Peter Oakes is one of Europe’s leading fintech experts, particularly at the intersection of digital financial services and regulation. He brings to Kerman & Co, his unique experience as both a central banker and fintech practitioner. Peter is also the founder of Fintech UK (www.fintechuk.com) and Fintech Ireland (www.fintechireland.com).

Peter has held senior roles with the Central Bank of Ireland (Director, Enforcement & Financial Crime), UK Financial Services Authority (Enforcement Lawyer), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Senior Officer) and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (Adviser to Governor and Deputy Governor, Banking Supervision).

During his time as an industry practitioner, Peter has held the key roles of strategic adviser, in-house counsel, chief risk officer, chief compliance officer and MLRO at investment management firms, mutual funds and payment institutions in the UK and Ireland. Peter has successfully established, grown and exited a number of consulting and training businesses. He is qualified as a solicitor in Australia, UK and Ireland. Peter is a key note speaker and presenter at international fintech conferences, and is skilled at interviewing European ministers and CEOs before large audiences.

Peter is non-executive director to a number of innovative regulated fintech businesses including Susquehanna International, TransferMate and Optal Financial Europe. He has assisted numerous fintech and regtech businesses located in Australia, Ireland, UK and USA serving on their advisory boards.

Peter is a member of the highly regarded The FinTech50 International Selection Panel which brings together leaders from around the world, representing investors, financial organisations, global techs and innovation leaders to select the annual list of the 50 hottest FinTech companies in Europe.

Peter is listed as a band 1 Fintech consultant by Chambers & Partners 2021 repeating his recognition of 2020. Peter is described by Chambers and Partners as "Peter's reputation really helps; he's top of the list of local Dublin-based regulatory consultants." and "his area of expertise is in licensed applications with the Central Bank. He can explain what is required in black and white from the regulator but also what is left unsaid.”

Representative experience includes:

Fintech / Financial Services

• Established the European operations of Bank of America’s merchant services business, as well as serving as Chief Risk Officer and Executive Director.
• Advised on one of the Lithuania’s first specialised fintech bank authorisations from inception of idea through to the bank’s successful registration.
• Advised on numerous authorisations of emoney, payment institutions and MiFID firms in the UK and Ireland. This includes advising on one of Ireland’s first ‘fintech’ disruptors on its application for regulatory authorisation prior to the introduction of European payment services law.

• Established the Central Bank Ireland’s first enforcement directorate, leading a team of 80+ lawyers and accountants investigating Ireland’s banks and their senior management following the financial crisis, as well having responsibility for financial crime oversight of more than 10,000 firms.
• Carriage of investigations into, and enforcement actions, against UK financial firms and their senior management.
• Established Australia’s national professional disciplinary tribunal adjudicating on the behaviour of registered auditors and liquidators.
• Advised on the development of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority approach to banking supervision and the Authority’s organisational strategy.