Hundreds applied for two senior artificial intelligence jobs at Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), its chief data, information and intelligence officer Jessica Rusu told Bloomberg, as the regulator prepares for more oversight work.
The FCA estimates that about 60,000 businesses and sole practitioners will be affected by a transfer of anti-money-laundering supervision. It expects the handover to begin in autumn 2028 and finish around 2030. The plan would consolidate work now handled by professional body supervisors and some work handled by HM Revenue and Customs. The FCA says the change is intended to make supervision more consistent.
Initial setup funding will come from the Economic Crime Levy, with fees on supervised businesses planned afterward, according to the FCA’s reform plan.
Speaking on Oct. 19, Rusu described agentic AI tools and automation for FCA supervision of transaction reports filed by about 9,000 smaller wholesale-market firms. The tools include what she called a “market first responder agent.” She said automation should give supervisors more time for complex work.
The Head of Agentic AI and Data Science Research position covers research strategy and model governance, including possible uses of AI against financial crime. The Head of Department: AI & Technology Security Operations position would oversee security and disruption response for the FCA’s technology services, leading about 70 employees. Applications for the positions closed Oct. 18 and Oct. 5, respectively.
The FCA also published examples of how existing rules apply to firms’ use of AI on Oct. 19. They address consumer outcomes, accountability and operational resilience without adding requirements.
Rusu said the FCA plans to work with industry, other regulators and frontier labs on questions raised by AI agents acting for customers, including identity, authorization, execution and accountability. Such agents may handle payments or investments on customers’ behalf. A joint AI survey by the FCA and Bank of England is due next week.
