requirements of all applicable regulations. The Prospects regulatory affairs job profile provides further details.
- Assurance – ensures that processes comply with standards at both national and international level.
- Audit – reviews the accounts of companies and organisations to ensure the validity and legality of financial records; advises on, for example, risk aversion methods and cost savings. Check out the Prospects internal auditor job profile or visit our ‘Careers in accountancy and financial management’ page.
- Compliance – ensures board, management and employers are following rules and regulations of regulatory agencies, that company policies and procedures are followed, and behaviour is ethical. Find out more in the Prospects Compliance officer job profile.
- Governance – responsible for ensuring good decision making and process-implementation, typically in public or third sector organisations.
- Risk analysis – helps internal and external clients to manage internal business and IT risks; anticipates and meets evolving risk and regulatory compliance.
- Supervision – analyses and recommends modifications to business practices to ensure ongoing soundness and stability of organisations in the UK banking and insurance sectors. The Bank of England explains supervision in more detail.
- Content and standards – implements standards and licensing regulations, ensures effective delivery of services (eg, public service broadcasting).
- Economic regulation – ensures good choice of services available to public with sufficient competition operating in market.
- External affairs – keeps abreast of international laws which may affect business; provides advice on governance.
- Public affairs – liaises with MPs and provides input to select committees to influence policy and regulation.
- Strategy and market progress – monitors future regulatory changes needed to support business; defines organisational approach to regulation with respect to strategic goals.
- ESG – currently a proliferation of roles with ESG in the title. This article from efinancialcareers gives more insight into what is involved.
You might also find some of the roles in our careers in financial services page interesting.
For graduates and early career applicants there are several graduate and internship schemes particularly with regulators and professional services firms:
Regulators:
Professional services firms:
For experienced hires, there are a wide range of roles available within all aspects of regulation, whether with the regulatory bodies, specialist consultancies, professional services, financial institutions, or businesses in sectors of high regulation. Visit the careers pages of potential employers as well as using the jobs boards detailed below.
Employers look for knowledge and understanding of the regulatory frameworks that apply to their sector, or a motivation to learn them, as well as broader knowledge of and interest in the relevant sector. They also highlight the importance of strong professional integrity and credibility, analytical skills, problem solving skills, persistence, and excellent communications skills.
Professionals interested in regulation will often focus first on gaining experience, developing specialised sector or technical knowledge, and potentially acquiring professional qualifications, before moving into a regulatory role.
Where can I find out more about working in this sector?
Interested in finding out more about a career in regulation?
Here are some helpful links, including the ways LSE Careers can work with you on your journey.