Markets & reach

Financial Services

I've recruited in investment banking and the public sector, and later won and ran a recruitment process outsourcing account for a financial services client. Financial services hiring rewards discretion and precision, and both sides expect a recruiter who understands the regulatory weight of senior roles.

Roles I place

  • Finance Directors
  • Heads of Risk and Compliance
  • Operations and Change leads
  • Fintech leaders
  • Senior Analysts and Relationship Managers
Illuminated office towers along a rain-soaked city street at dusk, with a pedestrian carrying an umbrella

Earlier in my career I won and ran a recruitment process outsourcing account for a financial services client, managing their hiring end to end.

Hiring guide

Hiring in financial services, honestly assessed.

The UK has an established financial services workforce, while Dubai and Abu Dhabi are growing quickly and actively recruiting experienced UK finance leaders.

2.5m

people worked in UK financial and related professional services in 2024, approximately

Source

4,122

new jobs created by Dubai International Financial Centre in 2025

Source

51%

growth in Abu Dhabi Global Market's workforce, reaching 44,339 in 2025

Source

What this means for a senior hire

Experienced UK finance leaders are being actively recruited to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. UK employers competing for the same people need to move decisively, and Gulf employers need to sell the whole move, not just the package.

Relevant services

Related insights

Discretion by design

Confidential
executive search.

For board and senior appointments that need discretion. A private conversation first, always.

For companies

Hiring for a senior role? Send me the brief and I’ll tell you honestly what the market looks like.

For candidates

Thinking about a move? We can talk privately. Nothing goes anywhere without your agreement.