1. Who We Are

This Privacy Policy explains how DueDiligence Valens Consultancy ("Valens", "we", "us" or "our") collects, uses, shares and protects personal information when you visit ddvalens.com (the "Website"), contact us, submit your CV or use our recruitment services.

We provide financial-services recruitment in the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Canada. For the purposes of applicable data protection laws, Valens is the organisation responsible for the personal information described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

Information you give us

• Candidates: name, email address, CV, employment history, education, qualifications and certifications, professional licences, current and expected remuneration, notice period, preferred locations, right-to-work information and any other details you choose to share.
• Clients and business contacts: name, job title, company, business email address, and details of vacancies and hiring requirements.
• Referees: name, job title, contact details and the reference you provide.

Information we collect automatically

When you visit the Website, we and our hosting and website providers may collect technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited and the date and time of your visit, including through cookies.

Information from other sources

We may collect professional information from public sources such as professional networking sites, company websites and public registers, and from referees and background-screening providers with your knowledge where required by law.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To assess your suitability for roles and introduce you to prospective employers
• To understand client hiring needs and provide recruitment services
• To verify employment history, qualifications and references, and to coordinate background screening where a role requires it
• To respond to enquiries and communicate with you about opportunities and services
• To manage our business relationships and keep accurate records
• To operate, secure and improve the Website
• To comply with legal, regulatory and tax obligations
• To establish, exercise or defend legal claims

4. Legal Bases for Processing

Where data protection laws such as the UK GDPR require a legal basis, we rely on one or more of the following:

• Consent, for example when you submit your CV or agree to be put forward for a role. You can withdraw consent at any time.
• Contract, where processing is needed to provide services you or your organisation have requested.
• Legitimate interests, in running a recruitment business, matching candidates with suitable roles and maintaining business relationships, balanced against your rights.
• Legal obligation, where we must process information to comply with the law.

5. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only where necessary:

• With prospective employers: candidate details are shared with a client only after we have discussed the specific role with you, except where you have given broader consent.
• With service providers: such as email, website hosting, IT and background-screening providers, who act on our instructions and must protect your information.
• With referees and verification sources: to confirm employment and qualifications.
• For legal reasons: where required by law, regulation, court order or a government authority, or to protect our rights.
• Business transfers: if our business is reorganised, merged or sold, information may transfer to the new owner under the same protections.

6. International Transfers

Because we recruit across the United States, United Kingdom, UAE, Singapore and Canada, your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than the one where you live, including to employers in the location of a role. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards such as contractual protections and limit transfers to what is needed for the purpose.

7. How Long We Keep Information

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy, including to consider you for future opportunities, unless a longer period is required by law. If you would like us to delete your information sooner, email hr@ddvalens.com.

8. How We Protect Your Information

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse and unauthorised access, including access controls and secure systems. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we recommend sending only the information needed for your enquiry.

9. Your Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of your information
• Restrict or object to certain processing
• Withdraw consent at any time
• Receive a copy of your information in a portable format
• Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority

Residents of California may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, including the right to know, delete and correct personal information, and the right not to be discriminated against for exercising these rights. We do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising.

10. Regional Information

• United Kingdom: UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. You may complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
• United Arab Emirates: Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data, and the DIFC Data Protection Law where applicable.
• Singapore: the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA).
• Canada: the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial laws.
• United States: applicable federal and state privacy laws, including the CCPA as amended by the CPRA.

11. Cookies

The Website uses cookies that are necessary for it to function and may use cookies that help us understand how visitors use it. You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect how the Website works.

12. Third-Party Websites

The Website may link to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites and recommend reading their policies.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will always be posted on this page with its "Last updated" date.

14. Contact Us

To exercise your rights or ask a question about this policy:

• Candidates: hr@ddvalens.com
• Clients and general enquiries: info@ddvalens.com
• Contact page: ddvalens.com/contact

Please put "Privacy Request" in your email subject so we can respond promptly. See also our Terms & Conditions.