Senior Policy Associate

The FRC published a new UK Corporate Governance Code in 2024 and listed companies will begin reporting against it during 2025. The FRC recently published the UK Stewardship Code 2026, with signatories reporting against this Code from 2026 onwards.

This role is part of a dynamic team developing the FRC’s approach to corporate governance and stewardship monitoring, assessment and obtaining evidence to support policy development. The postholder will be expected to work flexibly on both corporate governance and stewardship matters.

• Lead the comprehensive analysis of the quality of corporate governance reporting by UK listed companies, researching evidence and examples for the annual review of corporate governance reporting.
• Work as part of the team that drafts the annual UK corporate governance reporting review and producing high quality content on areas of expertise.
• Promote and support the Wates Governance Principles for Large Private Companies, providing analysis and developing policy as appropriate.
• Undertake the comprehensive analysis of the quality of reporting from asset managers, asset owners and service providers applying to become signatories to the UK Stewardship Code.
• Contribute to the end-to-end assessment process for UK Stewardship Code applications.
• Play a leading role in critical analysis of the quality of stewardship reporting by UK Stewardship Code signatories, researching evidence and examples for the annual review of stewardship reporting
• As part of a team draft the annual review of stewardship reporting review and producing high quality content on areas of expertise
• Review, analyse and summarise relevant research, policy papers and consultations, and preparing briefings for senior colleagues.
• Accompany senior colleagues to external meetings, providing high quality briefing and liaising directly with external stakeholders when appropriate.
• Work on cross-organisational initiatives that promote good governance and stewardship or support organisational transformation.

Skills & Knowledge

• Have relevant experience in governance or stewardship
• A detailed understanding of the UK corporate governance and stewardship frameworks, and the interaction between government, regulators and stakeholders.
• Understanding the requirements of company annual reports, in particular narrative reporting,
• Familiarity with stewardship practice and the UK regulatory landscape for stewardship.
• Ability to manage priorities, own workload and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to draft clearly for a professional and public audience.
• Ability to provide leadership to more junior team members.
• Good proficiency using Microsoft applications and embrace new technologies to support deliverables.
• Drafting and reviewing informative and influential reports and guidance
• Engage with other organisations who have interests in these areas.
• Liaising with external stakeholders in meetings and at events as appropriate.
• Maintaining effective internal FRC relationships and cross-working.
• Excellent standard of written and verbal communication.
• Be comfortable working in a changing business and policy environment.
• Ability to analyse corporate governance and stewardship reporting in-depth.
• Ability to communicate findings of analysis accurately and succinctly both in writing and orally.
• Understand how findings of analysis can support future policy making.
• Identification of trends and key issues and resulting in convincing recommendations.
• Communicate existing and new ideas confidently and recommend policy proposals to senior colleagues.
• Be a collaborative team player.
• Work flexibility across projects and teams.
• Manage time and priorities effectively.
• Work effectively with third parties on external projects.
• Supporting the UK Corporate Governance Code, bringing integrity and transparency to business.
• Supporting the UK Stewardship Code and upholding high quality reporting, contributing to the UK as an attractive investment location and asset management centre.

Please apply by following the link our website https://www.frc.org.uk/frc-for-you/careers and uploading a copy of your CV and covering letter as a single document upload. In the covering letter, please set out, by reference to the person specification above how you meet the required skillset.

• How you meet the required skillset
• Tell us where you heard about this job

Rewards and benefits

• The FRC offers remuneration packages, including 30 days annual leave, ability to buy extra leave.
• Generous employer pension contribution of 10%.
• Staff Employee Assistance Programme including confidential counselling and work life services.
• The FRC offers staff the opportunity to save at least 25% on the purchase of a new bike through the Cycle to work scheme.
• The FRC has a strong work/life balance ethos.

The FRC believes that equality of opportunity and diversity is important in the work that we do and we are strongly committed to being an inclusive employer. Our values of being fair and independent supports this commitment. We're a signatory to the Government's Disability Confident scheme, which means that we guarantee an interview to any disabled candidates entering under the scheme, should they meet the minimum criteria for a role.

Equal opportunities monitoring is an important means of demonstrating and implementing our commitment to promoting equality of opportunity and diversity. Completing our diversity form will assist the FRC to identify any barriers that prevent access to employment and career development for certain groups of people, and to develop solutions, such as action plans, new policies and practices.

The role is based in our central Birmingham office. The post holder should be able to work flexibly to support the team’s activities and also provide cover within the FRC as necessary. The FRC operates a hybrid working arrangement with its workforce. The FRC operates a hybrid working arrangement, with a expectation that 40% of a person's working time will be located at one of our offices per week, with precise arrangements to be agreed between the employee and the line manager.