The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Senior Manager (Forensic Investigations) at a Big Four/Consultancy
3-5 years at Senior Manager level before DirectorSkills to master
- Deepening expertise in a forensic specialism, building a client portfolio, managing large teams, P&L responsibility for engagements, developing new service lines.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently exceeding revenue targets for your engagements and identifying new business opportunities.
- Successfully leading complex, high-profile investigations with minimal oversight.
- Demonstrable ability to develop and retain top talent within your teams.
- Strong external network and reputation as a subject matter expert.
- 2
Head of Financial Crime / Internal Investigations (Large Corporate/Financial Institution)
5-7 years in a senior in-house leadership roleSkills to master
- Understanding internal corporate dynamics, managing regulatory relationships, building internal integrity programmes, leading cross-functional teams (Legal, Compliance, HR) on investigations.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully built or significantly enhanced an internal investigations function.
- Managed significant regulatory interactions and internal enforcement actions.
- Proven ability to influence C-suite and Board-level stakeholders internally.
- Developed and implemented effective financial crime prevention strategies.
- 3
Senior Regulatory Enforcement Officer (SFO, FCA, NCA)
7-10 years in senior enforcement rolesSkills to master
- Deep understanding of investigative powers, prosecution processes, evidence admissibility, and regulatory frameworks. Experience managing complex, high-stakes public sector investigations.
You're ready to move on when
- Led major, complex investigations that resulted in successful prosecutions or significant enforcement actions.
- Extensive experience in court proceedings and providing expert testimony.
- Strong network within regulatory and law enforcement communities.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multi-agency investigations.