Quentin Downes’ Post

Do you need to build out a financial crime, compliance and risk team for your business? It can be daunting thinking about how to plan and execute your hiring strategy, how to pitch roles and where to find people who will bring the right skills, knowledge and personality...   With twenty84 you’ll get access to our huge network, the kind of talent you may not get access to through a job advert, plus all our help, advice and expertise to build your high-performing team. 🙌   We’ve done it before. Here’s how. ⬇️   #hiring #financialcrime #compliance

Dear Companies, When a role has been reposted three times in eight weeks, with multiple shortlists, interview rounds, and still no hire, the candidate is not the problem. Perhaps your job description does not accurately reflect the role requirements, or you can’t find anyone to accept your compensation, which is below market value, or your recruitment screening methods are broken. Don’t become the company known for constant management changes, unclear job requirements, below market compensation, and never ending restructuring. Respectfully, The candidate who has applied to the same role three times. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Share this post with your network. And follow me for more content like this. AML | Fraud | Compliance | Internal Audit | Oversight Testing | Loss Prevention| Banking Jobs | Open To Work | Customer Service | Financial Services Representative | Personal Banker | FSR

Dear Resilient Employee, Stop writing yourself off; everyone you see across the floor with those corner offices and sitting in meeting rooms strategizing all day decided to bet on themselves; took on stretch roles, got noticed, and stepped out of their comfort zones. It's in those moments of discomfort and uncertainty that you discover your true potential. Don't let role tenure hold you back, don't wait for the stars to align perfectly because they never will. Start yesterday, start today, start now. Embrace the journey, and watch yourself takeover beyond what you ever imagined possible. Respectfully, The voice in your head pushing you to grow. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Share this post with your network. And Follow me for more content like this. AML | Fraud | Compliance | Internal Audit | Oversight Testing | Loss Prevention | Banking Jobs | Open To Work | Customer Service | Financial Services Representative | Personal Banker | FSR

Dear Companies, Reputational risk is not only coming from the regulators but candidates watching too. How a company handles layoffs matters: - compassion and integrity matters - treating your foundation that built your company where it is today matters - burning out your current staff with double the workload matters - taking away people's food for a short term play matters We matter. ---------------------------------------- Share this with your network. And Follow me for more content like this. AML | Fraud | Compliance | Internal Audit | Oversight Testing | Loss Prevention | Banking Jobs | Open To Work | Customer Service | Financial Services Representative | Personal Banker | FSR

Dear Hiring Manager, Let's retire robotic interviews: Candidates are tired of the same old routine questions that reveal nothing about their true potential. Let's ditch the scripted checklist and instead ask questions that truly matter: their values, their creativity, their resilience. The script wont tell you the candidate's character, their ability to adapt, or their potential to thrive when faced with challenges. Your boss is not looking for how well a candidate can rehearse answers. Bring back real conversations that uncover authentic insights not rehearsed scripts. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Share this post with your network. And Follow me for more content like this. AML | Fraud | Compliance | Internal Audit | Oversight Testing | Loss Prevention | Banking Jobs | Open To Work | Customer Service | Financial Services Representative | Personal Banker | FSR

I have a penchant for horror stories in the workplace. Maybe because I see them so much in my industry and I want to retell them as cautionary tales for what not to do. For the last 18 years, a friend of mine has worked at a global bank. I won’t name it here because you’d certainly know it. Let’s call it Globe Bank. Let’s call my friend - “Superstar”. Superstar has worked in the compliance department all that time. Essentially, she keeps the bank out of hot water with the government by making sure they stay compliant with all government regulations. She was such a feather in the bank’s cap, when they recruited her 18 years ago, because they snagged her directly from OFCCP (Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs). What this really meant was that she knew EXACTLY how the government conducted audits, what they looked for, what they would get you for and, maybe most importantly, she knew all the players in the OFCCP. Therefore, she knew EXACTLY what to guard Global bank against and how to keep them out of hot water. Everyone was obsessed with her and felt so lucky to have an insider on the team watching their backs. Over the last 4 years, all the managers who originally hired Superstar have all retired or moved to different departments around the globe. New leadership has stepped in and they aren’t aware of Superstar’s background (Problem #1 - no transference of team legacy knowledge from old leadership to new). Additionally, in the last 4 years, what the company values has shifted. There is more and more of a focus on administrative legal paperwork and less and less appreciation for how legal paperwork is avoided in the first place (Problem #2 - not realizing that because your company doesn’t have a certain problem - means someone is keeping you from having that problem. Also known as - taking things for granted). #executivehiring #recruiting

NIGHTMARE APPLICATION PROCESS! I don’t like to name or shame organisations. It’s not what I consider as an appropriate thing to do. But my recent experience with an application process for a role was handled in the most unprofessional way. I was approached by this agency to work on a Fin crime project and put forward for a Team Lead role. I did the interview, spoke about day rates and was told my interview was great and I would be meeting with a manager to discuss potential start dates and they were happy to move on with my application. I was supposed to meet this manager either on the Tuesday or Wednesday. I left messages, voice mails and emails sadly. Nothing came back. Until 4:45pm on a Wednesday to hear. …… “Sorry there has been a lot of to-ing and throwing behind the scenes” UNFORTUNATELY we cannot put you forward as we have decided to put Team Leaders on from another project which is coming to an end. You could possibly be considered for a senior analyst or QA so we will call back within an hour. WHY NOT JUST SAY THIS!!! (As I kept my diary free for both days and flexible as requested by the recruiter) NO CALL again. Chased up for 2 days and again to be told I will have another interview which would be organised on a Thursday. NO CALL AGAIN. Until I have to again reach out today. FRIDAY to ask if there was any updates on the interview. To be told, sorry even though we know you can do the role. Your CV is “too senior” AGAIN?! WHY DIDNT YOU JUST SAY THIS!? To also add, this isn’t the first time this agency has acted this way. To be having discussions for 2 weeks about the potential role. Booked in for 2-3 calls. An interview. To be told you are a great fit and then have the posts changed at the 11th hour. Is a lack of professionalism and respect for a persons time. If you already had people in the pipeline (internally) as an agency to take the roles don’t go and approach people externally and use up their valuable commodity of time. It’s absurd and demoralising for people who have hope built for it to be later stamped on. RANT OVER 😅 I am still looking for my next role within the fincrime space and any suggestions would be welcome. #recruitment #agency #financialcrime #horrible #unprofessional

Dear CEO's: Do you know which talent placement agencies your business units are partnering with to represent your firm? Candidates are withdrawing their applications due to the impersonal, aggressive, disorganized, and unresponsive hiring processes facilitated by an external talent agency. I cannot express this enough: you are losing A+ talent because the people who are sourcing your roles are there for a transaction and gone the next day. Prioritize building a talent management experience that reflects your culture and promotes your values. We are all watching. Respectfully, The applicant joining your competitor. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Share this post with your network. And Follow me for more content like this. AML | Fraud | Compliance | Internal Audit | Oversight Testing | Loss Prevention | Banking Jobs | Open To Work | Customer Service | Financial Services Representative | Personal Banker | FSR

Today's interview room isn't ready for the superstars about to own it! While others are stressing; → They've refined their pitch. → They've researched the company inside and out. → They've planned how to stand out. No one sees the quiet confidence; → The hours of practice interview sessions. → The days of mental preparation. → The impact they're ready to make. The countless affirmations to stay locked in: → While people doubt, you stay focused. → While people overthink, you own it. → While others fear, you capitalize. The best offers come to those who are ready for the moment... They aren't coming to interview. They are coming to command the room. The interview room doesn't stand a chance. 😤 ------------------------------------ ♻️ Share this with your network. 👋 And Follow me for more content like this. 🎯My name is Ronen, AML Oversight Testing Leader turned career coach; my goal is to help you navigate banking roles with confidence and a new sense of purpose. AML | Fraud | Compliance | Internal Audit | Oversight Testing | Loss Prevention | Banking Jobs | Open To Work | Customer Service | Financial Services Representative | Personal Banker | FSR | Private Banking

Do you want to know what stings? 🤦🏼 Receiving a “This position has been filled” email. BUT, I digress. Time to move on, and keep trying. One closed door is just an opportunity for God to open an even bigger door next! 💪🏻 #jobseeker #entrylevel #careertransition #newfield #rejectionemail #notcool #ask #seek #knock #trustinhim #recruiters #talentacquisition #letsconnect #financialcrimes #fraud #risk #compliance #opentoconnect