It pays to embrace finance technology
THE payments you make by mobile phone or online will all have used sophisticated financial technology — or fintech as it is known in banking circles.
Fintech brings financial services direct to customers — and it’s a growing sector.
‘ Global investment in fintech companies increased by 106 per cent from 2014 to 2015, leading to a multitude of job opportunities,’ says Kisandka Moses, programme director of the upcoming FinTech Connect Live! event.
Roles in demand include chief technology officers, engineers, developers, heads of IT, coders ( currently being fought over by potential employers), chief strategy officers, business development managers, and sales and marketing specialists.
Emma Northcott, a customer operations manager at mobile devicebased bank Monzo, says: ‘What I really like is everyone’s enthusiasm for the product.
‘We are excited about the impact the technology is having on our lives and those of clients. Customer experience hasn’t always been prioritised in financial services, so as well as a good product, servicing clients is important.’
Emma, 27, from London, who has a degree in international business and Spanish, says: ‘Fintech companies offer a broad range of careers, so work out which roles most interest you. Apply to companies that inspire you, and show genuine enthusiasm for the company’s platform or product.’
Fintech employers include big banks and professional services firms, but also emerging names such as Monzo, Atom Bank, Metro Bank, Starling Bank, Revolut, Tandem Bank, Syndicateroom, Kantox and LendInvest.
Having a degree is not essential in the fintech sector, and there is no standardised way in.
Nadim Choudhury, head of careers at the London Institute of Banking and Finance, which provides financial services education, says: ‘Most fintech companies look for an analytical mind, logical thinking, numeracy and the ability to analyse data and information.
‘Many fintech employers are startups who want creative people able to work across job roles and show entrepreneurial spirit.’
He points out that you will also need resilience, because the sector is young and unpredictable, so the ability to bounce back from adversity is highly prized.