A Financial Technology Analyst Career
Why Financial Technology?
- Booming field
- Significant demand
- Desirable pay scale
FinTech is a rapidly growing field within the financial industry that has been impacted by technological innovation. Both small and large financial companies are looking for skilled technical workers who can think analytically, critically, and creatively to compete and innovate in the market. Freelance and consulting opportunities are also available in the field. FinTech is a challenging and globally impactful career path.
FinTech careers typically involve the use of technology in the financial industry, and may include roles such as data analyst, software engineer, quantitative analyst, quantitative trader, and financial applications specialist. A bachelor's degree is typically required for most FinTech roles.
Certifications
PATHWAY CERTIFICATIONS
- Experience is the primary focus in FinTech, so there are no required certifications
- Most employers in FinTech require a bachelor's degree, and masters or doctoral degrees may be required for senior level roles
- Certifications may be valuable but are not as important as a bachelor's degree or higher
- Some helpful certifications in the FinTech industry include:
| Certification | Definition | Associated Roles |
|---|---|---|
| CFA | Chartered Financial Analyst | Financial analyst roles and tasks |
| CFP | Certified Financial Planner | Roles with finance planning and advising tasks |
| CPA | Certified Public Accountant | Roles with financial planning or advising tasks |
In-Demand Skills
Ultimately, your success in securing a specific role in the FinTech field will depend on your expertise and proficiency in the in-demand skills identified in this list, as well as your commitment to ongoing learning and professional development.
List encompasses FinTech as a whole
- Transferable Skills and Qualities
- Adaptable
- Analytical
- Business Intelligence
- Intellectually Curious
- Strong Written and Verbal Communication
- Problem-Solver
- Strategic Thinker
- Collaborative
- Desire to Learn
- Research-Driven
- Data-Driven
- Business Acumen
- Empathy
- Passion
- Strong Communicator
- Field Specific Skills
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Algorithms, Statistics, and Modeling
- Blockchain
- Financial Fundamentals
- Libraries and Tools
- Financial Programming
- Machine Learning Applications in Finance
- Project Management
- Python SQL
Job Descriptions
The list below includes potential roles. Your ability to obtain employment in these roles may depend on your previous background and experience, as well as your specific skills.
ENTRY-LEVEL
-
Business Intelligence Analyst
- Complete all research, testing, design, and data reporting. Work with IT partners in support of creating and analyzing business intelligence (BI) needs and troubleshooting issues. Explore data to assess trends and patterns. Create data for comprehensive testing to ensure unity across the business. Communicate to teams the BI requirements and solutions and follow change control policies for deployment.
- Tags: BI Analyst, Data Analyst.
- Previous Roles: N/A, Business/Data AnalystEngineer
- Future Roles: BI Developer, Project Manager
- Complete all research, testing, design, and data reporting. Work with IT partners in support of creating and analyzing business intelligence (BI) needs and troubleshooting issues. Explore data to assess trends and patterns. Create data for comprehensive testing to ensure unity across the business. Communicate to teams the BI requirements and solutions and follow change control policies for deployment.
-
Data Analyst (FinTech-Based)
- Analyze and manipulate data through statistical techniques and quantitative methods to then provide recommendations for existing processes and enhancements for supporting business decisions. Collaborate to determine new technologies and deployment.
- Tags: Business Analyst.
- Previous Roles: N/A, Business, Engineer
- Future Roles: BI Developer, BI Analyst, Big Data Analyst, Consultant, Web/Fraud/Risk Analyst.
- Analyze and manipulate data through statistical techniques and quantitative methods to then provide recommendations for existing processes and enhancements for supporting business decisions. Collaborate to determine new technologies and deployment.
-
Financial Analyst
- Assist with forecasting, budgeting and planning processes that includes data validation, setup/maintenance of reporting tools, tracking and auditing. Present improvements for performance, revenue and partnerships.
- Tags: Business Operations Analyst, IT Financial Planning Analyst, Senior Financial Analyst.
- Previous Roles: Data Analyst, cross-over landscapes.
- Future Roles: BI Developer, BI Analyst, Big Data Analyst, Consultant, Risk Analyst, Lead/Director.
- Assist with forecasting, budgeting and planning processes that includes data validation, setup/maintenance of reporting tools, tracking and auditing. Present improvements for performance, revenue and partnerships.
-
Junior Quantitative Developer
- Work closely with Quantitative Analysts to implement and optimize financial models. They may take a prototype code and rewrite in another language. However, some may become experts in one particular language knowing the ins and outs which is a more prominent and high-paying role. Other developers focus on financial pricing data and trading systems architecture.
- Tags: Quantitative Developer, Senior Quantitative Developer.
- Previous Roles: BI Developer, Web/Fraud/Risk Analyst, Data Analyst
- Future Roles: Senior or Lead Developer
- Work closely with Quantitative Analysts to implement and optimize financial models. They may take a prototype code and rewrite in another language. However, some may become experts in one particular language knowing the ins and outs which is a more prominent and high-paying role. Other developers focus on financial pricing data and trading systems architecture.
-
Financial Applications Specialist
- Provide technical support, forecasting, budgeting, and analytical accounting tasks,while maintaining a business process. Work with key users to optimally configure applications in addition to maintaining and supporting the overall data interfaces. Be responsible for production support and all related components including coding, issues, incidents and improvements with testing and validation procedures.
- Tags: Business Systems Analyst, Financial Analyst, Financial Applications Developer.
- Previous Roles: Data Analyst, cross-over landscapes
- Future Roles: Risk & Control Manager, Consultant, Lead/Director
- Provide technical support, forecasting, budgeting, and analytical accounting tasks,while maintaining a business process. Work with key users to optimally configure applications in addition to maintaining and supporting the overall data interfaces. Be responsible for production support and all related components including coding, issues, incidents and improvements with testing and validation procedures.
MID-LEVEL
-
Blockchain Developer
- Research, design, develop, and test blockchain/crypto technologies with solid implementation and management. Evaluate and classify solutions to implement and map against applicable use cases. Contribute to the development around the use and sharing of data on blockchains to ensure security and privacy.
- Tags: Blockchain Architect, Blockchain Solutions Analyst, Blockchain Engineer, Senior Blockchain Developer, Trading Analyst.
- Previous Roles: Research, Analyst, Jr. Developer, Engineer
- Future Roles: Blockchain Project Manager, Consultant, Lead/Director/Manager/Senior, Quantitative Trader
- Research, design, develop, and test blockchain/crypto technologies with solid implementation and management. Evaluate and classify solutions to implement and map against applicable use cases. Contribute to the development around the use and sharing of data on blockchains to ensure security and privacy.
-
Risk & Control Manager
- Evaluate and standardize risk routines and assessments to identify opportunities for process improvements, as well as control gaps. Manage risk assessment and acceptance process, risk awareness training, root-cause analysis for failed controls, and the use of risk tools.
- Tags: Claims & Risk, Safety and Risk, Risk Lead, Senior Manager, Operational Risk Manager, etc.
- Previous Roles: Analyst, Blockchain/Crypto
- Future Roles: Manager, Consultant, Lead/Director/Supervisor, Chief Risk Officer
- Evaluate and standardize risk routines and assessments to identify opportunities for process improvements, as well as control gaps. Manage risk assessment and acceptance process, risk awareness training, root-cause analysis for failed controls, and the use of risk tools.
SENIOR LEVEL
-
Quantitative Analyst
- Develop, test, support, and document simulations and calibrations methodologies. Use forecasting to identify/ investigate/solve through testing. Work with large data sets and cleansing to implement risk and return models. Have a passion for research, data, and market analysis, think holistically with business and economics in mind.
- Tags: Quantitative Data Analyst, Financial Engineer, Quantitative Research Analyst, Senior Quantitative Risk Analyst.
- Previous Roles: Research/Risk Analyst,Engineer
- Future Roles: Quantitative roles, Consultant, Senior/VP
- Develop, test, support, and document simulations and calibrations methodologies. Use forecasting to identify/ investigate/solve through testing. Work with large data sets and cleansing to implement risk and return models. Have a passion for research, data, and market analysis, think holistically with business and economics in mind.
-
Quantitative Trader
- Research financial trends and patterns, diagnose and fix technical issues, develop and implement new trading systems and improve existing ones. Contribute strategy ideas for multiple markets, product insight, risk management, and trading systems that match company strategy and applications to improve profitability.
- Tags: Quantitative Researcher, Quantitative Strategist, Systematic Quantitative Trader.
- Previous Roles: Research/Risk Analyst, Engineer
- Future Roles: Consultant, Senior/VP
- Research financial trends and patterns, diagnose and fix technical issues, develop and implement new trading systems and improve existing ones. Contribute strategy ideas for multiple markets, product insight, risk management, and trading systems that match company strategy and applications to improve profitability.
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