Control Risks reviews about "leadership"

47% positive business outlook

Reviews by job title

28 reviews
4.0
Nov 5, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It's very dependent on the department, but my work-life balance was excellent and I could wfh most of the time with no questions asked. Most of my team with family abroad was able to work from their home countries for a while. The clients were interesting and the colleagues I met in the London office were very friendly and diverse, although it depends on the crowd/department you gravitate around.

Cons

Poor pay compared to market rates, minimal salary increases when they were handed out. No training or development opportunities/budget. Saw a few instances of nepotism at junior levels. HR was not able to keep matters confidential when involved in grievances which created huge issues at team level. Senior leadership is not diverse and internal career progression is extremely slow and unprofitable, especially if you start at band F.

2.0
Jul 6, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexibility in terms of hours which is great.

Cons

The culture is incredibly toxic. Whole company is full of "cliques" and you have to be "friendly" with the right people for even once ounce of respect. The way senior leadership are praised for breathing, whilst literally doing the bare minimum and treating those who are delivering the work day to day as if they were inferior, is downright vile to witness. The way some people are spoken to is appalling, with the added issue that sexism is rife at Control Risks. The disrespect some people get for simply speaking up, or even sitting quietly is absurd. They continue to push culture and "togetherness" vibes, but the only ones who actually feel it or are deluded into pushing this message are those earning more money than an entire department combined and have zero awareness of the feelings of those actually doing the work. Or simply do not care. Another corporate company who says they care, but actually don't. At all. The company sent out an all staff survey earlier in the year and the global CEO emailed stating how people's opinions were not being acknowledged or recorded, they simply wanted some statistics. If that doesn't say it all... I don't know what does.

2.0
Jan 23, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Offers competitive salaries. The culture is great and leadership always encourages a work-life balance.

Cons

From a business perspective, the company struggles to onboard new clients. Hence, you're always at a risk of being put onto PIP's or getting laid off.

4.0
Oct 15, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great leadership, superb culture, amazing people to work with!

Cons

Reduced travel, still some old school thought around technical innovations

2.0
Aug 11, 2025

Company is struggling and suffering from poor leadership

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Unique exposure to global corporate risk

Cons

Failing business model. Senior leadership remains unchallenged and generally lacking experience outside of Control Risks. Not a place for ambitious talent.

3.0
May 1, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Easy to access global team It does operate like one firm across the globe

Cons

Terrible leadership No clear management strategy

2.0
Aug 19, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

They do a good job at convincing staff they are a quality employer.

Cons

○ Poor work life balance (they expect CR to be your life) ○ Low pay. Only the greedy partners get paid above market value to do less work while the grunt workers are consistently paid below market value. ○ Their bonus scheme is a scheme to gaslight people into believing their salaries and bonus are valid. ○ They have a corrupt HR team who collude with corrupt principals to sabotage reputations and work product. ○ Control Risk does not stand by their DE&I mission. It is all smoke and mirrors. They appear to be very strategic in maintaining the Anglo Saxon face of their leadership team.

5.0
Apr 27, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Interesting work Very knowledgeable frontline and mid level staff Good camaraderie

Cons

Need more investment in technology Need more diverse senior leadership

1.0
Jul 26, 2023

The Epitome of Toxicity

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Decent view if you snag one of the few seats in the corner of the office

Cons

There is, unfortunately, a long list and not enough space. But I will highlight just one - perhaps the most destructive one. As has been highlighted by many comments here, the biggest con is the company's toxic culture. Toxicity in all forms you can imagine from the top-down. This alone should already make you think twice about this company. A clear in-group and out-group sustains this toxicity. From the moment you step in, you'll understand the "acts" that go on. To avoid running afoul of the in-group, you'll have to participate in gossip and take great care never to offend its top leadership, even if not doing so goes against your core values and ideals. You'll almost have to become a lesser person to fit into the petty culture created by this in-group because all their members have extremely sensitive egos. It's tiring if you just want to come into a company to make a living, but its core members much prefer power plays and creating unnecessary conflicts just so that they have something to gossip about. And here, bonding = gossiping. Even if you are a lowly new-joiner and this is your first job, just know you won't be spared. People like to talk about people here – far too much. If you're a certain demographic and have good wits about you, tokenism and opportunities by demographic - 'nuff said. This is a British company. Simply because there might be others of your demographic in the company, please do not be deceived. Be smart - if they're still there, they're aligned to some existing key officer. If you've studied history, you'd know overseas empires have always been able to sustain dominance over the long term with the help of "local" supporters to quash critique from the ground. Sure, the possibility of being thrown under the bus even by someone to whom you might have had some affinity exists in every company. It is just uncomfortably high here. TL;DR. Even if you think you're someone who thrives in "toxic" environments, don't underestimate this one.

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