The Hardest PCF Roles to Fill in Irish FinTech, and How Long They Take
Why Head of Compliance, MLRO, CRO and CEO roles are the hardest PCF hires in Irish FinTech, how long they take, and seven ways boards can hire better.
The Hardest PCF Roles to Fill in Irish FinTech, and How Long They Take
The senior talent market in Irish FinTech is not uniformly tight. It has split in two. Some PCF roles are severely constrained. Others have become noticeably easier to fill. Boards that treat every senior hire as equally difficult overpay in some areas and move too slowly in others.
Talent Pool Depth by Role
Role | Pool depth |
CEO / Managing Director (PCF-8) | Severely constrained, and currently the tightest of all |
Head of Compliance (PCF-12) | Severely constrained |
MLRO (PCF-52) | Severely constrained |
Chief Risk Officer (PCF-14) | Severely constrained |
CFO (PCF-11) | Adequate, having eased in recent years |
COO | Adequate |
CTO | Adequate |
INED (PCF-2B) and Chair (PCF-3) | Deep, and the easiest to source |
For the constrained roles, only a small fraction of qualified people are open to a new opportunity at any given time.
Why Compliance, MLRO and Risk Are So Hard
Head of Compliance (PCF-12) and MLRO (PCF-52).
The people best suited to these roles tend to be risk-averse. They benchmark against banking base pay and don't value equity, which is exactly what most FinTechs lead with. AMLA preparation and the Central Bank's focus on financial crime are adding further demand.
Chief Risk Officer (PCF-14).
It is rare to find PCF-14 seniority combined with the technical credibility to lead DORA, AI risk governance and operational resilience. Traditional CROs often lack the digital side, while technology risk specialists often lack CBI regulatory standing.
CEO / Managing Director (PCF-8).
Leaders with direct experience of taking a firm through Central Bank authorisation are among the hardest profiles to find. They are usually in stable, well-paid roles, and salary alone will not move them.
How Long Does a PCF Hire Take in Ireland?
Plan on around six months from going to market to the hire starting:
About three months from going to market to a signed offer
About three months of notice before the candidate starts, which is rarely negotiable
Candidate sourcing itself is fast. Most serious responses come within the first two weeks. When a timeline slips, the cause is usually the hiring firm's own internal process, not a shortage of interested candidates.
What Actually Makes Senior Leaders Move
At this level, money is rarely the main reason people move. These are the factors that decide it:
Scope and genuine authority. A flat role with a strong salary still loses people.
The board's attitude to governance. Compliance and risk leaders leave boards that treat regulation as a cost to minimise.
The team beneath them. An under-resourced function puts personal regulatory risk on the PCF holder, and that drives departures.
Total package. Salary becomes decisive mainly when a credible external offer arrives.
Seven Ways to Hire Better for PCF Roles
Map the market twelve months ahead of any expected PCF-12, PCF-52 or PCF-14 vacancy. The Central Bank expects firms to have succession pipelines for PCF roles.
Benchmark compliance and risk pay against banking, not FinTech norms. Don't lead with equity for these roles.
Consider promoting from deputy level rather than always hiring externally.
Fix your internal process. Most delays come from the hiring firm, not the candidate market.
Resource the team beneath the hire. It is a retention lever as much as a hiring one.
Frame offers around take-home value when international candidates are in the mix.
Negotiate firmly where supply has eased, in CFO, CTO, COO and back-office roles, and spend where scarcity is real.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PCF role?
A Pre-Approval Controlled Function is a senior role that needs Central Bank of Ireland approval before the person takes it up. Examples include CEO (PCF-8), Head of Compliance (PCF-12), Head of Risk (PCF-14) and Head of AML and CFT (PCF-52).
How long does it take to hire a Head of Compliance in Ireland?
Around six months: roughly three months to a signed offer, then roughly three months of notice.
Which PCF role is hardest to fill in Irish FinTech?
CEO and Managing Director is currently the tightest, followed closely by Head of Compliance, MLRO and CRO.
Hiring for a PCF or Senior Role?
For a confidential conversation about a PCF, leadership or board appointment, contact Paul Smyth at paul@nexussearch.io.
Paul Smyth is the founder of Nexus Search, an Irish executive search firm specialising in PCF, C-suite and board appointments across regulated FinTech and financial services. He has worked in financial services talent since 2007, including managing recruitment across most of Europe at State Street, and is an ICF PCC accredited executive coach.
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