Sector Practices
Fund Administration Executive Search
Leadership hiring for fund services and corporate services
Phoenix Search runs retained executive search for fund administrators, fund services groups and corporate services providers across Ireland, the UK, the wider EU, the offshore centres, the UAE, Asia and the US. We hire the leaders who run client service, operations, risk and growth in firms where one senior hire can move a whole platform.
The sector has consolidated fast. Private equity ownership, serial acquisitions and platform integrations have reshaped who owns whom, and the leadership bench has not kept pace. Most strong candidates are already in post, often tied in by deferred compensation or a live integration they do not want to leave.
The role itself has changed too. A Country Head or Head of Fund Accounting in Dublin today runs a regulated entity, manages Central Bank engagement, delivers technology change and grows revenue from existing clients. That combination is scarce, and it rarely responds to a job advert.
How we run a fund services search
We start with the market map, not the database. Phoenix maintains a fund administration leadership register covering around 100 firms across four tiers, from global administrators to specialist providers. It tracks incumbents, leadership moves and hiring activity, so every search starts with a clear view of who holds the role you are hiring for, and who is likely to move.
We test for the job as it is now. Candidates are assessed against the regulatory, operational and commercial demands of your platform, including fitness and probity readiness for PCF roles.
We manage the close. Senior people in this sector carry real cost to move. We deal with buyouts, notice and timing early, so an offer does not fail at the last step.
Roles we search for
- Country Heads, Managing Directors and Executive Directors of regulated fund administration entities
- Heads of Fund Accounting, Transfer Agency, Depositary and Investor Services
- Chief Operating Officers and Heads of Operations and Transformation
- Heads of Compliance, MLROs and Chief Risk Officers, including PCF and SMF roles
- Heads of Business Development, Relationship Management and Client Solutions
- CFOs and finance leaders for fund services and corporate services groups
Markets we cover:
- Ireland: Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny and Limerick
- United Kingdom: London, Edinburgh and the wider UK
- Wider EU: Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Malta
- Offshore centres: Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man and the British Virgin Islands
- Middle East: UAE, including Dubai (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi (ADGM)
- Asia: Singapore and Hong Kong
- United States: New York and nationwide
Market intelligence: read The Funds and Corporate Services Sector Report, H1 2026 and our briefing on AIFMD II and UCITS leadership readiness.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a fund administration executive search take?
A typical retained search runs 10 to 14 weeks from briefing to accepted offer. Notice periods for senior roles in Ireland and the UK are commonly three to six months, so start dates need planning well ahead.
Do you handle PCF and SMF roles?
Yes. We search for pre-approval control function roles under the Central Bank of Ireland’s fitness and probity regime, and senior manager functions in the UK, and we build approval timelines into the search plan.
Do you work with private equity owned fund administrators?
Yes. Much of the sector is now sponsor backed. We work with management teams and investors on leadership hires through acquisition, integration and growth.
