At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic initiatives and enhance the CEO's impact across the company.
- Company: Join Hawk, a leader in AI-driven anti-money laundering technology.
- Benefits: Opportunity to grow professionally while making a difference in the world.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on problem-solving and collaboration.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of fighting financial crime with innovative AI solutions.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in strategy consulting and experience in high-growth startups.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
About Us
Hawk is the leading provider of AI-supported anti-money laundering and fraud detection technology. Banks and payment providers globally are using Hawk’s powerful combination of traditional rules and explainable AI to improve the effectiveness of their AML compliance and fraud prevention by identifying more crime while maximizing efficiency by reducing false positives. With our solution, we are playing a vital role in the global fight against Money Laundering, Fraud, or the financing of terrorism. We offer a culture of mutual trust, support and passion – while providing individuals with opportunities to grow professionally and make a difference in the world.
Your Mission
As Chief of Staff to the CEO, your mission is to multiply the CEO’s impact across everything that matters most to Hawk. You will run the operating rhythm that keeps the executive team aligned and moving, lead strategic initiatives from definition through to delivery, and make sure that the CEO’s priorities translate into the company’s actions. This is a role for someone who thrives on ambiguity, knows how to bring order to chaos without losing speed, and wants to be at the center of building a category-defining company in the fight against financial crime. You’ll do all of this as an AI-native operator – treating AI as the default first move, building agents and workflows, automating anything that can be automated.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the executive rhythm: design and run the cadence of leadership meetings, strategic reviews that keep the exec team coordinated and decisions moving.
- Lead special projects directly with the CEO. Taking a priority from a rough idea to a structured plan to measurable outcomes, often across multiple functions and without a dedicated team underneath you.
- Track and drive OKRs and CEO strategic priorities, resolve blockers before they become problems. Ensure impactful communication of strategy & progress.
- Prepare high-quality materials for decision making – synthesizing complex information into clear narratives that drive the right conversations.
- Serve as a trusted thought partner to the CEO & leadership. Pressure-testing ideas, flagging blind spots, and occasionally being the person in the room willing to say what others won’t.
- Work closely with the full executive team – not as a coordinator, but as a peer who can hold a thread across finance, product, engineering, sales, and operations and know when something needs escalating.
- Orchestrate the CEO's external advisor bench – bankers, consultants, board advisors, communications partners, and topic experts. Scope the work, brief them, hold them to deliverables, integrate their output back into the company.
- Proactively hunt for gaps, friction, and emerging problems across the company - in execution, the operating model, team performance, or external dependencies - and don't just surface them. Take ownership, and drive the fix yourself.
Your Profile
- 5+ years of experience in a top strategy consulting firm, ideally in technology transformation or financial services.
- 3+ years of experience in a high-growth startup post Series B – as an operator, Chief of Staff or founder. You’ve seen a company scale, and you know what breaks when it does.
- You're comfortable being handed a vague but important problem and turning it into a plan you execute. Ambiguity doesn't paralyze you – it's where you do your best work.
- You have a sharp eye for what's broken or about to break, and you don't wait to be asked. You go and find the problems no one is owning yet, and then you fix them - rolling up your sleeves rather than writing a memo about who should.
- Exceptional written and verbal communicator. You can write a crisp exec briefing, run a tight leadership meeting, and adapt your style from the board to the engineering team without losing the thread.
- You know how to move things forward without direct authority. You influence through clarity, relationships, and follow-through – not hierarchy.
- AI is the operating system of how you work, not a tool you reach for occasionally. You use it across research, drafting, analysis, and decision support every day, and you're fluent enough to design prompts, build agents, and chain tools together to solve real problems.
- Genuinely curious about what AI means for financial services, compliance, and the future of companies like Hawk. You don’t need to be an engineer, but you want to be close to where the industry is going.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief of Staff in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Hawk AI. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief of Staff in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Hawk AI.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Hawk AI's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hawk AI
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Hawk AI.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Hawk AI will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Hawk AI employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
