Financial Services

(FS) Top 4 In-Demand Roles in Financial Services

The capital markets industry in Hong Kong and Singapore is undergoing rapid transformation. Banks, insurers, and fintechs are investing heavily in trading platforms, regulatory reporting, and digital innovation. But there's one major challenge: finding the right talent.

At Unity Partners, we see four job profiles consistently at the top of hiring managers' priority lists. Here are the roles driving the industry.

1. Application Support (Front & Middle Office)

Why it's in demand:

Application support specialists ensure business continuity by monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimizing systems.
Capital market banks rely on real-time trading and risk systems. Even a few minutes of downtime can lead to significant losses.

Skills hiring managers look for:

Ability to work under pressure and communicate with traders, operations, and IT teams.
SQL, Unix/Linux, and scripting.
Strong knowledge of front/middle office workflows.

2. Developers (Trading Systems & Fintech)

Why it's in demand:

Fintech firms in Singapore and Hong Kong are building cutting-edge solutions for payments, wealth, and risk.
Trading platforms are evolving fast, with increasing automation and algorithmic trading.

Skills hiring managers look for:

Experience in agile delivery and DevOps.
Knowledge of FIX protocol, market data, and order management systems.
C++, Java, or Python for low-latency trading applications.

3. Business Analysts (Capital Markets Systems & Risk)

Why it's in demand:

Business Analysts bridge the gap between technology and the business, ensuring systems meet compliance and operational requirements.
Regulatory change and risk management are reshaping the banking landscape.

Skills hiring managers look for:

Communication skills with both IT and business stakeholders.
Ability to gather requirements and translate them into technical specifications.
Strong domain knowledge in risk, regulatory reporting, or client lifecycle management (KYC).

4. Project Managers (Capital Markets Transformation)

Why it's in demand:

Project Managers ensure timely delivery while managing diverse stakeholders.
With multiple system upgrades, regulatory projects, and digital transformation initiatives, banks need strong project governance.

Skills hiring managers look for:

Knowledge of risk, compliance, and digital transformation.
Strong stakeholder management and vendor coordination.
Experience delivering projects in banking & capital markets.

Final Thoughts

The most in-demand roles in financial services technology are focused on system stability, transformation, and regulatory compliance. Whether it's keeping trading systems running, building new solutions, or managing large-scale change, these four roles will continue to define the industry.