Compliance & Financial Crime
In today’s evolving and unforgiving regulatory environment, our clients realise that effective compliance is an essential element for organisational health, stewardship and success. We have an in-depth understanding of the nowadays prominent field of compliance, and specialist sub-disciplines such as financial crime, as these functions have been a core focus for our company since we were founded.
Whilst a premium is still placed on technical expertise, there is now a pressing need for leaders in these fields to foster close collaboration between compliance and the wider business. Such specialists must be able to communicate effectively with a sophisticated group of internal and external stakeholders, whilst maintaining a firm eye on the detail.
Although the talent pool for individuals who can blend leadership competencies with a thorough understanding of regulation, systems and processes is limited, we can provide our clients with access to the best talent in the industry, using our search experience and relationships with well-positioned practitioners, and going the extra mile to achieve excellent results in a competitive hiring marketplace.
“The team has broad and deep knowledge of the compliance and risk fields, giving our internal stakeholders assurance that our search would encompass all available talent in the market.”
Head of Risk and Compliance, US Asset Management Group
Risk Management
Risk management, as a component of the management of modern financial institutions, remains in a phase on ongoing evolution, as the exact positioning and potential contribution of risk continues to be defined. Successful risk professionals must possess broad and detailed technical expertise relevant to their specialist subject and the regulation thereof, plus the creativity and people skills to allow them to work effectively with and influence boards of directors and senior management. They must be able to support, challenge, and build rapport at the most senior of levels, with a view to creating, capturing and preserving enterprise value.
We work with clients to identify, attract and secure professionals who see risk as core to the business of financial services, and who can help embed effective and appropriate risk management into the culture of the organisation
Our work spans the successful engagement of Chief Risk Officers and their management teams, including Deputy, Divisional and Regional CROs, Heads of Operational Risk, Heads of Market and Investment Risk, Heads of Financial and Enterprise Risk Directors, and various mid-senior staff.
“The insightful profiling of individuals in the market for a key role within our firm was exceptionally useful and led to a well-informed hiring decision by an Executive Committee member, and ultimately an excellent hire.”
Talent Acquisition Manager, UK Asset Management Group
Internal Audit & Finance
We are experienced specialists in internal audit and finance search, recruiting highly qualified accountants and auditors into a variety of financial services environments. Like other governance and controls functions, we have witnessed these disciplines evolve in recent years in line with changing market conditions.
A pressing, industry-wide need for improved and stronger controls, and increased regulatory scrutiny, has seen internal audit become a prominent and influential component of all serious companies’ governance frameworks. Whilst the core skills required in senior audit professionals are still specialist industry, subject matter and audit process expertise, a premium is also placed nowadays on leadership qualities, and the capacity to ‘set the agenda’.
Likewise, senior finance professionals – CFOs, controllers, and specialist accountants – must work closely with CEOs and Boards to serve and guide their businesses far beyond traditional expectations of responsibility. Financial accountants are trusted to interpret and work around complex international rules; management accountants now serve as deeply embedded business partners, leveraging emerging technology to produce and present insightful data to guide decision-making.
Our success in finding the best people for our clients is based on our experience, our network, and a highly developed understanding of the current issues at hand.
“The team took great care to understand our business, our culture and our people. The process was highly interactive, providing insights into the current working practices, careers, and aspirations of candidates, which was very helpful in refining the role and focusing on the ultimate solution.”
Head of Risk and Compliance, US Asset Management Group
The Board
The role of independent non-executive directors on the boards of UK-regulated financial services companies has evolved considerably in recent years. A major indication of this is the increased accountability held by INEDs under the Senior Managers Regime. Meanwhile, new commercial opportunities present themselves to modern financial services companies, along with an array of risks to be managed, plus new factors for consideration, such as ESG and cyber risk. Today’s INEDs are expected to make a substantial contribution to their boards, walking a tightrope between maintaining good governance and enabling business growth.
The ability to appoint the best people to these boards is therefore of fundamental importance to the health of the wider business but also the functioning of the board itself. When it comes to engaging and hiring the best and most suitable independent directors for your business, our firm is uniquely well-positioned.
The lifespan of our company to date has mirrored the careers of the financial industry’s most senior and experienced independent operatives. Our legacy, network and proven credibility give us ready access to this purposeful and discerning group, and our specialist search experience enables us to make the right introductions on your behalf.