With nearly three decades of experience across audit and investment operations, Olga Romanova brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as Head of Operational Due Diligence at Fund HQ. Since joining the team in 2024, she has spearheaded the development of Fund HQ’s outsourced operational due diligence function, an initiative which supports allocators in an increasingly fragmented investment landscape.
An international career built on operational integrity
A commitment to high standards, independence of thought, and a global perspective marks Olga’s professional journey. She began her career with Ernst & Young, auditing companies across retail, manufacturing and tech sectors, before moving to Bermuda where she shifted her focus to hedge fund auditing. “It was a turning point,” Olga reflects. “I found hedge funds challenging and intellectually engaging, and I was eager to understand the space better. That’s when I started my CFA programme.”
Upon relocating to London, Olga transitioned into operational due diligence (ODD), working first with large institutional allocators before moving into boutique and specialist firms. She has covered various asset classes, from traditional hedge funds to private equity, private credit, infrastructure, and digital assets. “Covering digital assets was especially exciting,” she notes. “It’s an evolving space that’s redefining how we think about investment risk and oversight.”
Why Fund HQ?
The Fund HQ team’s vision, ambition, and collaborative spirit appealed to Olga. “They have a clear idea of where they want to go and are genuinely motivated to build something impactful,” she explains. “It’s energising to be part of that journey, to be shaping something new and genuinely useful to the market.”
Fund HQ’s value proposition lies in its flexibility and Independence. “We’re tapping into a segment of allocators that don’t have internal ODD capabilities. Many larger service providers are either too rigid or too costly for these firms. Our approach is tailored, commercial, and genuinely independent. We’re not influenced by investment teams, and that’s critical.”
Building a new function and facing new challenges
Launching a new business line comes with its own set of challenges, particularly around business development. “I’ve always been in firms with dedicated teams. Learning to identify the right conferences, the right contacts, and how to engage them is a new area for me. But it’s an important skill, and I’m enjoying the challenge.”
Technical delivery is different. “The work itself, operational due diligence, is familiar territory. But we’re constantly evolving. I make a point of attending conferences and maintaining an active dialogue with a trusted network of ODD professionals. We meet monthly to share trends, anomalies, and best practices.”
Client relationships rooted in trust and relevance
Strong client relationships are built on regular engagement and relevance, says Olga. “We check in quarterly with our clients, not just to update them but to listen. It’s good to hear how their needs are changing, what concerns are emerging, and how we can adapt our approach,” she says. “Our flexibility is what sets us apart. We tailor our work depending on the client’s risk profile, investment approach and business model.”
Her emphasis on independence is clear. When asked what qualities define a successful COO or operational leader, Olga says: “Independence of mind. Technical skill is essential, but so is the courage to stand up to a CEO or fund owner and do the right thing. That’s something I assess carefully in ODD reviews.”
A passion for investor protection
Olga’s driver is the opportunity to safeguard the investment process. “You can explain away poor performance due to market conditions,” she says. “But operational failures? Those are much harder to justify. My goal is to make the space safer for investors.”
Final thought
When asked what she wants clients to remember about working with Fund HQ, Olga is clear: “Operational risk can’t be diversified away. It needs to be actively managed, and that’s where we add value.”
In a financial ecosystem where complexity is the norm and specialism is essential, Fund HQ’s blend of technical expertise, global insight, and integrity can be invaluable to growing funds.
