FinTech

"FinTech" is a term used to represent the use of new technologies, products and services within the financial industry. FinTech companies often operate exclusively online, and offer competition to traditional forms of conducting financial development services, often by offering online services that aren't ordinarily offered by traditional financial companies. Examples of FinTechs you may know include PayPal, Revolut, PayU, Monese and Wise.

FinTechs often operate as start-ups, so could be a great inroad for you as a graduate if you are interested in working in a role where you can influence change, be a significant part of building something from the ground up, and are adaptible. With the nature of FinTech being modern and technology-based, roles are available at companies outside the UK, often in the United States. If you're open to working flexibly or remotely, this could be an area for you.

Explore job roles

As FinTech companies operate at the intersection between finance and technology, the range of roles available can span across multiple functional areas, from operational and business to technology-based roles. The range of roles available can include:

  • Software Development and Engineering
  • Data Science and Analytics
  • Product Management
  • User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) Design
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management
  • Operations and Customer Support

FinTech is used in sectors that are related to the circulation of money and other assets, making their services available online. This can include, for starters:

  • Banking
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Internet payments
  • Asset management
  • Cybersecurity

Use the job sites below to find out about, skills, entry routes and experience

  • FinExtra Find jobs in fintech, banking and payments worldwide
  • Crunchboard Jobs in the technology sector
  • LinkedIn Professional community which also advertises roles. Particularly used by startups and recruiters
  • Glassdoor Job search and company review site

Getting in and Getting Experience

If you're interested in working within FinTech, you'll likely need an interest in, and knowledge of, technology/computer science and finance. An understanding of the broad FinTech ecosystem and what FinTech is generally, is a good foundation to allow you to know where your employer of choice operates within it. Whilst there are FinTech roles advertised, you may find that proactively searching for roles via networking can be beneficial too for your jobsearch. As this is a fast-growing and changeable industry, talent is noticed early on and initial experiences at a company may lead to a paid role. Building experience alongside your degree within, or related to, the FinTech industry will be most beneficial for you to gain an insight into whether this industry is suitable for you or not.

To build your experience, you may wish to do some work shadowing within a start-up company, to assess the culture, working environment and nature of roles. You can find companies on sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor. You may also find it helpful to explore mentoring. Our own Career Mentoring programme may be of interest to you, or you could source your own mentor by proactively contacting relevant individuals.

Gain relevant experience and skills while you study

Use the job sites above to check which skills are normally needed for the roles you are interested in. Use our transferable skills pages to explore ways to gain the top skills employers are looking for

  • Learning Programming Languages: Skills in Python, R, SQL, and JavaScript are highly valued in Fintech.
  • Understanding Financial Concepts: Familiarise yourself with key financial concepts, regulations, and market operations, especially those specific to the UK like the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidelines.
  • Getting Hands-On with Technology: Explore Block chain, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, which are increasingly integral to Fintech.

Professional Development and FinTech Qualifications:

  • Global FinTech Institute - Offers foundational knowledge of the Fintech industry.
  • Prospects - Shows a list of Postgraduate courses in the FinTech industry
  • CFA Institute - with a focus on Fintech electives: Adds credibility and specialized knowledge in financial analysis and Fintech.
  • LinkedIn Learning: Offers courses on Fintech fundamentals, Block chain, and AI in finance.
  • Coursera & edX: Offer courses from universities and institutions on Fintech, Block chain, digital currencies, and financial services.

Next steps

When planning your next steps you may have additional questions or want to explore certain aspects in more detail: