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The US banking sector may top the global charts for AI innovation, but that doesn’t mean transformation is smooth sailing. 

Legacy infrastructure and a fragmented regulatory landscape continue to present barriers to progress, especially when it comes to governance and control around data. 

As financial institutions get serious about Deep Tech, enduring data challenges persist.

Governance, risk, and compliance teams are under the spotlight, and they’re expected to keep pace with tech capabilities that are evolving faster than internal structures can absorb them.

-      The CRO Role is Evolving

Risk leaders are being brought into earlier-stage decision-making, particularly around emerging risk areas such as AI, model risk, and third-party exposure. This shift is showing up in hiring. 

We’re seeing increased demand for leaders who can influence strategic direction, not just manage controls.

The GRC Talent Pool is Growing, Fast

According to our LinkedIn data, the GRC talent pool in US financial services has grown by 74 per cent in the past 12 months. 

This growth is promising, but it brings new pressure to differentiate through sector fluency and skill specialisation.

Hybrid Expectations are Creating New Pressure Points

With many firms adjusting hybrid and in-office requirements, the location of talent is starting to matter again.  

This is having a noticeable impact in cities like New York, Charlotte, and Chicago, where competition for in-person risk talent remains high.

Succession Planning is Coming into Focus

Firms are taking a closer look at internal development strategies. There is a shift from short-term hiring fixes to building future leadership. Succession planning is now extending into three- to five-year horizons in many institutions.

Training Budgets are Increasing

As AI accelerates and the market for experienced GRC professionals tightens, more firms are investing in upskilling.

Training budgets are up, and development pathways are becoming a key part of the hiring conversation. Access to upskilling has emerged as a competitive necessity.

The Human Experience of AI is Being Re-examined

The role of the human in risk systems is coming back into focus. As tools become more autonomous, leaders are asking harder questions. Who is responsible when models fail? How much of that risk should sit with the user?

The Road Ahead

We’re having more conversations with CROs and risk leaders who are rethinking what future-ready teams look like, not only in terms of technical depth, but also leadership capability, succession planning, and strategic alignment.

If you're navigating similar challenges or looking ahead at how to shape your next phase of GRC hiring, Broadgate would be more than happy to share what we're seeing in the market and what’s working elsewhere.

Contact Connor directly here: connor.nurse@broadgatesearch.com