Exploring role of diversity and cross regional collaboration at Acuity Knowledge Partners with Narasimhan SL

We recently got a chance to sit down with Narasimhan SL, the newly appointed Chief Human Resources Officer and Member of the Executive Committee at Acuity Knowledge Partners. Narasimhan brings with him a wealth of experience including his most recent 17-year tenure at State Street, where he held pivotal roles in shaping HR and business strategy. 

Having worked in India, the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore—his most recent roles included leadership of Global Head of Talent Acquisition for the franchise, Head of HR for a billion-dollar APAC business, Head of HR for delivery centres across India, China and Poland. On his first visit to the Colombo delivery location centre of Acuity Knowledge Partners, Narasimhan shares his vision for Acuity, and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for the Sri Lankan delivery operations.

Q: Acuity Knowledge Partners operates in multiple global locations. How does the Colombo office integrate and contribute to Acuity’s growth? 

Our business spans three major verticals: asset management, banking, and private markets and consulting, along with a rapidly growing data and technology solutions division. Sri Lanka serves as a microcosm of all these businesses and capabilities. Essentially, it mirrors the broader organisation, and every part of the business is represented here including enablement teams. We’re especially proud of our nearly 50% gender representation, showcasing our commitment to inclusivity.

Q:  Sri Lanka has a strong talent pool in financial and research services. How is Acuity leveraging this advantage to strengthen its workforce? 

Our business has started as being investment research and quant businesses, but over the period of the growth that we’ve had, we’ve clearly diversified our businesses, and our Sri Lankan offices are no different. Today, all of Acuity’s global service offering are present in Sri Lanka, across our verticals stated earlier. This is a direct testament to the availability and capability of Sri Lankan talent to support leading global clients.

Sri Lanka has a ~ 16,000 strong financial and accounting professionals pool and around 85,000 students pursuing professional exams in this field. When paired with a robust IT and BPM sector, Sri Lanka has all the ingredients to be an ideal hub for expanding Acuity’s technology-enabled services business.

We collaborate extensively with local universities to enhance the educational and professional development of undergraduates focused on bridging the gap between academic knowledge and industry practice. Structured mentorship programs, guest lectures, interactive sessions/discussions, and industry visits are conducted to provide undergraduates with insights into the financial services industry in Sri Lanka and future career opportunities. Additionally, Acuity provides curriculum development support for finance-related degree programs in multiple universities. 

Q: What opportunities does Acuity provide for Sri Lankan talent to gain international exposure and grow within the organisation?

 Our strength lies in two key areas: diverse global exposure and talent mobility. Working with top-tier asset managers, investment banks, and private market players offers unmatched international exposure, engaging with some of the best minds on Wall Street. This creates a dynamic learning environment and elevates the quality of work. Talent mobility is central to our growth. We have successfully placed Sri Lankan professionals in global roles while also welcoming back those with international experience. Many Sri Lanka-based employees now hold global leadership positions.

Q: Can you elaborate on the expansion of the Acuity Training Academy (ATA) program and how it is helping to diversify your hiring practices? 

 ATA is our early careers program, a crucial part of our talent pipeline, particularly in Sri Lanka. Strong partnerships with educational institutions and universities give us significant leverage, allowing us to build a robust talent pool. We’ve effectively leveraged these partnerships to create ongoing mobility opportunities within the organisation. Annually, we provide ~90% training coverage of total staff overall across technical and soft skills programs in Colombo. Of this, ATA intake includes ~60 employees, all of whom are freshers – graduates just out of university with 0-1 years of work experience. This academy is foundational to our growth and is a huge focus area. 

Q:  How has Acuity’s partnership with CFA, CIMA, and CA enhanced your employer brand and talent pipeline? 

Our approach has been intentional, investing in long-term collaborations, influencing curriculum design, sponsoring events, and even delivering parts of the curriculum. We are proud to work with a diverse range of universities, institutes, and professional bodies within Sri Lanka to support the elevation of talent quality within the country, thereby strengthening students’ overall employability. This includes longstanding partnerships with the Universities of Kelaniya, Colombo, and Sri Jayewardenepura to name a few. As a result, we have consistently been recognised as a top employer by AICPA & CIMA from 2020 to 2024, and a leading employer of CFA charter holders within the country. Furthermore, we were accredited in 2024 by CA Sri Lanka to provide practical training to students, expanding our talent pipeline to over 30,000 CA students. 

Q:  Can you share Acuity’s future headcount plans and how they align with your long-term commitment to Sri Lanka?

Our commitment to Sri Lanka runs deep and we remain focused on growth and investment, as we drive towards a doubling our headcount and reaching 1,000 employees by 2027. As we pursue both organic and inorganic expansion and see immense potential for new business and talent mobility, creating opportunities for both local and global professionals.

A key area of growth is our AI and data-driven technology lab, which is supported from Colombo, where we continue to invest in innovation. We recently launched Acuity Assistant, our own Al-powered chatbot assistant, built specifically to support the work our teams do. It’s designed to help employees work more efficiently by quickly answering questions, summarising materials, and supporting key workflows.