Financial services enters 2026 with a changing leadership landscape shaped by regulation, cost pressure, new product demands and continued competition for technical and commercially capable senior talent. We’ve compiled a concise view of where movement is happening, and where competition for high performers is expected to tighten.
Increased Mobility Across Risk and Compliance
Leadership turnover in risk, compliance and financial crime has risen through 2025 as organisations adjust to regulatory expectations and heightened scrutiny.
Key points:
- Firms are upgrading senior talent rather than simply replacing roles like-for-like.
- Individuals with experience in complex or multi-jurisdictional environments are receiving multiple approaches.
- Reports indicate rising vacancy cycles in operational risk and compliance due to tighter oversight from regulators.
Renewed Focus on Finance Leadership
Finance functions are being reshaped to manage cost discipline, automation, tighter capital requirements and more predictive reporting.
Strong demand areas:
- Group Finance Directors with transformation credibility.
- CFOs able to manage capital efficiency and regulatory dialogue.
- Finance leaders with experience in restructuring or cost optimisation.
Competition is already visible among banks, insurers and larger fintechs, particularly for individuals who can operate across finance, risk and strategic planning.
Operational Leadership and Efficiency
Organisations are seeking leaders who can deliver structural efficiency without harming customer experience or commercial performance.
Notable trends:
- Chief Operating Officers with experience integrating technology into service models.
- Operations Directors capable of redesigning multi-market processes.
- High-performing operational executives being approached by both incumbents and newer entrants.
Commercial and Product Leadership
As financial institutions expand product lines and respond to increased competition from fintech, demand has risen for commercially minded leaders.
In demand:
- Commercial Directors with proven revenue growth in regulated products.
- Product leaders who can balance innovation with risk and regulatory constraints.
- Executives able to reposition propositions in response to margin pressure.
Leadership Mobility Driven by Transformation
Many organisations are running transformation agendas in parallel with cost initiatives. This is leading to increased leadership movement, particularly in roles that bridge strategy, execution and people management.
Emerging patterns:
- Organisations seeking leaders with stronger people capability to stabilise teams after change.
- Boards prioritising individuals with experience in turnaround or integration.
- High-performers showing more openness to approach due to uncertainty in their current environment.
Roles Likely To See the Highest Competition in 2026
Finance: CFO, Group Finance Director, FP&A leadership.
Risk: CRO, Operational Risk leadership, Financial Crime.
Operations: COO, Operations Director, transformation-focused leaders.
Commercial: Commercial Director, Heads of Product in regulated areas.
Technology (where relevant): Tech and change leaders with risk-aligned delivery experience.
What This Means for 2026 Hiring
Based on current activity, competition for senior candidates will intensify in early 2026 as firms begin executing their plans. The strongest candidates are already receiving multiple discreet approaches, and the most successful organisations are the ones planning search activity ahead rather than reacting late in the cycle.
For organisations considering change across finance, risk, operational leadership or commercial functions, early planning materially improves access to high performers who will not be visible on the open market. Check out how our financial services executive search team may be able to help.
