“The best time to hire? When you don’t need to”
Why smart firms quietly build benches and how it gives them the upper hand.
Most companies only recruit when there's a problem.
Someone resigns. A regulator flags an issue. A new project kicks off and you suddenly realise you need someone “yesterday.”
Sound familiar?
But here’s the thing: the best compliance, risk and regulatory teams aren’t hiring reactively anymore. They’re building pipelines quietly and consistently before the pressure hits.
And it’s paying off.
Strategic Hiring Beats Scramble Mode Every Time
When you’re hiring from a place of panic, you make compromises.
You overlook gaps in experience. You settle for whoever’s available. You skip proper onboarding. And often, you have to redo the whole process six months later.
By contrast, the firms that come to Oxbow Resourcing and say:
“We don’t have a vacancy yet, but we’d like to start a conversation with people we might need down the line...”are the ones who never panic when change happens.
They’ve already built relationships. They've already earned trust.
They’re not reacting they’re ready.
Compliance and Risk Recruitment
Building a Bench Isn’t Just for Big Players
You don’t need a talent team of 10 or a hefty HR budget to do this well.
You need:
- A clear understanding of where risk is evolving in your business (think Consumer Duty, AI governance).
- A specialist recruitment partner who knows where the talent is and what it’s thinking.
- The foresight to talk to candidates even when there isn’t an urgent need.
What We’re Seeing at Oxbow Resourcing
More of our clients are asking us to help them map talent within risk and compliance.
Not just “fill jobs” but understand who’s available, what they’d want to move, and when.
We’re having proactive, confidential conversations with senior compliance professionals who aren’t applying to jobs… but will move for the right thing.
They want clarity. Culture. Career path. And they’re happy to wait for the right opportunity.
You just have to be there when they’re ready.
Compliance and Risk Recruiters Final Thoughts
The strongest compliance functions aren’t built in a rush, they’re built with foresight.
The firms getting it right aren’t scrambling to fill gaps. They’re identifying where pressure is coming, where skills will be needed, and starting conversations early.
That’s how you stay ahead of risk.
That’s how you attract the best people before your competitors even know they’re available.
At Oxbow Resourcing, we don’t just react to briefs. We help you plan for what’s next. Get started with: katie@oxbowresourcing.com
