A STRATEGIC development plan has seen a York software solutions provider return to its roots as it launches a recruitment drive.

StarCompliance, which is looking to take on four new employees to increase its team to 20, has relocated from its base in York city centre to York Science Park, where it was originally based in 2010.

The business has its main headquarters in the US, where for the last 14-years it has been developing solutions to help manage employee conflicts in large global financial firms from its based in Maryland.

In 2004 StarComplaince launched its research and development arm in York, with the division now taking up residency in the Science Park's Catalyst building, on the University of York's Heslington East campus.

Tim Ward, vice president of product management at StarCompliance, said: "While our original decision to create an office in York was due to pre-existing relationships in our management team, the city has been a fantastic base for us.

"Our employees in the UK bring an international perspective and sensibility that has really helped us to design a leading global product.

"Moving back to York Science Park contributes to the local entrepreneurial buzz plus will be a key factor in cementing a strong relationship with the University to help find and grow the next generation of world class engineers.

"York has started to become a hub for software and technology firms attracting excellent developers away from London with a better quality of life and a lower cost of living.

"The investment in high speed communications across the city combined with superb facilities for expanding businesses, plus a well-regarded Computer Science Department at the University, all underpin our decision to choose to move back to York Science Park for the company's expansion plans.”

StarCompliance has a growing list of clients and is used by investment advisers, broker dealers, hedge funds, insurance companies and private equity firms around the world.

The company’s software detects and manages conflicts of interest that may arise for employees who work for large financial firms, such as the detection of insider trading activity where an employee may use information gained within the firm to profit by personally trading stocks prior to public announcements.

StarCompliance is also expanding into new geographical regions with different regulatory requirements, including releasing a French version of its product which will be followed by other European language versions in the near future.

Tracey Smith, managing director, York Science Park said: “I am delighted to welcome StarCompliance back to York Science Park and play a part in supporting them in their ambitious expansion plans.

"They are an exciting, innovative company to work with and are already providing some fantastic opportunities for the University’s Computer Science graduates."