Alisha O’Donovan

Director at BKL

Speaker

Alisha is our leading specialist on CASS 15, with deep expertise in financial services, client money and e‑money institutions (EMIs). She advises ambitious, fast‑growing businesses, including wealth managers, private equity funds, payment service providers and B2B lenders.

As a payments and financial services specialist, Alisha brings clarity to complex and rapidly evolving regulatory environments. She works closely with entrepreneurs operating regulated payment and e‑money business models, helping them meet FCA requirements with confidence. Her work includes advising on electronic money and payment services permissions, and designing robust internal controls, safeguarding arrangements and governance frameworks that support efficient statutory audits and FCA client money audits. Her ICA qualification in Governance, Risk and Compliance, rare within the audit profession, provides particular value to clients seeking FCA authorisation.

Alisha’s strengths include advising on compliant payment flows, e‑money accounting and taxation, and supporting inward‑investing businesses with structuring their UK operations.

Beginning her career at BKL as a trainee, Alisha has played a key role in developing its financial services offering. Her achievements include a Bronze award at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards 2024, recognition in the Accountancy Age 35 Under 35 rankings, and being named a finalist for Breakout Star of the Year at the Accounting Excellence Awards 2024.