Katharine Adlard, director at PwC and chief of the PwC monetary providers tax workforce within the West & Wales, has labored with companies within the monetary providers (FS) sector for greater than 18 years.

On this Q&A, Matt Hyde, managing director at Fintech Awards South West, chats to Adlard to study extra about working within the fintech trade and supporting monetary providers companies.

Inform me about your function and description your agency’s involvement within the fintech trade.

PwC is happy with our full-suite native FS specialist workforce working throughout tax, offers, audit and consulting, with consultants advising on FS issues in all sectors of the trade primarily based in our Bristol and Cardiff workplaces.

I primarily advise and audit established, regulated FS companies, reminiscent of insurance coverage firms and retail banks / constructing societies, however am more and more being known as upon to assist new FS startups.

I’ve been concerned in FinTech West since its inception, the place PwC was a founding accomplice. I’m proud to now sit on the FinTech West advisory board – facilitating periods by way of our partnership, sharing perception within the trade and contributing to thought management.

PwC performs a pivotal function inside the trade, working with fintechs at each stage of their evolution, being properly positioned to deliver related gamers collectively from giant incumbents to early-stage fintechs. Whereas the panorama is advanced and more and more crowded, we consider that there’s important worth available for each incumbents and innovators from the cautious curation of fintech partnerships, and important funding and worth creation alternatives for a variety of buyers.

What impressed PwC to change into a sponsor of Fintech Awards South West? 

We’ve been sponsors of The FinTech Wales Awards since their inception and have discovered them to be of nice profit to the enterprise – and to the broader market. So when the chance got here round to sponsor the South West equal, we had been extraordinarily eager to be concerned.

PwC sees each the fintech and broader expertise sectors as key sooner or later success of the South West. We need to recognise and encourage the implausible entrepreneurial companies and people who deliver to life the big selection of options offered by fintech, together with plenty of disruptors and artistic downside explorers, which is why we really feel that the Awards are such an awesome match with our technique right here at PwC.

The ‘Rising FinTech Star’ class which we’ve sponsored since supporting the inaugural Wales Awards resonates with our imaginative and prescient and neighborhood ethos to develop and develop the perfect upcoming expertise.

Are you able to share examples of profitable collaborations between PwC and fintech firms which have resulted in modern options or providers for shoppers?

PwC launched the fourth InsurTech Scale programme in September 2023. The 12 week programme is a platform to scout and join the perfect fast-growth Insurtech scale-ups, for PwC and our giant shoppers and to create business alternatives. The Scale | InsurTech programme is an accelerator programme that connects trade leaders and choice makers in insurance coverage organisations, to merchandise from B2B InsurTech scale-ups with the goal to create mutual business alternatives for scale-ups and organisations alike.

Extra regionally, by way of our hyperlinks into FinTech West and FinTech Wales, and our continued assist of the Awards on either side of the Severn Bridge, we’re offering sources, expertise and perception to the fintech ecosystem and neighborhood, and aiding in coaching the expertise of the long run by way of native and nationwide initiatives such because the MSc in Cybersecurity & Know-how, which is collectively curated with Cardiff College.

The fintech sector is characterised by fast modifications and regulatory concerns. How does PwC help fintech startups in navigating advanced regulatory landscapes whereas sustaining their modern spirit?

Whether or not a fintech is simply beginning out or a longtime monetary providers supplier, partnerships and collaboration are basic to the flexibility to scale. Placing the precise assist round an organisation, connecting with regional networks, and discovering alternatives to collaborate – with different fintechs with incumbents, and even with the regulator – are just a few examples of the foundations for achievement that PwC helps.

How does PwC leverage its various experience to assist fintech firms in creating holistic and sustainable enterprise methods?

Supporting modern start-ups is one thing we’re doing increasingly right here within the South West. With devoted native useful resource supporting each Personal Enterprise and Monetary Companies, we deliver a novel mixture of specialists who can discuss to all of the complexities of start-up enterprise in a monetary providers and regulatory context.

Since November 2022, PwC has offered Cardiff Capital Area Metropolis Take care of assist in organising and launching its Innovation Funding Capital fund, and has suggested and offered operational assist to Capricorn Fund Managers within the sourcing of funding and screening and reviewing potential investee firms. Because the fund’s Various Funding Fund Supervisor, Capricorn Fund Managers present portfolio and danger administration providers. The fund is sector-agnostic and has acquired functions from a variety of sectors together with fintech, medtech, client, power and surroundings, building and synthetic intelligence, amongst others. Additional investments are anticipated within the coming months, which can assist to catalyse regional development by way of new employment alternatives and accelerated financial growth.
6. The Fintech Awards South West gives alternatives for networking and knowledge-sharing. How does PwC see its involvement within the occasion benefiting each the corporate and the fintech neighborhood within the South West area?

Being concerned within the Awards in Wales has given us nice perception into how our involvement with The FinTech Awards South West will profit PwC and the broader neighborhood within the South West. From the excessive variety of introductions and connections the sponsorship has introduced us by way of to the status of the Awards evening itself, it’s been a extremely helpful alliance for us.

Our continued funding within the Awards – alongside the entire different companions – helps to construct a momentum of power and buzz, whereas bringing fintech folks collectively. It will solely improve the fintech community within the South West and allow our regional successes and story to be showcased extra broadly.

Lastly on a private stage what has helped or impressed you probably the most in your profession and what recommendation would you give to others?

I might advise others to:

• Help and collaborate with others willingly
• Be daring together with your nice concepts and search assist in your journey
• A number of the finest tales have been borne out of problem and even failure, so don’t be afraid of that and present ardour, dedication and resilience to permit you and your concepts to develop.