FinTech graduate jobs - what skills and qualifications do I need?

FinTech, or financial technology, is an industry that uses new technology to improve financial services - like software used in accounting, or artificial intelligence in banking apps. While the development of new tech has been disruptive to the traditional finance industry, businesses who adopt it are often able to offer better services and therefore become top competitors. FinTech is growing rapidly, meaning that it is both an exciting and a lucrative industry to break into. Best of all, the FinTech industry offers a huge array of graduate jobs – ranging from UX design, to client services, to IT support and other tech-based roles. So how do you go about getting a graduate job in FinTech? To give you insight into what is required to work in the industry, we’ll be looking at the typical skills, knowledge and qualifications that FinTech companies expect from candidates, in four very different roles – Software Developer, Finance Assistant, IT Support and Client Services. Software developer FinTech companies looking to make new software need skilled developers to create and maintain it. With the world turning to smartphones, there is also a huge demand for mobile app developers who can create something that rivals the competition. Skills and knowledge Programming knowledge - It goes without saying that programming knowledge is essential – and experience using languages like Java are highly sought after by FinTech companies who require app development and maintenance. (Top tip - it helps to have examples of your programming work that you can present to recruiters in the form of a portfolio!) AI and machine learning knowledge - AI, automation and machine learning are becoming increasingly important in the world of finance. Financial tasks can be extremely tedious, so increasingly, financial management apps and automated banking features are being released – and becoming a huge point of focus for modern developers. Cyber security knowledge - There has been a sharp increase in cyber attacks in the last few years – with finance often being the main motivation behind these attacks. For someone working in FinTech, cyber security knowledge is an essential part of the role. If you’re working as a software developer, knowledge of cyber security is needed to develop secure apps and software so that customer and company data is safe. Qualifications Those looking for graduate jobs as a Software Developer will likely need a Computer Science or Software Engineering degree, with additional experience of programming.   Finance Assistant A Finance Assistant (or more specifically, someone who can assist with accounting and bookkeeping), is a hugely important role within FinTech. They will assist finance departments with managing and processing transactions, and troubleshoot accounting problems that arise. Skills and knowledge Analytical skills - If you’re managing financial data, analytical skills are essential. You may be required to check that transactions and expenses inputted into bookkeeping software are accurate – and an analytical eye will be needed to help you spot discrepancies and correct them accordingly. Finance knowledge - Working in FinTech doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to be a financial whizz – in fact in some roles, an aptitude for technology is more important. But with roles that are primarily focused on the business side of finance, financial knowledge is a top priority. Knowledge of Excel or bookkeeping software - For someone who is heavily involved with accounts and bookkeeping, being able to manage accounts through Excel or other bookkeeping software will be hugely valuable. Already having Excel skills under your belt will therefore be hugely valuable when applying for graduate jobs in FinTech. Qualifications You will usually need a degree in business, accounting or finance to work as a Finance Assistant. Those looking to become an Accountant at a FinTech company may benefit from an Accounting degree, although similar degrees may also be accepted. In order to manage data, a background in Mathematics will be useful, as will a good understanding of data privacy standards.   IT Support With all the new technology and software on the market, IT support is essential to ensure that clients are getting the most out of the software they use. People working in IT support are invaluable to development teams, as they will highlight any bugs in software to be fixed, ultimately improving value to users. Skills and knowledge Soft skills - Good communication and interpersonal skills are incredibly important for people working in IT Support graduate jobs in FinTech, who deal with a lot of issues and complaints from clients. In order to be able to get their message across quickly and effectively, it helps if the individual can explain things simply to non-technical users. Problem-solving skills - Technology is essentially a response to a problem or need – so problem-solving skills are important at both development stages and for ongoing support for software. When offering IT support, problem-solving skills and intuition are important to ensure that you’re giving the best support possible on a case-by-case basis. Qualifications For a support role you will likely receive training that is specific to the software you’re supporting. However, it’s useful to at least have a background in IT – A-levels and / or a degree in Computing, Computer Science or Software Engineering will help you to stand out from the crowd.   Client Services Individuals working in client services graduate jobs in FinTech act as the vital point of liaison between the company and its clients / customers. They will usually handle inbound inquiries, respond to any issues that arise, and manage relationships – essential for FinTech companies whose service or product is used by a range of clients. Skills and knowledge People skills - In order to succeed in a client services role, being able to build and sustain relationships, liaise with new clients, and have the confidence to speak to senior employees is essential. Especially within the emerging industry of FinTech, the role requires someone who is able to liaise with clients to resolve problems, explain new concepts, or sell the product. Technical knowledge - Having an understanding of both the finance-side and the tech-side of FinTech will come in handy, but in a client services job in FinTech it is important that you understand the technology that is being used, in order to explain it to clients who may not be as tech-savvy. Especially within the finance industry, which is often thought to be quite traditional, explaining completely new concepts to non-technical users is incredibly important. Qualifications There is no specific degree required to work in client services jobs in FinTech – in fact, the best thing is that the role can suit a real range of people with very different skill sets.   What next? Now that we’ve looked at the key skills and qualifications you need to work in certain graduate jobs in FinTech - how do you get your foot in the door? One of the most popular ways of getting a graduate job in FinTech is through an internship (which may develop into a permanent role) - particularly common with large banks and other financial services. Another way to break into the industry is through a graduate scheme, which many big FinTech companies will offer to train people up to eventually move into a permanent role. However, internships and graduate schemes are very competitive – and one great way you can stand out from the crowd is to provide a portfolio of your work wherever possible. Any practical experience you can get on top of your education will also elevate your application above those who only have classroom experience. In the meantime, try to develop your knowledge of financial services to better focus your job hunt and help to make you a stronger candidate in the eyes of employers. This post was written by Phil Gemmell from The Accountancy Partnership. Check out The Accountancy Partnership's website and Twitter page for updates! Find more career advice on our Graduate Blog - or check out the latest FinTech Graduate Jobs and other Graduate Jobs!

So you think you know graduate jobs in digital marketing? Think again!

Digital marketing currently employs over 1.5 million people in the UK – a number that is steadily growing year-on-year. In order for them to promote their brand and stay competitive, digital marketing is now necessary in almost every type of business – meaning that more graduate jobs are on offer than ever before. A career in digital marketing offers graduates a fast-paced working environment, exposure to brand new technologies, and the chance to work with a number of forward-thinking individuals on a daily basis. Yet within the industry there are a huge variety of career paths, suited to a range of skill sets, and to very different personality types. Here are just a few of them:   Digital Analyst Working as a Digital Analyst means analysing data relating to a company and its respective market. This usually involves monitoring and forecasting marketing and sales trends, measuring the effectiveness of campaigns, gathering data on consumers and competitors, and creating internal and / or external reports. The role of a Digital Analyst is essential to the growth of a business – and requires somebody who has top-notch analytical skills, is confident handling large amounts of data, and has conviction in their findings - as they’ll often be expected to provide their recommendations (and often make definitive decisions) on what will be the most effective digital strategy. Key skills: Numerical skills, research, logic SEO Specialist An SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) Specialist identifies strategies to obtain the highest-ranking possible on search engine results, and ultimately increase the number of visitors to a company’s website. Their role can involve optimising existing copy and landing pages, performing keyword research on search engines, and making suggestions for future improvements to a website. The knowledge of an SEO Specialist is not only fairly niche, but it is very much in demand - especially due to the fact that the algorithms of search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing can change on a daily basis. The search engine knowledge of an SEO Specialist is necessary to get visitors to a company’s website, increase revenue, and ultimately grow the business. Key skills: Attention to detail, technical skills, critical thinking Content Strategist Content is essential to any digital marketing strategy, so naturally a Content Strategist has a big responsibility - to represent a company’s brand through words and images. A Content Strategist will need to have a complete understanding of a company’s audience and purpose in order to create appropriate and engaging content for the designated audience, create an effective marketing strategy and attract new people to their website. A Content Strategist plans, writes, edits and promotes digital content, and creates a tailored content strategy based on business objectives and brand direction - so they’ll be a creative storyteller who also has a firm grasp of analytics, data, and SEO. Key skills: Communication, creativity, adaptability PPC Executive PPC (Pay-Per-Click) refers to the use of paid advertising online – usually through Google AdWords or a similar platform. A PPC Executive will help to create, optimise and report on PPC campaigns, ensuring that a company gets the very best results from each campaign they run. Essentially, they need to ensure that the company spends the least amount possible to get the maximum number of clicks in return. Day-to-day tasks for a PPC Executive can include creating various PPC campaigns across different digital channels, thinking up strategies to drive more traffic, analysing keyword search volumes, and monitoring the pay-per-click campaigns of a company’s top competitors. Key skills: Organisation, numeracy, analytical skills Social Media Co-ordinator Social media is now one of the most important aspects of digital marketing - helping businesses to reach (and engage with) a much wider audience. A social media co-ordinator will develop content, suggest creative ideas, and implement marketing strategies to promote a brand. They will work across a number of different platforms – often including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and Google+ - to grow a brand’s audience, increase engagement, and sustain a positive relationship with their customer base. Key skills: Creativity, written communication, organisation   Digital marketing remains one of the most popular career choices amongst graduates – and it’s easy to see why. Whatever your skills, qualifications and areas of interest, a graduate job in digital marketing could be for you. Find more career advice on our Graduate Blog - or search the latest jobs on our Graduate Jobs board!