Sector Practices
Investment Banking Executive Search in Dublin
Senior hires for investment banks, advisory firms and capital markets teams in Dublin
Phoenix Search runs retained executive search for investment banks, corporate finance advisory firms and capital markets businesses hiring in Dublin. We hire Managing Directors, Directors, coverage bankers, product heads and the leaders who run the regulated platform behind them, for Irish advisory firms and banks and for international banks whose EU regulated entity is run from Dublin.
Dublin is one of Europe’s largest centres for international banking, and many firms run their EU regulated entity from Ireland. That gives a senior banking hire in Dublin two jobs: winning and executing business, and carrying regulatory responsibility for the Irish entity. The pool of people who can do both is small, well known and rarely on the market.
Irish dealmaking is busy. The William Fry M&A Review H1 2026 put Irish deal value at EUR 33.2bn in the first half, up from EUR 11.4bn a year earlier, with 82% of activity in mid-market deals and overseas buyers accounting for practically all deal value. The banks and advisers working on those deals are competing for the same senior people. Our investment banking executive search team also works in London and New York, so every Dublin shortlist is tested against the wider market.
How we run a Dublin banking search
We map coverage, not CVs. We map Dublin and London teams by sector, product and client, so we know who covers the Irish corporates, sponsors and institutions you want and who is open to a conversation.
We test franchise portability. Revenue track record, client relationships and how a banker’s business will travel are assessed before anyone reaches your shortlist.
We test regulatory readiness. Where a role is a pre-approval controlled function under the Central Bank of Ireland’s fitness and probity regime, we assess readiness during the search and build the approval into the timetable.
We manage the move. Deferred compensation buyouts, garden leave, regulatory references and, for candidates relocating from London or further afield, the practicalities of a move to Dublin are planned from the start, so an accepted offer becomes a realistic start date.
Roles we search for in Dublin
- Managing Directors and Directors in industry coverage and M&A
- Senior leaders for the Irish operations of international banks and advisory firms
- Heads of ECM, DCM, leveraged finance and debt advisory
- Partners, Directors and Heads of Corporate Finance at Irish advisory firms and banks
- Financial sponsors coverage and private equity relationship leaders
- COOs, CFOs and platform leaders for banks and advisory firms, including PCF roles
- Heads of Risk, Compliance and MLROs for banking entities
- Coverage team moves, handled with full confidentiality
See also our investment banking executive search in London, M&A and corporate finance executive search in Ireland for deal teams at Irish advisory firms and corporates, and PCF executive search in Ireland for regulated roles. For our wider Irish practice, see executive search in Dublin.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with Irish advisory firms as well as international banks?
Yes. We work with global investment banks, mid-market advisory firms and boutique corporate finance houses. Many of our searches are for firms adding a sector, a product or sponsor coverage to their team.
Are senior banking roles in Dublin subject to Central Bank approval?
Many are. Senior roles in Irish regulated firms are often pre-approval controlled functions (PCFs) under the Central Bank of Ireland’s fitness and probity regime. We test fitness and probity readiness during assessment and plan the approval into the start date. Our PCF executive search page explains more.
How long does a senior banking search in Dublin take?
Allow 12 to 16 weeks to an accepted offer. Garden leave for senior bankers is often three to six months, sometimes longer, so plan start dates early.
Do you search outside Ireland for Dublin roles?
Yes. Many senior Irish hires come from London, Luxembourg or the US, including Irish executives returning home. Our investment banking team searches across London, New York and Dublin, so the shortlist reflects the best available candidates rather than only the local market.
Do you handle team moves?
Yes. We run team hires confidentially and plan the legal, compensation and timing issues with you from day one.
