financial fintech data skills blockchain industry demand

The 6 best careers in Fintech right nowDoes your passion lie within the evolving intersection between finance andtechnology? If so, this might be the start of something great. Every businessneeds the most efficient, effective and affordable means of handling itsfinances, and technology is naturally the best solution.It’s safe to say that fintech is set to be a formidable force in the world’seconomy. Fintech startups are taking traditional banks and financialinstitutions by surprise, offering businesses and consumers a more powerfuland valuable set of financial services. The explosion of cryptocurrency andblockchain paints a vivid picture here.But, what does this mean for you? Well, demand for educated and skilledprofessionals in the fintech industry will grow astronomically in the comingyears, which means that now is a better time than ever to make this yourcareer path of choice. With this in mind, here are the 6 best careers infintech right now.## Financial AnalystFinancial analysts use their research and analytical skills to determine asuitable budget for a business based on past expenditure and incomingforecasts. You can either work for a specific company or in a fintech companythat develops tools for their clients to analyze their own financial data.According to Payscale, the median salary for a financial analyst is $59,915per year, but many make well over $80,000. While educational requirements canbe as low as a bachelor’s degree, a master’s will prove highly in your favorwhen it comes to employment opportunities. Check out this online masters infinance in Boston for an idea of what to expect.## Data SpecialistData pertaining to the daily habits of consumers is becoming immeasurablyvaluable to businesses as the means for obtaining it becomes more accurate andaccessible. However, this isn’t only for the sake of improving marketingstrategies and targeting audiences with more relevant ads.Another important use of data is to provide better financial services to bothconsumers and businesses. This allows companies to gain a better understandingof their markets and customers. Therefore, the need for data specialists infinance is greater than ever. This can include financial data analysts, chiefdata officers, and data scientists.## Blockchain DeveloperAs you may already know, blockchain technology is taking the world by stormand seeping its way into many aspects of our daily lives. Many companies aretaking an interest in its potential as a tool for research, security, financeand more. If you’re interested in software development, delving intoblockchain will provide many lucrative career opportunities.There’s no specific job outlook for this sector, but the U.S. Bureau of LaborStatistics projects a 24% job growth in the software development industry by2026, putting it well above average. The median salary for software developersis $103,560, but those in the blockchain sector usually earn much more.## Compliance SpecialistOne of the biggest challenges that come with the growth of the fintech sectoris the greater need for compliance and regulations. As reported by Reuters,even if we go back to the financial crisis, one major area that still sawgrowth was compliance and legal areas.This is especially apparent in today’s highly unregulated cryptocurrency andblockchain sectors. The job of a compliance specialist involves auditing anorganization’s compliance with relevant regulations, resolving issues andstaying up to date with regulatory changes. Median salaries range by source,but you can expect to earn around $60,000 per year.## Financial Apps DeveloperDemand for mobile payment solutions is growing exponentially, and those withthe ability to develop them are subsequently paid well for their expertise.Younger generations have a growing desire to gain better control of theirpersonal finances, which is why apps like Mint, Acorns, and Robinhood do sowell.This makes finance-related apps one of the most lucrative sectors in themobile app industry. By delving into this potential-rich component of fintech,your skills will be in high demand by development companies looking to cash inon the industry before their competitors do. According to Glassdoor, appdevelopers make well over $100,000 on average.## Cybersecurity AnalystAnother sector that will continue to see red hot demand is financialcybersecurity. After all, hackers will always choose to go where the money isfirst. A study by the X-Force research team at IBM found that, since 2016, noother industry was attacked more than financial services.According to Cybersecurity Ventures, 3.5 million positions in cybersecuritywill be unfilled by 2021. There are very few industries that will ever seesuch a strong demand. The top 10% of cybersecurity analysts make over $117,000per year according to Payscale, while the median annual salary is $76,000.## Improving Your Fintech EmployabilityOutside of obtaining a relevant degree in your chosen field, there are someskills that are worth building in order to improve your employability in thefintech industry. A report by eFinancialCareers lists the following technologyskills as the most searched by recruiters in their database: * Murex: Familiarity with Murex as part of a broader list of technical skills is often searched for as consultancies see it as an important skill for members of their strategy teams. * C#: As one of the most popular programming languages in the world, it should come as no surprise that many employers in the fintech industry see it as a valuable skill, especially in risk and analytics teams. C# is in high demand by banking institutions to help them devise tools to calculate their risk-weighted assets. * Java: Java is one of the most commonly required skills in job listings, while also being in short supply. Investment banker positions almost always require knowledge of Java, and companies such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and UBS are in great need of Java programmers. * Python: Major U.S. banks are hiring thousands of Python developers to crank out code for their products. It’s becoming an increasingly mainstream language, and knowing it will greatly increase your employability.## ConclusionAll that’s left to do is choose the right career, get any required educationand start building your skills. Rest assured that your efforts will pay off indue course, as fintech is the industry to be in both now and in the future.Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry thediscussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.#### Editors’ Recommendations: