The 7 most in-demand FinTech skills for professionals

Amidst ongoing sector growth and a sharp rise in job vacancies, the global FinTech sector now faces a shortfall of qualified professionals with the technical capabilities and business acumen to drive new developments. 

While you may not be shocked to see software engineering and UX design on the list of the most in-demand FinTech skills (as collated by Robert Walters’ FinTech Talent Report), you may be surprised to find that IT product management and business analysis skills are also in critical demand. 

If you want to boost your chances of breaking into FinTech, you can consider gaining some of these high-demand skills through further study and/or training. Ulster’s online FinTech Management Masters programme is designed to help you develop a well-rounded FinTech skill set, combining technical knowledge with management skills. 

So, what skills do you need for FinTech? Below we outline 7 of the most in-demand FinTech skills and how to go about developing them. 

1. Analytical ability

Across all sectors, data analysis has become one of the most vital capabilities in business and a top skill for careers in FinTech. Knowledge of data science and the ability to apply a variety of analytics models onto data streams can help organisations better understand, predict and sway customer actions. 

Within FinTech, data science is used in the development of AI and machine learning tools, requiring analytical minds to pull meaningful insights from data in order to help solve complex problems and make decisions. 

On Ulster’s FinTech Management MSc, you will gain foundations in data science and deepen your analytical skills on modules including Business Analysis Foundations in Practice and Predictive Analytics in Finance. 

2. Technical expertise

Depending on your specialist area, technical expertise could mean a variety of different things. Demonstrating capability or a general awareness of the following hard FinTech skills will set you apart from the crowd when applying for industry jobs: 

• Blockchain 
• Software development 
• DevOps/DevSecOps 
• Cybersecurity 
• AI 
• Machine learning 
• Programming languages (e.g. JavaScript, Python, SQL, C++ and C#) 

3. Creativity

You may be a genius when it comes to coding, but without a complementary skillset of soft skills, you may find it hard to progress in the sector. 

As a field of innovation, FinTech requires a workforce that can think creatively and discover creative solutions to problems. Similar to start-up culture, FinTech organisations are constantly reworking their processes, requiring employees who can visualise change and forge new, unconventional paths. 

Individuals with transferrable skills such as adaptability and creativity will enable the sector to find fresh solutions to problems, break rules and innovate.

Though creativity is not a taught skill, graduate training programmes such as the FinTech Management Masters will allow you to gain experience in product development and research, all while engaging in brainstorming and creative workshops. These opportunities will allow you to hone your creative thinking and problem-solving skills for immediate application at work and at home. 

4. Leadership ability

To hold any sway over FinTech developments within your organisation, you will need more than technical expertise. While your analytical abilities will come in handy in solving problems, having the ability to persuade and convince your clients and employees is a crucial aspect of any management role. 

People management is one of the key FinTech skills for transformation leaders, an umbrella term necessitating soft skills such as emotional intelligence, delegation and collaboration. 

The online FinTech Management Masters programme at Ulster offers a unique balance of FinTech-focused modules and leadership training. Business-oriented modules covered include Business Analysis Foundations for Practice and Project Management, with opportunities to put your learnings to practical use throughout the course. 

5. Communication skills

Universally important, good communication marks the difference between a successful project and a failed one. Within the financial technology sector, being able to express your ideas coherently and collaborate with others is even more important as you and your team navigate uncharted territory and push for innovation. 

Studying at postgraduate level can help you to build advanced communication skills and improve your employability. Throughout postgraduate programmes at Ulster, you will grow your confidence in communicating with professional peers and academics via online discussion boards and interactive study sessions. 

6. Problem-solving skills

Evolving at a breakneck pace, financial technology certainly has its teething problems. Whether that’s regulatory stumbling blocks or technological challenges, these problems require level-headed assessment. 

Problem-solving and critical thinking skills are highly valued in FinTech, allowing teams to find creative solutions to complex issues. 

The FinTech Management MSc at Ulster will teach you methodologies to tackle the latest challenges in FinTech, within modules such as Regulation and Compliance, Corporate Governance and Ethics and Contemporary Issues in FinTech. 

7. Competence and a ‘can do’ attitude

To be competitive in an emerging sector, FinTech organisations must scale quickly. For this reason, hiring managers favour candidates who can hit the ground running and handle the many challenges thrown at them without the need for hand-holding. 

Becoming this ‘finished product’ could take several years of working within the sector, but can also be achieved through vocational training and postgraduate study. 

The online FinTech Management MSc at Ulster University is a rigorous postgraduate qualification designed to provide you with a balanced FinTech skill set of technical abilities and leadership skills to improve your employability at all management levels.