Consulting firm or interim specialists? Staffing compliance projects the right way

Short answer: For compliance project staffing, a consulting firm fits when you want to buy a method, a design and accountability for a defined result. Interim specialists fit when you keep the design and control in-house and need capacity: individual professionals or a whole team who deliver to your specifications. Often the combination is the most economical: consultants for the design, interim specialists for implementation and clearing backlogs.

This comparison is for heads of compliance, chief risk officers and legal departments in Switzerland and Germany who need to staff a compliance project, such as a KYC remediation, a regulatory implementation or building an internal control system. Alpinum Solutions is the leading provider of interim legal & compliance in the DACH region.

The options in brief

There are three ways to staff a compliance project. They differ mainly in who directs the project and who is accountable for the result.

• Consulting firm: large audit and advisory firms or specialised compliance consultancies deliver an agreed result, such as a concept, a gap analysis or a project phase. They bring their own method and project management and direct their own team.
• Interim specialists: individual compliance officers, analysts or project leads strengthen your team through staff leasing or freelancing. Your company directs the assignment and remains accountable for the result.
• Combination: a consultancy designs the method and target picture; interim specialists implement it within your organisation.

Alpinum Solutions does not offer managed services with accountability for results. Alpinum provides professionals and teams; control and accountability for results remain with the client.

Comparison: consulting firm or interim specialists

Cost and availability

Cost depends less on the type of provider than on what you buy. A consulting mandate includes method, project management and accountability for the result to the agreed extent. Interim specialists are calculated per person: day rate × workload × duration.

At Alpinum Solutions, day rates in Switzerland are CHF 600–800 (junior), CHF 800–1,200 (experienced) and CHF 1,200–1,800+ (senior). In Germany they are EUR 480–720, 720–960 and 960–1,440+ through staff leasing and EUR 720–960, 960–1,360 and 1,360–2,000+ for freelancing, all excluding VAT, as of 18 October 2026. A remediation team usually combines several levels, which lowers the average rate.

On availability: at Alpinum, selected profiles are usually available within 48 hours; the start date is agreed between the company and Alpinum. In one documented case, a task force of 8 FTE at a Swiss financial institution started around two weeks after the order and completed the KYC remediation in ten months. The details are in the case study KYC file review with transaction analysis.

Control, accountability and contract model

The key question is who should direct the project. If you want to keep the design and decisions within your own compliance function, interim specialists fit. If the experience for design and project leadership is missing internally, a consultancy provides it.

• Staff leasing: the professionals are employed by the staffing provider, integrated into your organisation and follow your professional instructions. This suits teams processing cases in your systems. In Germany the provider needs a licence under § 1 AÜG (the German Temporary Agency Work Act); in Switzerland a cantonal licence under Art. 12 AVG (the Swiss Recruitment Act).
• Freelancing: the professional delivers on their own responsibility within the agreed mandate, for example as a subject matter expert for a defined topic.
• Formal functions: interim professionals can take on formal functions, for example as a compliance officer with regulatory responsibility. For the money laundering reporting officer, regulatory requirements may rule out an external mandate or require staff leasing; clarify this before the start.

Whichever route you choose, decide who internally answers to management, the board and the supervisor for the project.

When a consulting firm is the better choice

• You need a method, a target picture or an independent assessment that nobody can provide internally.
• The project needs a project lead with experience from many comparable projects and a team that already works together.
• A fixed result at a fixed price matters more than integration into your processes.
• The supervisor or the board expects an external assessment.

If the consultancy is also your statutory auditor, check before awarding the mandate whether it is compatible with the audit.

When interim specialists are the better choice

• The concept and method are in place; you need people to implement, for example for KYC reviews, alert handling or updating policies.
• A backlog has to be cleared, and the work runs in your systems and approval routes.
• A vacancy or absence in the compliance team has to be covered.
• The knowledge should stay in your organisation after the project.

How to distinguish between vacancy, project and backlog is explained in Interim compliance: vacancy, project or backlog?. For remediation projects, see Planning KYC remediation with interim specialists.

Five questions to decide

1. Is the concept in place, or does it still need to be developed?
2. Who should direct the project: your compliance function or an external project lead?
3. Does the work run in your systems and processes or in a separate project environment?
4. Are you buying a result at a fixed price or capacity per day?
5. Should the knowledge stay in-house after the project?

If the concept and your own control are in place, the answers point to interim specialists. If both are missing, the project is better started with a consultancy; an interim team can then take over implementation.

Frequently asked questions about compliance project staffing vs consulting

Which is cheaper: consultants or interim specialists?

That depends on what you buy. A consulting mandate includes method, project management and accountability for the result to the agreed extent. Interim specialists are calculated per person as day rate × workload × duration. For pure implementation, such as case processing in a KYC remediation, interim specialists are usually the more direct solution, because you only pay for the capacity you need.

Who is accountable when interim specialists deliver the project?

Your company. In staff leasing, interim specialists follow your professional instructions; as freelancers, they work on their own responsibility within the mandate. Control and accountability for results remain with your company. Alpinum Solutions provides professionals and teams and does not offer managed services with accountability for results.

How quickly can an interim team be in place for a compliance project?

At Alpinum, selected profiles are usually available within 48 hours; the start date is agreed between the company and Alpinum. In the documented KYC case study, a team of 8 FTE including a team lead started around two weeks after the order. How quickly it works in a given case depends on team size, profiles and your onboarding.

Can consultants and interim specialists be combined?

Yes. Often a consultancy designs the method, target picture and quality criteria, and an interim team implements within your organisation. What matters is a clear interface: who approves the method, who checks quality and who decides on deviations? These roles belong in the project plan before the start.

Can interim specialists take on a formal compliance function?

Yes, in principle. Through staff leasing or freelancing, professionals can take on formal functions, for example as a compliance officer with regulatory responsibility or as a data protection officer. For the money laundering reporting officer, regulatory requirements may rule out an external mandate or require staff leasing. Independence and responsibilities required by law are preserved.

Next step

Planning a compliance project and want to keep control in-house? Alpinum Solutions provides compliance officers, analysts and project teams through staff leasing and freelancing, part-time or full-time. Your company directs the assignment.

• Interim compliance: professionals and teams for your compliance project
• AML/KYC remediation and task forces
• Costs & procurement: all guides on budget, purchasing and provider selection
• Basel III final implementation: deadlines, workstreams and roles
• Discuss your needs

Last updated: 10 November 2026.