Specialist Recruitment

For Regulated Advisory Firms

When firms approach us, they have usually already decided they need to hire, most often an adviser or a key support role.

Our role is to ensure that decision delivers the right outcome for the business, not just applicants

Our Approach

We work exclusively on a retained basis.

This allows us to manage the recruitment process properly,

from market positioning through to candidate assessment and alignment with the firm

In regulated advisory firms, hiring decisions affect more than headcount

They directly influence capacity, governance, adviser effectiveness, and the firm’s ability

to deliver good client outcomes under Consumer Duty

Our approach is designed to reflect that reality

What The Retainer Covers

As part of our retained service, we provide:

  • Structured briefing to understand the firm’s culture and operating model

  • Guidance on role definition and positioning before search begins

  • Promoted co-branded market search, where appropriate

  • Targeted search and outreach aligned to the candidate market

  • Filtering and assessment aligned to technical, cultural and structural fit

  • Ongoing guidance through shortlisting and interview stages

  • 24/7 client portal with video intro's, Summary, CV and ratings

When interviews begin, clients only meet candidates who genuinely make sense for their business

Why We Work This Way

Retained engagements allow us to:

  • Control how the role is presented to the market

  • Reduce noise and unsuitable applications

  • Filter candidates properly rather than quickly

  • Consider how a hire fits within the wider business

  • Support better long-term outcomes, not just a successful placement

This mirrors how professional advisory relationships work and

how recruitment works best in regulated environments

Commercial Structure

Fees are typically based on a percentage of the role's annual salary and are split into three stages:

  • At the start of the retainer

  • When interviews commence

  • When the successful candidate starts

This structure aligns commitment across the process and supports a managed, professional search

Our Focus

Our focus is not simply to fill roles, but to help firms make better hiring decisions;

decisions that strengthen the business rather than create pressure elsewhere

Contact Headhunters Recruitment to start a conversation

Headhunters Recruitment is a UK-based permanent recruitment agency specialising in

financial advice, wealth management, and FCA-regulated advisory firms.

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