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Financial Services Review: Specials Magazine
What demands does a compliance professional face? At a time when terms like regulatory compliance, behavioral compliance, conflicts of interest, money laundering prevention, and anti-financial crime are increasingly part of the common lexicon, and when scandals in large companies across diverse sectors result from unethical conduct or weak (or non-existent) risk prevention and management, it’s important to ask: can organizations continue using the processes of the past to control new behaviors? Managing compliance risk can be typified by the implementation of effective controls that prevent or mitigate legal and regulatory breaches. However, the increase in data and transactions carried out by consumers, as well as the complexity, demands, and constant growth of legislation and regulations applicable to each sector, have significantly increased the challenges faced by internal control areas of institutions, particularly those assigned to the compliance function. Faced with t
Top International Debt Recovery Service In UK 2025
While many view debt recovery as a numbers game, STA International sees it differently—a people-first discipline built on global partnerships and client success. The company empowers businesses to recover debts with diligence, efficiency and a personal touch. Operating at the intersection of consumer and commercial collections, STA has adopted a hybrid model, enabling full-circle customer service, fuelling growth and earning client loyalty. Seamless Services for All Sectors At the heart of STA’s success is its dual-sector expertise, supporting Consumer and Commercial clients. With a strong heritage of consumer debt recovery, primarily in higher education, STA currently serves 95 percent of UK universities, helping them recover unpaid tuition and fees, often from international students. This is bolstered by an ever-growing market footprint in commercial debt recovery, spanning sectors such as construction, transport & logistics, professional services, plus many more. “Our hybrid approach, uncommon in an industry where most firms specialise in just one area, enables us to manage over 100,000 active consumer files while expertly handling the complexities of high-value commercial portfolios,” says Matt Quinn, Managing Director. Although the commercial caseload is marginally smaller than consumer, its overall value is often comparable, giving STA a strategic advantage that few can match. To support this integrated model, STA established its law firm, STA Legal. Built to handle the volume and complexity of consumer cases, STA Legal ensures smooth transitions from pre-legal collection to litigation, maintaining continuity and maximising client efficiency. A Strategic Shift and Cultural Transformation STA’s evolution accelerated in 2019 when a management buyout led by four directors, including Quinn, transitioned the company from a U.S.-owned subsidiary to an independent, director-led enterprise. This allowed STA to chart a new, UK-focused course towards adaptability, accountability and autonomy..
Treasury Consultancy Service in Europe 2025
Fielding questions like, “How is our business protected from market movements?” or “What happens if our bank collapses?” have become commonplace in board meetings. Directors are seeking reassurances from the CFO following several turbulent years of record-level inflation and geopolitical uncertainty. At Treasury Edge, we know that CFOs and Founders often find treasury management daunting, and we get it. Moving cash to new providers or actively managing risks by placing trades in the market can be risky if not handled correctly. This is where we step into the spotlight by debunking treasury to deliver a bespoke consultancy service that supports your business as you grow. If you have treasury risks that you are unsure how to manage, we can support you. If you buy and sell overseas, are exposed to foreign exchange risk, or have liquidity challenges and need help with cash forecasting or cash management, then speak to our experts. Larger companies with dedicated Treasury departments may have more bandwidth to prepare for the ever-evolving business landscape; however, smaller firms are no less at risk. It is the firms that are too small to hire a full-time treasury team that we at Treasury Edge help to navigate through tailored advice built on cross-industry experience. “We are on a mission to give CFOs and Founders the confidence to tackle their treasury risks head-on with our top-quality consultancy service,” says Jennifer Pearson, Founder of Treasury Edge.
Identity Intelligence & Financial Fraud Detection Solution in Europe 2025
Trustfull is a digital risk intelligence platform that offers a comprehensive range of modules designed to empower customers in evaluating user risk during critical phases such as account opening and authentication. Catering to a variety of use cases, the modules leverage a robust library of APIs, allowing clients to conduct in-depth analyses of users by examining their digital footprints. It helps businesses combat fraud and money laundering to ensure compliance with the financial regulations. “In the era of deepfakes and AI generated content, we recognize that traditional identity verification methods fall short against sophisticated fraudsters and money launderers, emphasizing the need for advanced technologies to bolster defence against these activities,” says Marko Maras, CEO of Trustfull. As a result, the firm introduced digital footprint intelligence, which meticulously analyses a variety of user characteristics including mobile numbers, email addresses, IP addresses, devices and browsers. Such an intricate analysis detects numerous trust and risk signals which are integral to the company's proprietary digital risk score. This score is a vital asset for clients, enabling them to thoroughly assess and screen users during onboarding and logins. In addition to the comprehensive solutions, Trustfull’s platform is equipped with a variety of tools like a rule engine which assists companies in creating custom risk models. Utilizing these tools, alongside the insights and analytics available through the platform, it enhances the accuracy of risk models. The user-friendly platform allows clients to effortlessly upload historical datasets, providing results within seconds. This streamlined process enables prospects to efficiently assess the accuracy of its digital risk model, emphasizing the firm’s commitment to transparency and customer satisfaction. The offline back-testing capability of Trustfull is one of its unique selling points, addressing the shortage of IT resources for testing new solutions and eliminating the need for immediate integration into the production environment. Often provided at no additional costs, this analysis offers clients an efficient and hassle-free evaluation of its service capabilities.
CXO INSIGHTS
Technology in Financial Innovation
Luísa Marques, Head Of Accounting, Banco Montepio
Transforming Financial Licensing Services and Industry Trends
Yvan Roduit, Head Investment Advisory, Raiffeisen
Global M&A Recovery has Started in 2024-Spotlight on the Middle-Market M&A Activity is Ramping up after an 18-month Lull in Activity Across most Sectors, including Healthcare
Alexandre Jourdan, M&A Director, Baird
Esg Risk Management In Banking: Pragmatic Insights And Roadblocks
Yaroslav Sovgyra, Head of Credit Risk (ESG and Portfolio Management), Lloyds Banking Group
Automating the Engineering Journey with the Cloud
Wouter Meijs, Executive Program Director, ING
IN FOCUS
Smart Tech and Compliance: The Future of Debt Recovery Services in Europe
The debt recovery sector is advancing with technology, focusing on precision, compliance, and multi-channel communication to tackle regulatory challenges and non-performing loans.
Future-Proofing Financial Risk Management in Europe with Technology
Technology is transforming financial risk management in Europe by improving data analytics, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance, enabling proactive strategies to address emerging financial threats.
EDITORIAL
The Business of Getting Paid in Modern Europe
Europe’s international debt recovery service market is not what it used to be. Over the past decade, globalisation and a surge in cross-border trade have reshaped the landscape, turning what was once a niche function into a critical part of international business. As companies push beyond their home borders, the risk of unpaid debts and defaulted receivables has grown, and the need for specialised recovery services has never been clearer. The forces behind this shift are readily apparent. International B2B transactions are on the rise, EU rules are becoming more aligned, and new digital platforms are facilitating faster and more efficient collections. Then came the pandemic, followed by ongoing geopolitical tensions, both of which have heightened financial uncertainty and made skilled recovery firms indispensable. There’s real progress to celebrate. European agencies now operate within stronger legal frameworks, with measures such as the EU’s Late Payment Directive helping to streamline cross-border action. Technology is also pulling its weight, from advanced analytics to automation and multilingual support, driving productivity while keeping clients reassured. Still, it’s not without its hurdles. Regulations shift, jurisdictions clash, and cultural differences demand a careful approach. Add the shadow of GDPR and concerns over heavy-handed practices, and the path to successful recovery becomes a balancing act. The firms leading the way are those doubling down on trust. They’re combining legal expertise with local partnerships, leaning on secure, tech-driven systems, and championing ethical practices that strengthen relationships rather than strain them. In a more connected, more complex Europe, they’re proving that international debt recovery can be both effective and forward-thinking. This edition features market leaders such as STA International, an awardwinning UK-based company with over 30 years of expertise in debt recovery, credit control, and tracing. It also features insights from top industry voices like Hugo Assagra, Group Head of Credit Risk Strategy at OSB Group, and Sotiris Papakonstantinou, Head of Risk Management at Optima Bank. Their perspectives illuminate the market’s current landscape, empowering better business decisions for the future.
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