SHAPING UP
FOR THE FUTURE
We partner with Payments Institutions, EMIs, MiFID and Cyptoasset firms to build the risk management, compliance and resilience frameworks that your business needs to scale and the regulators expect.
Expert Guidance
Risk & Compliance
Business Transformation
Strategic Change
Board
Advisory
Senior Expertise
ABOUT US
Industry practitioners
People at Shapes First have held senior roles at regulated financial services firms across C-suite, front office, operations, technology, risk and compliance. We have managed the budget, led the team, sat in front of the regulator. Clients trust us because we deliver and we have been where they are.
- Deep expertise in the regulatory landscape
- Breadth of experience in transformation programmes
- Practical, deliverable solutions
- Senior-level engagement throughout
WHAT WE DO
SOLUTIONS & SERVICES
We build frameworks that work in practice, not just on paper. Hands-on support across risk management and compliance challenges that matter to your business.
Financial Resilience
ICARA, ICAAP, ILAAP design review and remediation
Recovery and Wind Down Planning
Financial modelling for capital and liquidity
Prudential risk management and regulatory reporting
Operational Resilience
Important Business Services identification and resource mapping
Impact tolerances and scenario testing
Third-party risk management
Self assessment and associated Board reporting
Anti-Financial Crime
AML, CTF, CPF frameworks, BWRA and CRA, SAR procedures
Market Abuse Risk Assessments and STOR reporting
Interim MLRO support including FCA interview preparation
Traceability reviews to Financial Crime Guide
Safeguarding and CASS
Design and review safeguarding arrangement for the payments sector
New regime readiness and gap analysis
Reconciliation and record keeping frameworks
CASS compliance for the investment firm sector
Authorisations and VoPs
Preparation for cryptoasset authorisation
EMI, PI authorisations
MIFIDPRU authorisation and VoP
PASS meeting preparation
Regulatory business plan and programme of operations
Financial modelling
Fractional 3rd line support
Thematic reviews for financial and operational resilience, anti financial crime, safeguarding and CASS
Governance effectiveness reviews including implementation of SM & CR.
ICT governance, change control, third party risk management, outsourcing and DORA
Learning & Development
Build capability across your organisation. We design and deliver tailored training programmes. Our anti-financial crime training is delivered through FraudEd
TESTIMONIALS
What People Are Saying
Reviews
OUR TEAM
Meet our team
We are an experienced team of specialists that never lose sight of the bigger picture. Our combination of capabilities means we can help you shape coherent solutions across your business.
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Simon Tweddle
Founder
Over 25 years of experience in financial services. Specialises in business integration, risk management and operational resilience.
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Karen Latham
Senior Consultant
Over 25 years experience in various senior roles across financial services. Specialising in business transformation programmes and operational resilience.
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Michelle Bailey
Senior Consultant
Michelle has over 15 years’ financial-services experience specialising in anti-financial crime, and in her spare time she’s a keen creative who loves crafting and painting.
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Anna Nicolis
Senior Consultant
Anna has 10+ years’ experience delivering regulatory change and risk transformation across banking, broking, trading and FX, and holds a Cambridge Master’s in AI Ethics.
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Solène Sharpe
Senior Consultant
Solène has 25+ years’ financial-services experience in senior risk roles, supports clients on risk frameworks, ICAAP/ICARA and stress testing at Shapes First, and is a black-belt karate champion.
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Donna Turner
Senior Consultant
Donna has 25+ years’ financial-services experience in market risk, compliance, anti-financial crime and whistleblowing, and outside work loves skiing and diving.
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Chris Ham
Senior Consultant
Chris has 25+ years’ experience across banking, finance and consulting, is known for pragmatic strategic and transformation leadership in risk, operating models and technology, and is a watersports fanatic.
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Karen Marson (née Macdonald)
Senior Consultant
Karen has 20+ years in financial services, moving from hedge fund software development to leading global regulatory change, and now advises on compliance; she loves photography, surfing and yoga.
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James Hastie
Senior Consultant
James has 25+ years in financial services, is a former FSA Client Assets Unit founder and client money/assets risk specialist, and now prefers skiing to marathon running.
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Mike Charters
Senior Consultant
Mike has 25+ years in financial services delivering front-to-back strategic change, and outside work he plays guitar and spends time in his recording studio.
GET IN TOUCH
Ready to Shape Your Future?
Whether you need support with an application, variation of permission, a framework review or an independent pair of eyes on your risk and compliance arrangements we welcome an introductory call or meeting.