Now Placing Leaders Across the United Kingdom

Executive Search at the Heart of London Fintech

London is the world's fintech capital. Our founder spent 17 years in senior leadership roles here — giving Fintech HI.RE UK an unmatched depth of relationship and market knowledge across the UK's extraordinary financial services ecosystem.

Request Talent View Opportunities
17 Years in UK Fintech
25+ Years C-Level Experience
Zero Fluff. Real Delivery.
Scroll
AI & ML· Payments· Open Banking· Neobanks· RegTech· Embedded Finance· Challenger Banks· Lending & Credit· Core Banking· Wealth Tech· InsurTech· FCA RegTech· AI & ML· Payments· Open Banking· Neobanks· RegTech· Embedded Finance· Challenger Banks· Lending & Credit· Core Banking· Wealth Tech· InsurTech· FCA RegTech·
What We Offer

Human Intelligence.
Resourcing Evolved.

Executive search built on 17 years of lived experience inside London's fintech and financial services ecosystem — now available to the UK's most ambitious companies.

01

Executive Search

We place C-suite and senior leadership — CTOs, CPOs, CROs, Heads of Payments, GTM leaders, Chief Risk Officers — across London's banks, challenger banks, fintechs, and financial services firms.

Learn More →
02

Board & NED Search

Independent non-executive directors and board advisors for FCA-regulated fintechs, challenger banks, and payments companies navigating UK governance, regulatory scrutiny, and growth.

Learn More →
03

Offshore Resourcing

Cost-effective, high-quality technical teams from South Africa and India — allowing UK fintechs to scale delivery without sacrificing quality or cultural fit, at a fraction of London's hiring cost.

Learn More →
Cliff van Tonder
Why Fintech HI.RE UK

17 Years.
London Fintech.

Cliff van Tonder, founder and CEO, spent 17 years in senior and C-level roles at some of London's most significant fintech and financial services companies — including Finastra (Global Head, Accenture Partnership), Lombard Risk (EVP Global Alliances & COO), Avoka (EVP Alliance Partners), BNP Paribas Securities Services (Head of Business Development), and SOFGEN (EVP Europe).

He has built and managed relationships across the City, scaled European and global teams, and sat at the executive table through two decades of fintech transformation in the UK. This isn't recruitment by outsiders — it's advice and placement from someone who's lived it.

Our Story
✦

Deep UK Market Knowledge

17 years in London's fintech and banking ecosystem — from the City's tier-one institutions to the challenger banks and SaaS fintechs reshaping UK financial services.

✦

FCA-Regulated Market Expertise

We understand UK regulatory requirements, FCA authorisation, and what compliance-aware leadership looks like — crucial for any fintech hiring at senior level in the UK.

✦

Global-Connected, London-Focused

Our global network spans 6 regions and 4 continents — meaning we can source UK-based leaders for global roles, or global executives ready to lead in the UK.

✦

British Citizen Award Recipient

Our founder is a British Citizen Award recipient — a recognition of outstanding contribution to the UK, reflecting deep personal commitment to this market.

Our Sectors

The Full UK
Fintech Ecosystem.

From Canary Wharf's global banks to Shoreditch's challenger fintechs — we serve every corner of the UK financial services stack.

🤖 AI & Agentic Fintech 💳 Payments & Open Banking 🏦 Challenger & Neobanks 📊 Lending & Credit 🔐 RegTech & FCA Compliance 🛡️ InsurTech ⚡ SaaS & Core Banking Vendors 💎 Wealth Tech & Capital Markets
Our UK Footprint

From the City
to the Regions.

We place fintech leaders across the UK's major financial and tech hubs — and internationally for cross-border mandates.

🏛️

London & the City

The world's fintech capital — tier-one banks, challenger banks, FCA-regulated fintechs, and global SaaS vendors

🔬

Shoreditch & East London

The Silicon Roundabout ecosystem — AI-first startups, neobanks, payments innovators, and embedded finance companies

🌊

Canary Wharf

Global investment banks, custodians, wealth managers, and financial infrastructure companies undergoing digital transformation

🏭

Manchester & Leeds

The North's growing fintech scene — financial services firms, insurers, and the thriving Manchester technology ecosystem

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Edinburgh & Scotland

One of Europe's largest financial centres outside London — major banks, asset managers, insurance, and fintech innovation

🌎

Global & Cross-Border

UK-headquartered fintechs expanding globally, or overseas firms entering the UK market — our 6-region network has you covered

What Clients Say
"

Cliff's network in London is the real thing. He introduced us to candidates we simply couldn't have found through any other channel. Exceptional quality, exceptional discretion.

— Chair, London-headquartered Payments Fintech
"

We needed a Chief Revenue Officer who understood both the technical and the regulatory complexity of UK open banking. Fintech HI.RE delivered — faster than we expected, with a candidate who exceeded our brief in every way.

— CEO, FCA-regulated Neobank, London
"

The depth of insight Cliff brings to a search is unlike any recruiter I've worked with. He's been in these roles — and it shows in every conversation he facilitates.

— MD, Global Core Banking Vendor, London
Founder's UK Industry Pedigree

Cliff van Tonder previously held senior and C-level roles at leading UK and global fintech companies

Finastra
Lombard Risk
Avoka
BNP Paribas
SOFGEN
Zafin

Ready to Hire
the Next Generation of UK Fintech Leaders?

Whether you're an FCA-regulated challenger bank scaling your executive team, a global SaaS vendor entering the UK market, or a fintech startup building your board — let's talk.

Request Talent I'm a Candidate