Finding the right people to run a private office is not a task many families can afford to get wrong. A single misstep in confidentiality, judgement, or fit can ripple through the household and the business alike. This is exactly why so many principals turn to a specialist family office recruitment agency rather than relying on general job boards or informal referrals.
At Squad Placements, we work with UHNW families, multi-generational family offices, and private companies who need more than a CV match. They need a partner who understands discretion, long-term alignment, and the particular rhythm of private office life.
However, not every recruiter who claims family office expertise actually has it. Therefore, knowing what to look for—and what a genuine specialist offers—makes all the difference to the outcome of your search.
Why Work With a Specialist Family Office Recruitment Agency
General recruiters can source candidates. However, family office staffing requires a different level of judgement altogether. Working with a specialist agency gives you:
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Access to pre-vetted candidates with genuine private office or family office experience
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A network of professionals who are rarely visible on public job boards
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Rigorous screening around discretion, confidentiality, and long-term reliability
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A tailored matching process built around your family’s structure and values
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Ongoing support throughout the placement and beyond
As a result, you avoid the time, risk, and guesswork of hiring independently. You can see the full scope of our family office recruitment services here.
What Family Office Staffing Involves
Family office staffing spans far more than a single role. It covers the full ecosystem of people who keep a private office running smoothly, including:
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Chief of Staff and Private Office Managers
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Personal and executive assistants
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Finance, accounting, and bookkeeping professionals
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Legal and compliance support
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Household and estate management staff
Because these roles often overlap with a family’s personal life, each hire deserves the same scrutiny as a senior corporate appointment—if not more.
How to Hire Family Office Staff Without the Guesswork
Many families and offices try to hire family office staff independently before turning to a specialist. In our experience, the process tends to stall in the same places:
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Limited access to genuinely discreet, high-calibre candidates
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Unclear role definitions that shift once the search begins
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Time-consuming, inconsistent interview processes
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Difficulty assessing cultural and personal fit from a CV alone
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High turnover caused by mismatched expectations
In other words, hiring family office staff well requires a structured, consultative process—not a faster version of a standard recruitment process.
A Family Office Recruitment Agency With Global Reach
Family offices rarely operate within a single postcode. As a family office recruitment agency London families trust, and a family office recruitment agency New York principals rely on for cross-border teams, Squad supports searches that span time zones. This includes:
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Cross-border placements for multi-residence families
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Local market knowledge in key financial and lifestyle hubs
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Candidates comfortable with international travel and remote coordination
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Compliance awareness across different jurisdictions
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A consistent standard of discretion, wherever the search takes place
Because ultimately, the right candidate should feel like a natural fit for your family office—regardless of geography.
The Family Office Executive Assistant: One of Our Most Requested Roles
Among all the roles we place, the family office executive assistant is consistently one of the most requested—and one of the hardest to get right. The best candidates combine:
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Exceptional organisational skills across both business and personal matters
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Absolute discretion when handling sensitive information
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The composure to manage shifting priorities calmly
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Strong communication with principals, family members, and external advisors
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A long-term mindset rather than a stepping-stone approach to the role
Therefore, we assess candidates as much on judgement and temperament as on experience.
Discretion, Trust & Long-Term Fit
Every search we undertake is built on the same foundations, regardless of role or location. Our approach is always:
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Fully confidential, from the initial brief to placement
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Tailored to your family’s specific structure and expectations
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Focused on long-term alignment rather than a quick fill
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Informed by real experience within private offices and UHNW households
Many of the standards we apply reflect broader best practice across the industry, including guidance from bodies such as Family Office Exchange (FOX). Because ultimately, the strength of any family office lies in the people behind it.
Looking to Hire a Family Office Recruitment Agency?
If you are building or expanding a private office and need a family office recruitment agency that understands discretion, precision, and long-term fit, we would be delighted to assist. Explore our family office recruitment services or contact us to find your family office team.
