Global vetting and checking service experts

Meet the Team

Joey Lyons

Owner & Managing Director, Checkback International
Driving Global Standards in Background Screening & Compliance

Joey Lyons is the Owner and Managing Director of Checkback International, an internationally recognized leader in pre-employment background screening and compliance solutions.

His leadership journey began in 2004 when he was recruited to manage and develop a background screening division within a leading European risk management group. In 2010, Joey acquired that division – officially launching Checkback International on a more aggressive growth strategy path.

From Dublin Roots to International Impact

Originally headquartered in Dublin, Checkback quickly responded to the growing demand for robust, standards-based pre-employment screening, particularly during Ireland’s rapid economic expansion. The company supported a wave of multinational tech giants establishing their European bases, offering trusted vetting services at scale.

A defining move came in 2015 with the acquisition of the UK-based Vetting Solution Centre, leading to the relocation of Checkback’s headquarters to Hemel Hempstead, UK. This allowed the company to operate within one of the world’s most advanced regulatory environments, embedding itself in a market at the forefront of criminal records and digital identity verification.

Checkback has since grown into a truly international operation, delivering GDPR-compliant, cloud-based applicant and client dashboards that streamline onboarding while ensuring regulatory compliance. In 2024 alone, the company performed background checks in 164 countries, supported by a mature infrastructure and a global network of partners.

Strategic Growth and New Ventures

In 2023, Joey expanded Checkback’s capabilities by launching MyVetting.com, a SaaS-based platform offering subscription-driven background screening services tailored for modern HR teams.

With a clear focus on long-term scalability, Joey’s decision to pursue his MBA as a mature student brought a renewed strategic perspective to the business. This academic experience helped steer Checkback into a bold new phase of growth—driven by a combination of organic expansion, strategic acquisitions, and repositioning within key markets.

Key milestones include:

  • 2015 – Acquisition of Vetting Solution Centre (UK)
  • 2022 – Acquisition of Acorn Direct, significantly increasing operational capacity
  • 2023 – Launch of MyVetting.com, expanding SaaS capabilities
  • Expansion from a one-man consultancy into a 20+ person international team

Our mission is to provide you with fast, affordable, compliant vetting and checking services.

Compliance, Accreditation & Operational Trust

Checkback’s operations are built on a foundation of integrity, security, and quality. The group maintains:

  • ISO 27001 – Information Security Management
  • ISO 9001 – Quality Management
  • Cyber Essentials Plus
  • ICO Registration
  • BS7858:2019 Compliance
  • Investors in People Accreditation

Regulatory Expertise and Industry Influence

Joey is widely recognised for his contributions to regulatory compliance in the background screening sector. He played a pivotal role in developing the Central Bank of Ireland’s Fitness & Probity framework—now a fundamental requirement in financial services vetting.

His subject-matter expertise includes:

  • British Standards: BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard), BS7858:2019 for the security industry
  • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks (UK)
  • FCA regulatory checks for financial institutions
  • Private Security Authority (Ireland) vetting requirements
  • GDPR and international data protection compliance
  • Home Office digital Right to Work identity verification
  • Deep expertise in vetting solutions for the pharmaceutical sector

Future Vision: Platform-Driven Growth

Looking ahead, Checkback’s strategic vision centers on combining product innovation with market expansion. The upcoming launch of VSO, a second-generation SaaS vetting subscription platform, is set for late 2026. VSO will provide HR teams with enhanced tools for compliance tracking, audit readiness, and candidate onboarding—marking a pivotal move toward recurring-revenue growth and product-led scale.

Simultaneously, Joey continues to explore acquisition opportunities that strengthen Checkback’s sectoral presence and unlock new compliance-driven verticals.

The secret of our success

The Checkback Process

At Checkback, our process has been designed with both the client and applicant at its heart. As your virtual screening team, we tailor our service and our technology around your needs, implementing innovations that streamline your screening experience. Our screening dashboard is ready to go from your first login and our in-house technology team can modify your dashboard to your precise requirements, from functionality to your brand colours where required. We build our software around our ‘3-click rule’ for your speed and ease of use. You can access your check report dashboard at any time or work through our expert screening team. All clients, however, have the same access to the same information which means that you see what we see on the dashboard in real time.

Screening and vetting services simplified

It’s a simple 1,2,3 step process

Checkback International delivers a fully managed service that has been developed to meet clients’ needs – whatever they may be. We tailor our service around your requirements, so you get the seamless, client-focused process that best works for your organisation. Choose from one of our most requested options:

  • Self-manage the checking process through your secure dashboard
  • Use our fully managed Checkback Screening Expert Service, with no additional charge attached
  • Build the service that suits you, with a blend of the two options above

Your checks, your way
We’re committed to delivering the background checks that our clients need, with screening excellence as standard and a fully managed service at no extra cost. With complete transparency on the checking process from your dashboard, you can even review the conversations taking place between your Screening Team and your candidates and referees.

Start screening in just 3 clicks and track progress in real time, via our proprietary vetting software.