Everything you need to know about a Graduate Role in Fintech

Everything you need to know about Graduate Fintech Roles

At Timberseed, we know how exciting – and nerve-wracking – those first steps up the career ladder can be.

We’ve helped thousands of exceptional students start their journey into the fintech sector following graduation, with 85% of our candidates coming from Oxbridge and other top-tier Russell Group universities.

That’s how you know you’re in excellent company.

But we know that it takes more than previous experience to truly shine within financial services, regardless of the graduate fintech opportunity you’ll find yourself thriving in.

To ensure you are matched to a role that truly maximises your potential, our team at Timberseed uses a huge bank of insider knowledge, exclusive access to graduate schemes, and jobs with world-leading finance companies.

We’re on the lookout for stand-out individuals who are ready to hit the ground running in one of the most rapidly developing industries around.

In this guide, we’ll give you all the tips, tricks, and details you’ll need to know before navigating the wide world of graduate fintech jobs.

From what to expect to helpful skills, a full scope of career paths, and excellent opportunities, this is your handbook to one of the most rewarding sectors of the post-education market.

The Timberseed Effect

At Timberseed, we’ll give you everything you need to shine, polishing your existing skill set and equipping you with practical tips and interview coaching to help you nail every inch of the application process.

All the advice we give you, from CV assistance to general problem solving, is as unique as the experience and personality you bring to the table.

As an award-winning recruitment service, that’s how we stand out from the crowd.

So if you’re looking to grow within graduate jobs that see candidates return to us as clients within the space of a few years – something we are intensely proud of – then we can get you started.

After all, where’s the fun in doing things by the book?

We’re busy rewriting it.

Looking to start your next chapter in financial technology? Get in touch with the team today.

What is fintech?

It’s always helpful to start with the basics.

When you think of a role in this industry, it’s easy for graduates to immediately think of financial organisations such as banking institutions.

However, the future is quickly becoming electric, with a number of financial service firms choosing to supercharge their processes using technology – or simply taking their entire company online.

In simple terms, fintech is the space where finance and technology collide.

This aspect of fintech is well-equipped to deal with a number of developments and changes with customer convenience, mainly due to the rising popularity of digital currencies and the impact of going cashless over the past few years.

So when you’re sending your mates the cash for a joint take-away order or are splitting an Uber home… that’s the power of fintech at work.

But how does this impact the graduate market? 

In addition to boosting technology at banks, the fintech sector also boasts a number of notable technology start-ups.

Big names such as Klarna, Coinbase, Bitcoin solutions, Stripe and many more are all growing at a rapid pace.

And they need graduate talent to help them keep that momentum going.

As a result, considering post-education routes into fintech jobs is quickly becoming a much more appealing alternative for students looking to expand their finance knowledge and gain valuable skills that can boost career progression.

What are the different types of fintech?

The fintech industry is quickly becoming one of the biggest players when it comes to financial services. It’s all around us now, from mobile banking to optimised payment apps. 

However, not every fintech company deals in the same section. Even if they are B2B or B2C, there are a variety of different classifications that graduates can explore.

The different areas of fintech include:

• Digital Banking and Investment Banking
• Artificial Intelligence – spanning chatbots and machine-learning algorithms
• Payment – or anything related to money services
• Cryptocurrency and Electronic Trading
• Insurance
• Capital Increase
• Deposit and Lending

Although fintech was first developed as a back-end tool, it has since progressed to improve consumer habits, delivering super-speedy services with a wider range of products.

For graduates, all of these are services that have excellent scope for a job in fintech.

Whether you have existing financial knowledge or simply possess a keen, motivated mind that gets amazing results within a fast-paced environment, we can help you discover the perfect role.

Which roles can I work in fintech?

Do you never shy away from a challenge? Are you a quick thinker with a head for numbers and consumer data? Is an analytical approach your go-to response?

If that sounds like you, then there is a huge selection of roles and responsibilities that need your talents across the industry.

Whether you’ll be working within internal recruitment, sales, or client services, you’ll be in good stead to tackle the exciting day-to-day demands in this line of work.

Sales

It might not be at the top of your job alert list when you think of fintech (especially in a sea of technology-specific graduate schemes), but a sales role is just as vital to the infrastructure of any growing business.

When it comes to post-education jobs, a Fintech Sales Office will likely be looking for SDRs (Sales Development Representatives) and BDRs (Business Development Representatives).

Here, you’ll be expected to help your company grow in terms of both client retainer and revenue, balancing a lively schedule to scout for fresh business partnerships, cold outreach to potential leads, and tap into markets both new and existing.

As with any sales role within the intersection of technology and finance, you’ll be a dab hand at managing your own time and using your excellent communication skills to build relationships with a variety of clients – noting where you’ll be able to sell or give specific advice regarding your fintech product.

Sound like your kind of 9-5?

Explore our amazing sales role resources and discover even more useful hints and tips here.

Client Relations

People are the beating heart of any successful fintech company. That’s where a client-facing role comes in.

As the name suggests, a Client Success Manager (CSM) or Client Success Executive is on hand to manage a steady roster of customers, ensuring that they are receiving the best levels of service at all times once they have been onboarded.

These personal powerhouses know everything there is to know about their prospects, helping to identify potential gaps for upsells and other product suggestions, using an empathetic ear and analytical mind to charge the sales process.

You’ll also be responsible for advocating for your client’s needs throughout the business, referring them to the appropriate person within the sales funnel should they have a query or problem.

If you can’t solve it, you’ll know exactly what needs to be done to sort it out!

Executive Search and Contingent Recruitment

In these roles, you’ll be keeping your eyes and ears open when it comes to sourcing the very best for your company.

As an Executive Searcher, you’ll be tasked with finding top-level talent and recruiting them on behalf of your company, often liaising with senior management and field experts to determine who will be a beneficial fit for Directorial or C-Level roles. This often means playing the ‘long game’, requiring a selective search process that can often take months – so you’ll be professional, organised and analytical throughout.

On the other hand, Contingent Recruitment looks at ‘head-hunting’ for strategic hires at lower levels. Also known as ‘Consultants’, this is a sales-type role that needs you to focus on your client’s problems or issues, which can be solved through strategic hiring.

Unlike Executive Search, you could be managing numerous clients at any one time, helping them find amazing candidates to fill anything from Junior to Directior-level positions.

Essentially, when it comes to finding the right kind of people, you’ll be the right kind of person.

Looking for an exciting opportunity? Let us get you there. 

Discover our graduate roles and exclusive schemes by picking up the phone and chatting with a friendly member of the Timberseed team today.

Is fintech a good career avenue?

Given the sheer length and breadth of the fintech sector, there likely isn’t another graduate sector at present that gives you a lifetime opportunity in such a rapidly changing – and lucrative – industry. 

Although work can certainly take you far and wide, the UK fintech market is currently booming, making the team here at Timberseed incredibly well placed when it comes to sourcing the very best roles available.

With little sign of hitting the brakes, these careers offer the brightest and most dedicated a host of benefits, including excellent progression options and great pay.

Does fintech pay well?

At Timberseed, we work with a host of top-level clients who are looking for candidates with serious, raw talent. This is something we produce in spades.

As such, we’re dealing with industry-leading start-ups and well-established fintech organisations, all on the lookout for dynamic individuals they can place, develop and watch grow within their structure.

To reflect this high calibre of clientele, many of our roles offer a base salary of anywhere between £30-40k – with the scope to earn commission and bonuses up to £25k within the first year.

For those who are motivated by targets, OTE – also known as ‘on target earnings’ – can also be expected to raise these figures. If your company is pleased with your progress, an additional share can further boost your pay.

As a result, fintech is one of the most highly sought-after industries for graduates looking to learn while earning excellent salaries, with our roles offering an increase on the market average.

How do I start a fintech career?

It can be easy to think that, unless you have a technology-related degree, you’d be unable to think about a career in fintech.

This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Although some roles such as IT support and program development will require a certain level of existing software knowledge, other graduate jobs within this industry are on the hunt for candidates with a wealth of different experiences and specialisations.

As such, we’ve had incredible success watching individuals excel within this field despite having backgrounds in other subjects. In fact, those who studied a European language find themselves in high demand as these businesses look to expand their reach. 38% of all of our candidates are skilled in this area.

So whatever your previous experience and qualifications, you’re in great hands when it comes to matching your talents with one of the many fintech opportunities available.

What skills do I need to work in fintech?

Whether you have a natural aptitude for finance or a wealth of transferable skills, the team at Timberseed can help you maximise your potential.

Although you’ll need a particular knowledge basis in order to work on the more technical aspects of fintech, we’ve broken down some of the most valuable skills you’ll need to work across a number of roles.

• Advanced problem-solving skills
  In order to keep up with the daily demands put on all aspects of the fintech sector, you’ll be able to pivot between issues and unpick them to the best of your ability. Whether that’s a software crash or a client query, you’ll be quick on the mark to get it sorted and smoothed over, using understanding and cognitive ability to get to the root of the problem.

• Excellent communication and listening ability
  Whether you’re working in customer sales or client services, having fantastic people skills will get you far in fintech. You’ll be talking to a number of individuals on a daily basis, whether they are customers or work as part of your internal team, who need to be listened to and understood as part of crucial relationship-building.

• Technical knowledge
  Although you don’t need to be a technical whizz to work in all aspects of fintech, a solid understanding of programs such as spreadsheets and online databases, as well as suites such as Microsoft, Google, and other internal systems, is advantageous. You’ll also be expected to learn across multiple channels, turning your hand to information-gathering solutions as you go – whether that’s to log a problem or create reports. Capable individuals who have an open mind will certainly go far in this sector.

• Analytical ability
  Every inch of fintech requires analysis. From customer care to addressing systems as part of your day-to-day responsibilities, candidates that are cool, calm, and collected under pressure will excel. The analysis isn’t limited to crunching the numbers. It can be found in picking up on a client’s tone during a phone call and tapping into a potential upsell or spotting the perfect

Get in touch with Timberseed today

When it comes to graduate careers, the rapidly developing world of fintech is a fantastic place for bright individuals to really make their mark.

If this sounds like your kind of opportunity, our team can help.

For bespoke coaching and helpful tips, give us a call on 020 3030 5045 for a friendly chat with one of our amazing recruitment team.