Episodes

Senior recruitment is becoming increasingly specialised. Businesses and regulated firms need leaders and professionals who understand not only their job function, but also the financial, regulatory and commercial environment in which they operate. That is the thinking behind five specialist recruitment brands: CFO Capital, FD Capital Group, Regulatory Capital, MLRO Capital and Broker Recruit. Each has a distinct focus, while together they provide access to a broader network of specialist finan...

Today we are looking at an issue that can create an immediate problem for regulated financial services businesses: what happens when an SMF16 Compliance Oversight or SMF17 Money Laundering Reporting Officer becomes unavailable? A senior compliance professional may resign, take extended leave, become temporarily unable to perform their role, or leave the business unexpectedly. The firm still has to operate, customers still need to be protected, financial crime risks still need to be managed and ...

Welcome to the FD Capital podcast, where we explore finance leadership, financial services recruitment, regulatory change and the people who help businesses grow while managing risk effectively. Today, we are looking at an increasingly important area of financial services: payments and e-money compliance recruitment. We will discuss why payment institutions and electronic money institutions need experienced compliance leadership, the challenges facing firms under the FCA's regulatory framework,...

Welcome to the FD Capital podcast. Today, we’re discussing consumer credit compliance recruitment and why the right compliance leaders matter for lenders, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) providers, point-of-sale finance firms and growing fintech businesses. Find out more about FD Capital’s service: https://www.fdcapital.co.uk/consumer-credit-compliance-recruitment-smf16-smf17-and-compliance-leadership-for-lenders-bnpl-providers-and-point-of-sale-finance-firms/ Why specialist compliance recruitment ma...

Welcome to the FD Capital Podcast, where we explore finance leadership, fractional executives and the changing needs of businesses across the UK. Today we're looking at an increasingly important option for FCA-regulated firms: fractional compliance officers. Every regulated business needs effective compliance leadership. But does every firm really need a full-time Head of Compliance or Chief Compliance Officer? That's the thinking behind fractional compliance. What Is a Fractional Compliance...

Today we're announcing the launch of something new from the FD Capital group: SMF Capital, a specialist recruitment practice dedicated to Senior Manager Function appointments within UK financial services. The new business is now live at www.smfcapital.co.uk. So why have we launched SMF Capital, and what does it offer regulated firms? Why SMF Capital? Since FD Capital was founded in 2018, we've specialised in recruiting Finance Directors, CFOs and senior finance professionals, including fracti...

Welcome back to The Regulatory Leadership Podcast. Today we're tackling one of the most significant regulatory developments to impact UK financial services in recent years: Consumer Duty. If you're a Chief Compliance Officer, Risk Director, Board Member, Head of Compliance, or anyone involved in FCA-regulated businesses, you'll know that Consumer Duty is no longer an implementation project. It's now a permanent part of how firms are expected to operate. The challenge facing many organisations...

Why Every FCA-Regulated Firm Needs a Regulatory Glossary Introduction Welcome to The FCA Compliance & Leadership Podcast. If you've ever sat in a board meeting, compliance committee, regulatory audit, or FCA supervision discussion and heard terms like SMCR, SMF16, MIFIDPRU, CASS, CONC, PERG, PROD, DORA, PRIIPs, or Consumer Duty being thrown around, you'll know one thing immediately: Financial regulation has its own language. And unless everyone in your organisation speaks that language co...

Welcome to today's episode, where we're discussing one of the most significant regulatory developments in UK financial services – Consumer Duty. Since its introduction, Consumer Duty has transformed the way the FCA expects firms to operate. What started as a compliance implementation programme has evolved into something much bigger: an ongoing requirement for firms to demonstrate and evidence good customer outcomes. Today, we're exploring what firms have learned since implementation, where ma...

The Modern CFO: Why Finance Leadership Is Driving Business Growth in 2026 Welcome to today's episode, where we're exploring one of the biggest transformations happening inside modern businesses — the evolution of the CFO and Finance Director role. For decades, finance leaders were often seen as the guardians of budgets, reporting, and compliance. Today, that perception has completely changed. The modern CFO sits at the centre of strategic decision-making, growth planning, fundraising, operat...

Welcome to the Financial Leadership Podcast — the show where we explore the trends, challenges, and leadership issues shaping finance, compliance, and regulated businesses across the UK. Today’s episode focuses on one of the fastest-growing and most critical areas in financial services hiring: financial crime recruitment. From anti-money laundering and KYC to sanctions oversight and fraud prevention, firms are under increasing pressure from regulators, investors, and boards to strengthen their...

Welcome to the FD Capital Leadership Podcast — where we explore the leadership, regulation, and operational trends shaping UK financial services. Today’s episode is essential listening for: FCA-regulated firms Fintech founders Compliance professionals Senior Managers And firms preparing for FCA authorisation. We’re calling this episode: “The FCA Compliance Blueprint.” Because in today’s regulatory environment, understanding FCA expectations is no longer optional. In this episode we’ll c...

Welcome to The Regulated Growth Podcast — the show for founders, CFOs, compliance leaders, and regulated firms navigating the increasingly complex world of governance, risk, and financial regulation. Today we’re talking about one of the most business-critical hires in financial services right now — the Money Laundering Reporting Officer, or MLRO. Whether you’re an FCA-regulated fintech, a payments business, an investment manager, or a scaling e-money firm, your MLRO isn’t just another complian...

Welcome to the FD Capital Leadership Podcast, where we explore the people, regulations, and leadership trends shaping financial services today. I’m your host, and in today’s episode we’re discussing one of the most critical — and increasingly high-risk — leadership functions inside FCA and PRA-regulated firms: The Head of Regulatory Reporting. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies across banking, fintech, investment management, insurance, and payments, firms are discovering that regulatory repor...

Welcome back to the show, where we explore the people, strategies, and insights shaping modern finance leadership. Today’s episode dives into one of the most critical—and often misunderstood—appointments in financial services: the SMF2 regulated Chief Financial Officer. If you operate in an FCA-regulated environment, you already know that hiring a CFO isn’t just about financial stewardship. It’s about accountability, governance, and regulatory confidence. Under the Senior Managers and Certifica...

Welcome to today’s episode, where we’re focusing on a specialist role that sits at the heart of high-stakes financial decision-making: the Investment Management CFO. Because in investment-led businesses, finance isn’t just about reporting. It’s about performance. Risk. And capital allocation. And that requires a very different type of financial leadership. To Find Out more visit https://www.fdcapital.co.uk/investment-management-cfo/ And that’s where the complexity begins. Because unlike s...

Welcome to today’s episode, where we’re breaking down one of the most common questions growing businesses ask: How much does a Fractional CFO actually cost in the UK? Because here’s the reality. Pricing isn’t just about numbers—it’s about understanding value. And with fractional CFOs, that value comes from accessing senior financial leadership without committing to a full-time hire. So let’s break it down. First, the headline figures. In the UK, fractional CFO day rates typically range fr...

Welcome to today’s episode, where we’re diving into a topic that sits at the heart of every successful organisation: Finance Director executive search. Because here’s the reality. Hiring a Finance Director isn’t just about filling a role. It’s about bringing in someone who can shape financial strategy, influence decision-making, and guide the business through growth, risk, and change. And that’s why executive search matters. A Finance Director operates at board level. They’re responsible f...

Welcome to today’s episode, where we’re unpacking a question more businesses are asking than ever before: What’s the right way to access CFO-level expertise? Because here’s the shift. Not every business needs a full-time Chief Financial Officer. But almost every business, at some point, needs CFO-level thinking. That’s where modern CFO services come in. To find out more visit https://www.fdcapital.co.uk/cfo-services/ And choosing the right model is where real value is created. Let’s start...

elcome to Executive Insights, the podcast where we break down the strategies behind building, scaling, and successfully exiting a business. Today’s episode is all about one of the most critical — and often misunderstood — phases of a company’s journey: exit preparation. Whether you're planning a sale, a management buyout, or even an IPO, timing and financial leadership can make or break your outcome. We’re diving into a powerful framework inspired by this guide: 👉 https://www.fdcapital.co.uk/b...

Welcome to today’s episode, where we step inside the financial engine room of a successful business. If you want to understand how companies truly grow, scale, and ultimately maximise their value, you need to get to grips with three core finance disciplines: EBITDA, management accounts, and cash flow forecasting. Let’s start with EBITDA. You’ve probably heard the term thrown around in investor conversations, but what does it actually mean? EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depr...

Welcome back to The Growth Engine Podcast, where we break down the smartest ways to scale a UK business efficiently. Today’s episode is all about three powerful tools that can dramatically improve how you grow: EMI share schemes, R&D tax relief, and EIS/SEIS fundraising. Used correctly, these aren’t just helpful—they can completely reshape your growth strategy. Let’s start with EMI schemes. Hiring and retaining top talent is one of the biggest challenges for growing businesses. Salaries alone...

Welcome back to the podcast—today we’re diving into one of the hottest topics in finance careers right now: salaries, market demand, and how to benchmark your worth in 2026. If you’re a Financial Controller, working in compliance, or hiring for these roles, this episode is for you. Let’s start with the Financial Controller market. Demand has never been stronger. Businesses across the UK—especially in London—are competing hard for experienced finance professionals who can combine technical acco...

Welcome to today’s episode, where we break down one of the most searched questions in finance careers: how much do CFOs and Finance Directors actually earn in the UK? If you’re considering stepping into senior finance leadership, or you’re already on that path, understanding salary expectations is crucial. Today’s insights are based on two detailed resources from FD Capital. You can explore them here: How Much Does a CFO Earn? Finance Director Salary Guide Let’s start with the big picture. Fi...