Sector Practices
Payments and Fintech Executive Search
Leaders for regulated payments and fintech firms
Phoenix Search runs retained executive search for payments, e-money and fintech firms regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, the FCA and US regulators. We hire the executives who hold the licence together: CEOs, compliance and risk leaders, finance heads and the commercial leaders who scale the business.
Ireland has become a primary EU base for payment institutions, e-money institutions and crypto asset service providers. Every one of those firms needs a credible local leadership team, and the regulator expects real substance. The pool of executives who have built and run an authorised entity in Ireland is small, and every new entrant is competing for it.
Growth stage firms face a second problem. The team that won the licence is not always the team that scales it. Boards and investors need leaders who can run a regulated business and grow revenue at the same time.
How we search
We map the regulated market. We track the leadership of CBI authorised payment, e-money and crypto firms in Ireland, so we know who has run an authorised entity, who has taken a firm through authorisation and who is likely to move.
We assess for regulatory credibility. For PCF roles we test candidates against fitness and probity expectations before they reach your shortlist, and we build approval timelines into the plan.
We understand the commercial model. Payments businesses live on volume, partnerships and unit economics. We hire leaders who understand the numbers as well as the rulebook.
Roles we search for
- CEOs and Country Heads of authorised payment and e-money institutions
- Heads of Compliance, MLROs and Chief Risk Officers, including PCF roles
- CFOs and Heads of Finance, including safeguarding and regulatory reporting
- COOs and Heads of Payment Operations
- Chief Commercial Officers, Heads of Partnerships and Business Development leaders
- Independent Non-Executive Directors for regulated boards
Markets: Dublin and the wider Irish market, London and the UK, and US fintech and payments firms building their European base in Ireland. See also our risk and compliance practice.
Frequently asked questions
Can you help a firm going through CBI authorisation?
Yes. Applicants need credible, approvable people in key PCF roles before authorisation is granted. We help firms identify and secure those leaders early in the process.
Do you recruit non-executive directors for fintech boards?
Yes. We search for independent non-executive directors with payments, risk, audit and regulatory experience. See our board appointments practice.
Do you only work in Ireland?
No. We search across Ireland, the UK and the US, and often work with US firms hiring their first Irish leadership team.
