Start with the numbers, because they shape how competitive your advert needs to be. Overall UK demand has cooled: early estimates for April to June 2026 point to a decrease of 7,000 vacancies, down to 712,000, according to the ONS Vacancies and jobs in the UK bulletin. The same bulletin reports 2.5 unemployed people per vacancy in March to May 2026, a ratio that has held at 2.5 since July to September 2025 per the ONS.
But a cooler headline market doesn't mean specialist roles are easy to fill. Specialist tech skills are still a demand hotspot, with Computer Weekly's tech recruitment outlook for 2026 pointing to areas including AI, data, enterprise applications and cyber security. KYC sits close to those skills, so a generic advert won't cut through.
KYC (Know Your Customer) is the compliance work of verifying who a customer is and checking the risk they carry, so your advert needs to name the right level. In financial services, recruitment has generally been for Regulatory Qualification Framework (RQF) level 6 and above roles, rather than RQF levels 3 to 5, as noted in the GOV.UK Temporary Shortage List Stage 2 report. RQF level 6 is broadly degree-standard, so be precise about whether you need that depth or a more junior analyst.
Name the real scope too. Is this screening onboarding files, running enhanced due diligence on higher-risk clients, or owning remediation projects? Vacancy movement isn't evenly spread: the ONS reported in its November 2025 bulletin that the largest volume increase in August to October 2025 was in professional, scientific and technical activities, up by 5,000, while the ONS later recorded that same sector among the largest quarterly decreases in April to June 2026. A sharp advert reads the moment it's posted into.
Write for one person, not a committee. Lead with scope and purpose, then qualifications, then the nice-to-haves. The people you want are weighing a few options at once, so be concrete about what they'll own and who they'll work with.
Move quickly, and be honest about your process. With specialist skills in demand per Computer Weekly's 2026 outlook, a slow or vague process loses strong applicants. Set out the stages, give a realistic timeline, and reply fast. Short adverts that respect the reader's time tend to pull a better-matched response than long wish-lists.
Once your advert is sharp, you still need to reach the right people fast. We search a database of 15 million candidates to surface and rank a shortlist, so you spend your time on strong matches rather than sifting. Our recruitment agent manages recruitment end to end for 8% on a successful hire, with no monthly fee and no upfront cost, through Reed.ai. Post your KYC role today and see your shortlist.
