Recruit expert talent for your financial, professional and business services

How to recruit a skilled workforce specialising in the financial, professional and business services.

Financial services

Asset management

The Institute of Asset Management (IAM) is the international professional body for asset management professionals.

You can post jobs on the IAM recruitment portal.

Banking and finance

When looking to hire staff in the banking and finance sector in the UK there are a few different approaches including the following:

For experienced hires

• use specialist recruitment firms to find staff in existing financial services companies on websites such as Robert Half UK and Michael Page UK
• LinkedIn is the most used online platform for the financial and banking sectors, so advertising your roles on the platform should help find suitable applications
• hire software developers who specialise in financial services and understand the specific requirements and complexities of the UK's financial services sector
• consider partnering with educational institutes that offer coding courses such as the coding bootcamp website. These courses are designed for those looking to learn new skills without needing to enrol on a university degree pathway

For early careers

The UK’s universities offer a vast number of courses related to banking and finance. Both undergraduate and postgraduate courses are offered across several universities, as well as professional qualifications.

The UK is home to world-leading University business schools which offer courses related to banking and finance including the following websites:

• Henley Business School and the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) Centre at the University of Reading
• Nottingham Business School
• University of Edinburgh’s Business School
• University of Edinburgh’s Law School
• The London Institute of Banking and Finance

Times Higher Education website has a listing of UK Universities offering Business and Management courses.

The Chartered Banker Institute is the largest professional body for bankers in the UK. Find out more at the Chartered Banker Institute website.

Fintech

Centres of Excellence specialising in fintech, financial services, big data, cybersecurity, and AI are spread across the UK. They offer skilled workers and technological advances for all fintech hubs.

The websites of some Centres of Excellence are listed below:

• Imperial College Business School’s Centre for Financial Technology
• Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance 
• Leeds Institute of Data Analytics
• University of Edinburgh, School of Informatics
• Security Lancaster, Lancaster University

Experienced hires

There are various ways to source talent in the UK fintech sector, such as:

• fintech networks and communities: Engage with fintech networks and communities, both online and offline
• online job platforms include Innovate Finance, Fintech Alliance and Fintech North provide opportunities to connect with industry professionals and access talent pools
• attend fintech-focused events and conferences to network with potential candidates and stay up-to-date with industry trends
• leverage your professional network and encourage employee referrals

Increasing diversity in technical roles

If you are looking to increase diversity in your workforce, specifically within technical roles, these websites may be of interest:

Code First Girls - provides free coding courses for women globally.

Tech Returners - offers courses to up skill former technical employees after a career break.

Professional services

Accountancy

The UK occupies a key position in the delivery of accounting services worldwide and is headquarters to many of the largest global firms as well as a range of internationally focused national, regional and local firms.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) provides a recruiter service for accountants.

Find out more on the ICAEW website.

Consulting

One of the fastest growing areas in the professional services sector, management consultants provide advice, guidance and operational assistance in over 200 industry and functional areas.

Our Regulations guide offers guidance to the main professional bodies who regulate the sector and are critical to how financial, professional and business service firms are set up in the UK.

Insurance

The Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) is the leading professional body for securities, investment, wealth, and financial planning professionals.

Find out more on the CISI website.

Legal

As the law of choice for commercial contracts and international commercial arbitration, the UK is the largest market for legal services in Europe and second only to USA globally.

The Law Society provides help for recruitment through its Gazette recruitment website.

Lawtech

The UK has become a global hub for lawtech. It benefits from a highly developed legal market, a technology talent pipeline, a competitive tax system, and a liberal regulatory regime.

Recruitment agencies

For professional services recruitment the following websites list job postings:

• Recruitment and Employment Confederation
• Robert Walters UK for finance recruitment and job trends and career guidance
• Randstad UK for finance, accountancy and banking recruitment
• Register your CV to search for UK finance jobs

Apprenticeships

Offering apprenticeships can be an another route for recruitment. Apprentices combine on-the-job training with study towards a professional qualification.

Find out about employing apprentices on GOV.UK

Next steps

The UK Investment Support Directory has a list of specialists with experience in helping financial, professional and business services set up or expand in the UK.