Operator · Advisor · Builder

    Simon HughesCollections & Recoveries Advisory

    Helping fintechs and ambitious businesses build credit ops that scale.

     

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    "Practically-minded and effective, never failing to add value. In my opinion, the best in his field."

    Brendan Clarkson FCICMAdvisory Board, Chartered Institute of Credit Management

    Simon Hughes, fintech collections and recoveries advisor

    About

    An operator at the convergence of risk, product, data, and ops.

    Since 2010 I've worked within and alongside FCA-regulated and specialist lenders, debt recovery operations, and proven fintech businesses, building and leading high-performing credit ops functions from the inside out. That length of time matters: it spans multiple credit cycles, regulatory shifts, and the full rise of UK fintech lending, and it's the edge I bring to every engagement.

    I sit at the convergence of risk, product, data, and ops, and a lot of what I do is facilitating: translating between teams, shaping decisions, and turning collections and recoveries into a genuine growth lever rather than a back-office cost.

    Across the lenders and specialist finance businesses I've worked within or alongside, founders have collectively raised approaching $5 billion in equity and debt, with multiple successful acquisitions and mergers along the way. It's a portfolio of lived experience that informs every engagement.

    Today I channel all of that through WorkCap (workcap.co.uk), the business I founded and run. It operates as three complementary arms: advisory & consulting, debt recovery servicing, and software for credit ops, building tools that make modern credit ops radically more effective.

    Selected work

    A career built around credit ops.

    Today

    • Advisory & consulting

      Strategic advisor / fractional credit ops · Pre-seed to Series B

      Advisory

      Working with founders and leadership teams at fintech lenders, specialist finance businesses, and high-growth operators, from first credit ops hire through to scaled, compliant operations.

      Advisory at WorkCap ↗

    • Debt recovery servicing

      Commercial debt recovery, end to end · Single invoices to full ledgers

      Servicing

      A commercial debt recovery service for fintech and alt-fi lenders, plus founder-led businesses. Run on our own platform, built from the ground up, with proprietary company risk analysis, portfolio monitoring, and escalation decisioning.

      Recovery at WorkCap ↗

    • Software for credit ops

      Building tools for the job · Ongoing

      Software

      Software built from the ground up to improve the processes and functions behind credit ops: company risk analysis, arrears intelligence, monitoring, and recovery workflows. AI and ML leverage baked in from day one, applied where it's quietly been missing.

      Credit ops at WorkCap ↗

    • WorkCap

      Founder & CEO · 2020 to Present

      Founder

      The business I founded and run, bringing the three arms above under one roof so founders get advisory, servicing, and tooling that pull in the same direction.

      Visit workcap.co.uk ↗
    See full work history →

    Trusted across

    • Early-stage founders
    • Scaling fintechs
    • Established lenders

    Endorsements

    What people are saying.

    • "

      Having known Simon for a number of years, his experience and knowledge have set him up perfectly to deliver the results businesses are looking for. A great sounding board who brings balance to thought processes and sees the bigger picture.

      Sebastiaan Bruinsma

      Co-founder, Nobly POS (Revolut)

    • "

      Simon brings rationality, professionalism, subject-matter expertise and dedication to the task at hand, combined with a collaborative nature and concise communication style.

      Ermal Ngjeci

      Head of Portfolio Management, Allica Bank

    • "

      Empathetic, inclusive, knowledgeable, and able to spark motivation in those around him. There wasn't a single problem Simon couldn't solve in a pragmatic manner, always approachable and warm.

      Kristina Raissi

      Business Coach, Multiverse

    • "

      Practically-minded and effective, never failing to add value. Extremely knowledgeable and well connected in his field. In my opinion, the best in his field.

      Brendan Clarkson FCICM

      Advisory Board, Chartered Institute of Credit Management

    • "

      My go-to for anything relating to accounts receivables, credit management, or debt collection. Specialist knowledge with a highly professional approach, comfortable leaving the most contentious or delicate matters in their safe hands.

      Alexandra Patsvald

      Deputy Director, PVL Properties Ltd

    • "

      I've worked with Simon for around 10 years and find him knowledgeable, pragmatic, and a problem solver, just what's needed. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him.

      Ben Colenutt

      Solicitor

    Get in touch

    Let's build something.

    Open to advisory engagements, consulting briefs, and conversations with founders building the next generation of fintech and AI solutions.

    simon@workcap.co.uk