This article, published in Risk & Compliance Magazine, features a mini-roundtable discussion exploring the strategic implementation of in-house compliance Shared Service Centres (SSCs) within highly regulated industries. Industry experts Patrick Wellens and Dr Barbara Badoino evaluate the advantages of this internal model over decentralised or outsourced alternatives, highlighting how an in-house SSC retains corporate knowledge, ensures robust data privacy, and strengthens control integrity across global markets. The piece balances these operational benefits with significant challenges, notably the difficulty of attracting and retaining senior regulatory talent in lower-cost hubs and the potential resistance from local business units due to the geographical and cultural distance of a centralised team. 

The discussion further details how technology—including automation, artificial intelligence, and regtech—can enhance efficiency, whilst emphasizing that human judgment remains essential for interpreting complex ethical nuances. Both panellists warn against common pitfalls, such as viewing compliance purely as a transactional back-office function or over-relying on rigid, depersonalised ticketing systems that alienate users. Ultimately, the article argues that the true return on investment for an in-house compliance SSC extends far beyond mere cost reduction; when executed effectively, it secures critical institutional knowledge, deepens regulatory trust, and establishes an enterprise-wide culture of integrity.