In finance and fintech, December is usually the month to find out if an end-of-year bonus is coming.
A month of financial pressure for many and a time when we dream of plans for the new year, it’s no surprise that money is very much on our minds at the moment.
If increasing your income is central to your plans for 2025, there are a number of steps you can take to start filling your nest.
5 fintech jobs recruiting right now
- Technical Writer, Finrec.io, UK
- UX/UI Developer – FinTech, Selby Jennings, London area
- Java Software Engineer (Fintech), Evoke Talent, London area
- Project Finance Specialist, IPS Group, London
- SAP Finance S/4HANA Public Cloud Expert (SAC), iO Associates – UK/EU, London
Develop in-demand skills
Start looking for upskilling skills that you can complement in areas that really matter to your organization.
Look at the company’s KPIs and see which skills the team is lacking and which can contribute meaningfully to the overall mission. Blockchain, cybersecurity, AI/ML in finance, and data analytics expertise are still in high demand.
But don’t take a class for the sake of it. Ask around and see which courses and training sources are rated in your industry and business, and look for those that are certified.
Being a Certified Financial Technology Practitioner (CFP) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) can really add weight to your experience when it comes to performance review time.
Many of these courses are self-directed, online, so if you have a work break in the last two weeks of the year, you may have a little more time to get started. Even if you dedicate half a day during the holidays to get started, it will take the pressure off the start of a new year.
Book conferences and webinars
Take a look at your 2025 calendar and pencil in upcoming conferences, exhibitions and webinars. Practically,
Finextra has a section dedicated to events which selects the best fintechs, and currently offers over 260 webinars to choose from.
Not only will these help you keep up to date with technological and industry changes, but they will also provide you with knowledge that you can share with teams, or recycle as your own ideas, if you wish.
Building a reputation as an expert, or at least engaged in the industry, helps grow your personal brand internally and externally if you choose to share online.
Find a mentor
This one is sometimes easier said than done. There is not as strong a culture of mentoring in the UK as there is across the Atlantic.
But if you find a mentor, they can advise you, make connections, and guide you toward higher-paying opportunities. Platforms like MentorCruise and the Tech Alliance Mentoring Hub have fintech mentors willing and ready to go.
Otherwise, turn to senior leaders you admire in your organization, or to alumni groups or industry associations, and prepare your direct, no-obligation request. A coffee or a monthly or quarterly meeting may be enough; if you are well prepared you can get a lot out of it.
Build your file
As your annual review approaches, take the time to prepare. Seek job specifications and see what other companies are offering for your particular role; if you’re not already at the market rate, you can use it as leverage.
Additionally, websites like Glassdor, PayScale, and Levels.fyi will reveal what other companies are offering.
Ideally, by the time your exam rolls around, you will have started or even completed a new certification, and you can talk about your willingness to take on new responsibilities and projects with this improvement in mind. You can even identify a specific area of the organization where you know you can really add new value.
Look for something new
Unfortunately, the best way to make significant salary gains is often to change companies.
According to a new study by SideHustles.comwhich surveyed 1,003 full-time employees, found that over the past three years, job seekers saw their salaries increase by 35%, almost twice as much as permanent employees received (18 %).
Even if this 18% seems generous. According to CIPDthe average salary increase over the past 12 months was 4.38%.
SideHustles.com also found that 30% of job seekers received four or more raises in the previous three years, compared to 9% of long-tenured workers.
And almost one in two full-time employees (47%) believe that changing jobs is more financially profitable than staying with a single employer.
If moving to a new company is an option for you, anticipate the January rush and start applying today.