Financial Services Finance Recruitment London | Alexander Charles Associates

Why It Matters

A Regulated Balance Sheet Changes the Brief

Finance leadership in a financial services firm is not the same job as finance leadership in a commercial business. On top of the usual demands of reporting, planning and cash sit regulatory capital and liquidity, FCA reporting, fund and product accounting, and an audit relationship with almost no room for error. The regulator, the investors and the board all read the same numbers, and they expect the person who owns them to explain the position without hesitation.

That raises the bar on every hire. Technical qualification is assumed; what matters is whether the person has done it inside a regulated environment, can lead a team through a reporting cycle under scrutiny, and has the presence to represent the firm to its regulator and its backers.

How We Work

Consultants Who Have Sat in the Seat

Every consultant at Alexander Charles Associates is a qualified accountant drawn from a senior finance position. We understand what a regulated reporting cycle actually involves, so we assess candidates on the substance of what they have done rather than the labels on a CV.

We meet you in person to understand the firm, its regulatory context and the character that will fit. We then give you access to candidates who are not on the market: more than 60% of our placements are headhunted through direct approach and original research, drawing on three decades of network across London financial services. We run as much of the process as you need and stay involved through onboarding.

The ACA Difference

What You Get Working With Us

Regulated-Sector Fluency

Your search is led by a qualified accountant who understands regulatory capital, fund accounting and the FCA reporting a candidate will actually own.

A London FS Network

Three decades of relationships across banking, asset management, hedge funds and insurance, used to reach people who are not looking.

Headhunt, Not Advertise

Over 60% of our placements are made by direct approach, keeping a sensitive senior hire discreet while it is under way.

Aftercare That Lasts

Our follow-up service continues well past the offer, protecting the appointment for both the firm and the person who joins it.

Coverage

Where We Work in Financial Services

Sub-Sectors

We recruit into the finance function across the breadth of London financial services:

Banking Asset Management Wealth Management Hedge Funds Alternative Asset Management Private Equity Venture Capital Family Office Insurance Fintech

Roles We Place

Across every level of the senior finance function:

Chief Financial Officer
Finance Director
VP Finance
Group Financial Controller
Financial Controller
Financial Planning & Analysis
Treasury Director & Controller
Management & Financial Accountants

Common Questions

Financial Services Finance Recruitment, Answered

Which financial services businesses does Alexander Charles Associates recruit for?

Banks, asset managers, wealth managers, hedge funds, alternative asset managers, private equity and venture capital firms, insurers and fintech businesses. We recruit into the finance function of the firm itself, from founder-led boutiques through to established institutions.

Why does financial services finance recruitment need a specialist?

Finance leaders in a regulated business carry responsibilities a general commercial CFO does not: regulatory capital and liquidity, FCA reporting, fund or product accounting, and an audit relationship with far less tolerance for error.

Every consultant at Alexander Charles Associates is a qualified accountant with senior finance experience, so we test for that depth directly rather than screening a CV.

What roles do you place in financial services?

Chief Financial Officer, Finance Director, VP Finance, Group Financial Controller, Financial Controller, Financial Planning & Analysis, Treasury Director and Treasury Controller, and Management and Financial Accountants.

How do you find candidates who aren't on the market?

Over 60% of our placements are headhunted rather than advertised. We build a target list from original research and three decades of network in London financial services, then approach those people directly and in confidence.

How long does a search take?

The timeline is set by your needs and priorities, and we agree it with you at the briefing.

Because the shortlist is built from active research and direct approaches rather than waiting on applications, a focused search moves at a predictable pace, and we run as much or as little of the interview process as you need.

Do you work on a retained basis, and how are your fees structured?

We work on a retained, fixed-fee basis. The fee is agreed at the outset and does not change with the candidate's salary, so you know the full cost of the search from the start.

Every search is also covered by a replacement guarantee.

Do you cover fintech and earlier-stage financial services firms?

Yes. We work with businesses from pre-revenue and pre-IPO through to listed and FTSE 100 scale, including fintech firms hiring their first institutional finance leader ahead of a funding round or regulatory milestone.

Where is Alexander Charles Associates based?

At 23 Berkeley Square in Mayfair, London. Most of our financial services work is in the City and the West End, and we search across the UK and Europe when a client needs it.

The People Behind Every Search

Your Search, Led in Person

Kelvin Trott

Chief Executive Officer

Kelvin began his career in finance, working across the insurance sector, before moving into recruitment over 35 years ago. He founded Alexander Charles Associates and specialises in senior finance appointments across private equity, financial services and real estate.

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Alexander Trott

Finance Recruitment Director

Alexander spent 15 years in finance roles, progressing to Finance Director, before moving into recruitment. He is ACCA qualified and now FCCA, and specialises in senior finance appointments across private equity-backed companies, financial services and real estate.