Renowned fintech developer and investor, Michael Zetser believes that the opportunities and chances of achieving career success are rising for those who join the fintech industry. This is because the industry has continued to expand and is also collaborating with players in the traditional financial market. As of 2023, statistics reveal that out of all the fintech incumbents, 47% came from traditional finance and banking, 26% from the technology sector and 18% were from outside the industry.
There is a rising demand for new talent due to the huge growth in the fintech industry and as it continues, it will become common for people to come in from outside the space. Fintech firms have actively begun to hunt for talent outside the financial services industry because they can bring new ideas and fresh perspectives that can resolve problems that were previously unidentified and drive innovation.
Fintech maestro Michael Zetser says that since the fintech industry is in constant change, there is a great need for individuals who have skills that can transfer to new demands. Some of the transferrable skills that are making a big impact across the entire fintech space are discussed below.
Coding
The fintech community values proficiency in coding. As products are evolving constantly and new integrations and systems have to be developed, coding skills have become vital. A team of coders will be required by every signle business in the fintech sector and there is a demand for proficiency in programming languages like Java, Python, Ruby and Golang. Companies can improve their reputation with high quality and reliable systems, which means that bugs and errors in their systems can be harmful. Coders who adhere to the highest standards can help prevent such a scenario.
Data Analysis, AI and Machine Learning
Analyzing and deriving insights from data is one of the most important aspects of the fintech industry. Companies can benefit from competitive advantage and strategic growth with data-driven decision making, along with the capability of identifying meaningful information from huge quantities of data. This is where data analysis, AI and machine learning come in because they are able to process vast amounts of data quickly, thereby making it easy to reach efficient decisions.
By 2029, AI in the fintech industry is expected to hit a valuation of more than $58.05 billion. The data analysis will become even more important with fintech businesses working on creating scalable products for partnerships and consumers.
Cybersecurity
Michael Zetser points out that cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand skills. because of the higher accessibility of systems. Security and safety is a priority for fintech companies where their data and platforms are concerned. No matter how careful businesses are, incidents can happen anytime and they need to be prepared to handle them and not just focus on preventing them. Every evolving technology business should have a clear understanding of the business function and technology. This can help in identifying the technical cyber risks and finding solutions. See more.
Technical sales and marketing
Marketing and sales are generally not very technical, but this is not the case when they apply to the fintech industry. There are a ton of opportunities that can drive growth in the fintech sector because of the focus on customers, along with their inclusion, usability and accessibility. Today, anyone who wants to be part of sales and marketing in the fintech industry needs to be a master of several disciplines.
They have to manage budgets and ROI, oversee marketing technologies and also develop new products. To attract and retail customers, they need to leverage data and technology for developing targeted market campaigns that are capable of communicating the value of fintech products.
Efficiency and accuracy problem solvers
Fintech entrepreneur Michael Zetser, highlights the fact that a high level of accuracy and efficiency is needed in fintech operations for ensuring reliable services and smooth transactions. He states that the industry’s nature itself is to solve problems and most often these are problems that have not been identified as such before. Therefore, one of the fastest growing roles in the technology and financial space is one that encompasses a burning desire to find the root of a problem and solve it.
A number of skills are needed for this purpose, which include documentation, notetaking tracing back and logging details efficiently and accurately, precision, attention to detail and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
The fintech industry is recognizing these transferrable skills and has begun to seek people from diverse backgrounds. This can help in driving innovation, developing impactful solutions and shaping the future of financial services. When transferrable skills are taken into consideration, it can help fintech companies in expanding their search for talent beyond the existing pools. As for individuals who want to make a difference, there is an abundance of opportunities for success and career growth in the fintech space.
