ARC People: Audit, Risk en Compliance

What ARC People: Audit, Risk en Compliance does

ARC People is a Netherlands-based professional services firm that operates exclusively in the audit, risk, and compliance domain. It serves 200+ organizations across virtually all Dutch industries, including healthcare, insurance, energy, real estate, retail, logistics, port operations, government, and financial services, with named clients such as Achmea, RDW, Gasunie, Allseas, Havenbedrijf Rotterdam, Parnassia Groep, Plus Retail, BPD, Mediq, and IIA Nederland. The firm monetizes through six engagement models — Interim, Co-sourcing, Outsourcing, Assurance & Advisory, the proprietary ARC Traineeship, and Executive Search — with pricing that is quote-based and positioned as "senior-only expertise at non-Big Four rates." Revenue mechanics span professional service fees (hourly, daily, retainer, or project-based), placement fees for interim/trainee assignments, and success fees for executive search engagements.

The firm is structured around a lean core team of approximately 15 in-house senior specialists, supplemented by what it characterizes as "Nederland's largest network" of experienced interim audit, risk, and compliance professionals, bringing the total active professional headcount to roughly 50-60. ARC People does not develop proprietary software or technology platforms; its intellectual capital sits in curated methodologies, regulatory expertise across frameworks such as NIS2, DORA, ESG/CSRD, ISAE 3402, DNB Information Security, SOC 2, IIA/GIAS, and AI Act auditing, and ongoing knowledge production through the ARC Academy / ARC Insights content platform (blogs, whitepapers, templates, and master classes). It is privately held as ARC People BV, co-founded and co-managed by Marc van Heese and Sander van Oosten, with no disclosed external funding or parent entity.

Distribution is partner-led direct sales focused on enterprise and mid-market buyers in the Netherlands, supported by content marketing, the ARC Academy newsletter, LinkedIn presence, and a 10-year anniversary milestone (April 2023) that coincided with a reported 70% revenue uplift versus 2021. The firm holds three consecutive FD Gazellen Awards (2019, 2020, 2021) and obtained SNA certification in July 2025, strengthening its positioning as a Big Four alternative for Dutch audit, risk, and compliance mandates.

Name

ARC People: Audit, Risk en Compliance

Legal name

ARC People BV

Website

https://arcpeople.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ARC People is a Netherlands-based audit, risk, and compliance professional services firm serving 200+ enterprise and mid-market organizations across industries through interim, co-sourcing, outsourcing, advisory, traineeship, and executive search engagements delivered by senior specialists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audit, Risk and Compliance Consulting

NAICS

Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Professional Employer Organizations (56133), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Employer Organization (PEO) / Co-Employment Services (BPACAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Culture, Engagement & Employee Experience (EX) Consulting (BPAHAGAI), Onboarding, Offboarding & Employee Lifecycle Administration (BPACAHAL), People Analytics, Assessment & Psychometrics Consulting (BPAHAGAH)

Keywords

• Audit services
• Risk management
• Compliance consulting
• Interim staffing
• Executive search

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilversum

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Interim staffing: Placement of experienced (senior) audit, risk, and compliance professionals into client organizations on a temporary basis. ARC People presents at least two suitable candidates within 3 business days. Revenue is generated through professional service fees billed per engagement or hourly/daily rates.
2. Co-sourcing: Flexible supplementation of a client's audit, risk, or compliance function, where ARC People professionals work alongside the client's team. Shared responsibility for execution while the client retains control. Revenue model based on ongoing retainer or project-based professional fees.
3. Outsourcing: Full responsibility for the design, setup, and execution of a client's audit, risk, or compliance function. ARC People delivers experienced specialists, proven methodologies, and efficient processes. Revenue is generated through contract-based professional service fees.
4. Assurance & Advisory: Expert consultancy and independent assessment on complex audit, risk, and compliance matters. Provides certainty, consultancy, and knowledge based on latest developments. Revenue through project-based consulting fees.
5. Traineeship: Deployment of junior to mid-level professionals (trainees) into client organizations, with ARC People providing structured training, coaching, and supervision. Revenue is generated through the trainee placement fees charged to the client organization.
6. Executive Search: Recruitment of senior, end-responsible managers for internal audit, risk management, or compliance functions. Leverages ARC People's network and deep domain knowledge to identify and place the best candidates. Revenue through recruitment/success fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ARC People provides senior audit, risk, and compliance professionals to Dutch organizations across all industries through six engagement models: Interim placement (candidates presented within 3 business days), Co-sourcing, full Outsourcing, Assurance & Advisory, the ARC Traineeship for junior talent, and Executive Search for senior leadership roles. The firm serves over 200 clients with a core team plus what it describes as the Netherlands' largest network of interim audit, risk, and compliance professionals.

Product overview

ARC People is a mid-sized Dutch consultancy focused exclusively on audit, risk, and compliance. Its service portfolio is organized around six core delivery models — Interim Services, Co-sourcing, Outsourcing, Assurance & Advisory, ARC Traineeship, and Executive Search — which serve as the primary engagement frameworks. Underpinning these are three specialist practice areas: Audit Services (covering AI-assisted auditing, continuous monitoring, financial audit, IT audit, operational audit, quality assurance, and software license risk assessment), Risk Services (covering IT risk, cyber recovery, data-driven governance, data analysis, process mining, cloud risk assessment, ransomware readiness, enterprise risk management, ISAE 3402, operational risk management, and exceptional internal control), and Compliance Services (covering compliance monitoring, customer due diligence, ESG/CSRD, DNB information security, SOC 2, DORA, NIS2, Wet politiegegevens, behavior and culture, and privacy). ARC People also publishes specialized whitepapers and templates (Plan of Action for Internal Audit, Audit Annual Plan in a VUCA World, DNB Good Practice Information Security, NIS2) and offers training courses and master classes. The company positions itself as an alternative to Big Four consultancies, offering senior-only professional delivery at competitive rates to over 200 clients across Dutch industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ARC Traineeship: A structured 6-18 month traineeship program for WO graduates in audit, IT audit, risk management, and compliance, with monthly return days and personal coaching.
• ARC Interimdesk
• ARC Academy / ARC Insights

Products and services

• Interim Services Placement of experienced (senior) audit, risk, and compliance professionals on a temporary basis; ARC People presents at least two suitable candidates within three business days. For Dutch organizations requiring senior audit, risk, or compliance capacity on an interim basis across all industries.
• Co-sourcing Flexible augmentation of a client's audit, risk, or compliance function where ARC People professionals share responsibility for execution while the client retains control. Brings knowledge, experience, and additional capacity for future-proofing the function.
• Outsourcing Full delegation to ARC People of the design, setup, and execution of a client's audit, risk, or compliance function, with experienced specialists, proven methodologies, and efficient processes.
• Assurance & Advisory Skilled (interim) professionals providing certainty, consultancy, and knowledge at any level, based on the latest substantive developments in audit, risk, and compliance.
• ARC Traineeship Temporary deployment of junior to mid-level professionals (trainees) into client audit, risk, or compliance teams, with ARC People providing structured training, coaching, and supervision; enables clients to explore a permanent employment relationship.
• Executive Search Recruitment of senior, end-responsible managers for internal audit, risk management, or compliance functions, leveraging ARC People's network and substantive domain knowledge to identify and place the best candidate.
• Training Courses and Master Classes Structured training programs and master classes covering current topics in audit, risk, and compliance, used to develop client team capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Three consecutive FD Gazellen Awards — one of the fastest-growing medium-sized companies in the Netherlands, with at least 30% annual growth since founding
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IIA Nederland (Instituut van Internal Auditors)coreOthersIIA Nederland is the Dutch institute for internal auditors. ARC People displays the IIA logo on its website footer as a partner/certification affiliation. The partnership signals ARC People's alignment with the internal audit profession's standards and professional community.
• Stichting Normering Arbeid (SNA)coreOthersSNA is the Dutch foundation for labor standards certification for staffing, contracting, and secondment firms. ARC People achieved SNA certification in July 2025, confirming compliance with fiscal, administrative, and HR obligations. The certification provides clients with liability exemption for unpaid wage taxes and VAT.
• Consultancy.nlminorOthersConsultancy.nl is a Dutch online platform ranking and profiling consulting firms. ARC People is listed as a 'Top consulting firm Netherlands 2025' on the platform, providing third-party visibility and credibility for potential clients searching for consulting services in audit, risk, and compliance.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RSM Netherlands: RSM is a global mid-tier audit and advisory network with a substantial Dutch practice serving middle-market clients. It competes with ARC People on internal audit outsourcing, risk advisory, and compliance services, and shares the mid-market Big Four alternative positioning.
• BDO Netherlands: BDO is the largest mid-market audit, tax, and advisory network globally and a direct competitor to ARC People in the Netherlands. Like ARC People, BDO serves Dutch mid-market and enterprise clients seeking Big Four alternatives; it overlaps strongly on internal audit, risk management, and compliance advisory services.
• Grant Thornton Netherlands: Grant Thornton is a global mid-tier audit and advisory firm with a Dutch practice competing directly with ARC People for internal audit, risk, and compliance engagements. Both firms target mid-market Dutch organizations seeking senior expertise at competitive rates versus Big Four pricing.
• Baker Tilly Netherlands: Baker Tilly is a mid-tier global advisory network with a Dutch practice providing audit, risk, and compliance services. It targets similar Dutch mid-market clients and overlaps with ARC People on co-sourcing, internal audit, and regulatory compliance engagements.
• Mazars Netherlands: Mazars is an international audit and advisory firm with a strong Dutch presence, offering internal audit, risk, and compliance services that overlap directly with ARC People's portfolio. Mazars serves a similar client profile — Dutch mid-market and enterprise — and competes on the same 'Big Four alternative' positioning.

Broad incumbents

• KPMG Netherlands: KPMG is one of the Big Four firms with a substantial Dutch audit, risk, and compliance practice. ARC People competes directly with KPMG for Dutch enterprise and mid-market internal audit and compliance work, positioning as a more agile, senior-only alternative.
• Deloitte Netherlands: Deloitte is one of the Big Four audit and advisory firms with a large Dutch practice covering audit, risk, and compliance. ARC People explicitly positions itself as an alternative to Big Four firms like Deloitte, competing for the same client base on price-quality grounds.
• EY (Ernst & Young) Netherlands: EY is one of the Big Four firms with a large Dutch practice spanning audit, risk, and compliance advisory. ARC People positions itself explicitly against Big Four firms including EY, targeting clients seeking senior expertise at lower overhead rates.
• PwC Netherlands: PwC is one of the Big Four firms with a major Dutch practice covering audit, risk, and regulatory compliance. ARC People targets the same Dutch enterprise client base but competes on being a leaner, senior-only Big Four alternative.

Emerging players

• CLT Reimert, Koerts & Van Duuren (and similar Dutch boutique advisory firms): Dutch boutique advisory firms like Reimert provide specialized risk and compliance services to Dutch mid-market and enterprise clients, overlapping with ARC People's niche. They represent emerging or niche players with partial overlap on regulatory and internal audit engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arcpeople

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ARC People: Audit, Risk en Compliance