Why is Linedata expanding its Global Services offering into the UK now?
The timing reflects a shift in the UK market. Asset managers are dealing with rising operational pressure: more capital flowing into private markets, more bespoke investment structures to process, and talent shortages in areas like accounting, loan administration and private markets middle-office roles.
Linedata already has a long history in the UK through its technology business. Extending Global Services here allows clients to tap into an integrated global model, using nearshore, offshore or on-site global services solutions at a time when the industry is unusually open to new delivery models.
What specific services will the UK business focus on?
The initial focus is on middle-office functions such as reconciliation, treasury, accounting and post-trade operations, which are under the most strain from talent shortages and rising volumes of trades. Global Services also bring discipline and continuous oversight to the post-investment lifecycle, including covenant and performance monitoring, valuation support and asset-management activities primarily in the private investments space. Our clients benefit from continuous coverage, consistent insight, and the confidence to scale without compromising control.
Alongside this, firms are asking for help with digital transformation and modernisation: getting their data in order, building catalogues, improving governance and then applying AI in workflows that benefit from automation.
Which types of firms are you working with?
The demand is broad. Traditional asset managers, alternative managers, and the investment arms of insurers are all looking for more scalable operating models. The common factor is they’re managing more private assets than before, often without the internal infrastructure or staffing capacity to absorb the workload. Firms are moving into private credit because that’s where capital is flowing, but they don’t always have the people, systems or processes to support it. These pressures mean organisations are more receptive to nearshoring and offshoring than they were even a few years ago.
How is AI used within Linedata’s Global Services offering?
The starting point is the workflow. The technology comes second. The team looks at each process step by step. They start with reconciliation, data acquisition, onboarding documentation, and then valuation inputs – and identify where automation can reduce manual workload.
With Cognitive Investment Data Management (CIDM), we leverage AI to support how investment teams assess risk, monitor portfolios, and make decisions. While CIDM digitizes data across all the documents and financials that typically sit in silos and transforms them into structured intelligence, it further builds fundamental investment analytics, monitors covenants and delivers timely insights with exception alerts & reports that support investment decision making.
Are talent shortages really that severe in the UK market?
Yes, particularly in private markets operations. Demand for fund accountants, loan administrators, valuation professionals and other post-deal roles has surged at the same time as private credit has become one of the fastest-growing asset classes.
Traditional managers are competing with private equity houses and global banks for the same skillsets, which drives up costs and makes retention challenging.
That’s one reason why firms are looking at global operating models. You can start work earlier across different time zones, build teams with the right capabilities at a more sustainable cost and ensure business continuity. It’s also why automation has become a priority.
How prepared are UK asset managers for AI and digital transformation?
Virtually all firms are asking the same questions: what are we doing with AI, how are we controlling our data, and how do we protect it?
Many have spent the past two or three years experimenting with models, often with mixed results. The biggest barrier – and I’m sure you’ve heard this before – is data quality. A lot of organisations now realise they need to fix their data foundations before they can scale AI effectively.
The UK isn’t behind per se. Different firms are simply at different points in the journey. Within that, legacy organisations have more work to do to modernise their infrastructure. That’s where our advisory support around data catalogues, governance and model integration can make a meaningful difference.
