About Fintech HI.RE Australia & APAC

We've Led
Australian & APAC Fintech.
Now We Hire For It.

The only executive search firm in Australia and Asia-Pacific led by someone who actually ran the region — Brisbane-based, with a track record as President APAC at Zafin and GM APAC at Finastra.

Cliff van Tonder
Our Founder

Hi, I'm Cliff
van Tonder.

I've spent over 25 years in fintech and financial services — including years running businesses across Asia-Pacific at the highest level. As President APAC at Zafin, I led the region's growth strategy from Brisbane. As GM APAC Partners & Alliances at Finastra, I built one of the most successful partner ecosystems in the industry, contributing to Finastra APAC being named Region of the Year.

I understand the nuance of markets from Sydney to Singapore to Tokyo — the cultural context, the regulatory environments, the talent pools, and the pace of transformation happening across the region.

Today, I lead Fintech HI.RE Australia & APAC with a single conviction: the best people for APAC fintech roles are rarely found by keyword search. They're found through deep relationships, real domain knowledge, and a genuine understanding of what it takes to succeed in this extraordinary region.

Book a Call with Cliff
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25+ Years in Fintech & Financial Services

From core banking transformation to SaaS scaleups, digital payments to AI-era banking — Cliff has navigated every inflection point in modern finance.

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C-Level Experience at Global Fintech Leaders

Finastra, Zafin, BNP Paribas, Temenos, FIS, FINCAD, Lombard Risk, Avoka — genuine operator insight into what great executive leadership looks like.

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Named Best Global Fintech Exec Search CEO — 2024 & 2025

Recognised two consecutive years by CEO Monthly for outstanding results in executive placement within the global fintech industry.

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Zero Fluff. Real Delivery.

No bots. No keyword bingo. No bloated processes. Just genuine insight, deep relationships, and a commitment to finding the right person — not just the available person.

Mission & Values

Built Different.
By Design.

We don't do keyword bingo. We don't spray CVs. We don't send you five shortlists when we've only verified two. Here's what we stand for.

01

Built by Operators

We've scaled teams ourselves. We understand urgency, ambiguity, and the accountability that founders and investors demand. We get your world because we've lived in it.

02

Operator-Level Insight

We know what a great CTO looks like at a Series B. We know what a Head of Payments needs to navigate cross-border scale. We speak your language — product, payments, platform.

03

Zero Fluff

Outcome-obsessed. Our value is measured in quality hires and long-term fit — not in resumes sent or calls booked. If speed costs us popularity, so be it.

04

Human at Heart

No automated shortlists. No dashboards. Just real conversations with real people who understand your domain, your stage, and your urgency.

Global Network

Part of a World-Class
Fintech HI.RE Network

Fintech HI.RE operates across six global markets — with shared insight, shared values, and an unmatched international network.

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Australia & Asia Pacific

Brisbane HQ — You're here

Brisbane HQ — You're here

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Australia

Brisbane HQ · fintechhire.com.au

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Africa & Middle East

Cape Town to Dubai · fintechhire.co.za

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USA & Americas

New York · fintechhireusa.com

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United Kingdom

London · fintechhire.co.uk

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Let's Build Something
Brilliant Together.

Whether you're hiring or looking for your next role — let's have a real conversation.

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