Looking to Lead FinTech Change? The Industry Needs You More Than Ever
You’ve likely been here before.
The project starts with a strong kick-off: sharp objectives, clearly defined milestones, and a product roadmap that feels achievable. But as the weeks pass, things unravel. Timelines stretch. Requirements shift. Team morale dips. Delivery falls short.
For professionals working in project delivery and transformation, whether you're a Delivery Manager, Business Analyst, Project Manager, or Product Owner, this scenario is all too common. The good news? The solution lies in talent like yours.
At Harrington Starr, we specialise in placing change and transformation professionals across the global FinTech market. And right now, demand for employees who can lead with clarity, collaborate across functions, and execute under pressure is at an all-time high.
This blog is your guide to understanding what’s going wrong in FinTech delivery and how your skills can be the missing piece.
What’s Behind the Slipping Timelines in FinTech Projects?
Many companies assume delivery issues stem from poor planning or weak tools. But more often than not, the real reason is simple: misaligned teams and poor hiring decisions.
Delivery excellence requires clearly defined responsibilities and cross-functional coordination. When those pieces are missing or poorly structured, even the most well-intentioned project can fall apart.
You’ve probably experienced at least one of these common issues:
- Project Managers expected to lead delivery without dedicated Delivery Managers
- Business Analysts spread too thin across multiple products or teams
- Product Owners overloaded with stakeholder demands and no support
- Implementation Consultants being brought in too late to make an impact
FinTechs are now realising that effective delivery isn’t just about frameworks. It’s about people. That’s where you come in.
The FinTech Delivery Jobs in Highest Demand Right Now
If you’re considering your next career move, here’s where we’re seeing the greatest hiring needs across our global FinTech client base.
Delivery Managers
FinTech organisations are increasingly hiring dedicated Delivery Managers to oversee agile processes, team throughput and sprint efficiency. Your ability to manage blockers and support tech teams without micromanaging is critical.
Business Analysts
With regulations shifting and digital platforms scaling quickly, BAs with financial services knowledge are more valuable than ever. FinTechs are particularly keen on BAs who can bridge the gap between product, engineering, and compliance.
Project Managers
The FinTech project landscape is complex, often involving internal stakeholders, third-party vendors, and international teams. Employers want PMs with end-to-end experience who can keep initiatives on track despite uncertainty.
Product Owners
Product Owners who combine technical fluency with commercial awareness are in short supply. If you can manage a backlog, interpret data, and articulate business value, you are in high demand.
Implementation Consultants
From SaaS FinTech platforms to payments systems, companies are hiring ICs to oversee onboarding, configuration, and rollout. Your ability to work closely with clients and internal teams positions you as an essential part of delivery.
Permanent vs. Contract: Which FinTech Delivery Career Path Is Right for You?
Whether you're early in your career or a seasoned transformation leader, you’ve probably asked: should I go permanent or take on contract roles?
Permanent roles are ideal if you:
- Want to grow within a single business or platform
- Prefer consistent income and benefits
- Thrive in culture-building environments
- Are involved in longer-term transformations (12–24 months+)
Contract roles suit professionals who:
- Want to work across multiple projects and industries
- Are comfortable with fast-paced delivery and onboarding
- Prefer flexibility and potentially higher day rates
- Enjoy solving problems then moving on to the next challenge
At Harrington Starr, we work with both types of candidates and can help you understand which opportunities best match your goals, whether that’s stability, variety, or career progression.
What Employers Look for When Hiring Delivery and Transformation Professionals
Whether you’re applying to a FinTech startup or a multinational financial institution, here’s what clients consistently prioritise when hiring:
1. Delivery Track Record
Have you shipped projects on time and within budget? Highlight this with clear outcomes, metrics, and responsibilities.
2. Stakeholder Management
Can you engage executives, developers, and clients alike? Show how you’ve bridged communication gaps and aligned diverse teams.
3. Regulatory or Domain Expertise
Experience in payments, KYC/AML, trading, or banking technology is a clear differentiator. Tailor your CV and applications to reflect your domain knowledge.
4. Agile Methodology
Knowing Agile theory is one thing. Demonstrating how you’ve applied it — managing velocity, burn-down charts, retrospectives, and product increments — is what employers want to see.
5. Adaptability and Critical Thinking
FinTech moves fast. Companies want candidates who can adjust quickly, think independently, and proactively find solutions when change inevitably happens.
What Career Progression Looks Like in FinTech Delivery
FinTech delivery roles aren’t just about solving problems today, they’re also a launchpad for long-term career growth. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to step up, here’s how most career paths evolve in this space:
- Business Analyst → Lead BA → Product Owner or Product Manager
- Project Manager → Programme Manager → Head of Delivery or COO
- Delivery Manager → Senior Delivery Lead → Head of Change or Transformation
Permanent professionals may have access to internal promotions, L&D budgets and cross-functional moves, while contractors often gain exposure to multiple industries and fast-track seniority by leading high-impact programmes.
To progress, focus on:
- Deepening domain knowledge (e.g. payments, AML, crypto)
- Building leadership and communication skills
- Taking ownership of outcomes, not just tasks
- Pursuing certifications that align with where you want to go
The FinTech space rewards those who solve problems, take initiative, and consistently deliver value. If you do that, the career ladder moves fast.
Building Your FinTech Delivery CV: What to Include
Want to stand out when applying for change and transformation jobs? Your CV should demonstrate:
- The technologies you’ve worked with (JIRA, Confluence, Trello, etc.)
- The business outcomes you contributed to (e.g. 25% improvement in delivery speed)
- The scale of the teams or programmes you’ve worked on
- Specific FinTech experience (payments, crypto, asset management, etc.)
- Certifications (Agile, Scrum Master, PRINCE2, etc.) if relevant
Keep it clean, tailored, and focused on outcomes, and if in doubt, we’re always happy to provide free CV feedback.
Top Certifications and Skills That Get You Hired in FinTech Delivery
You don’t always need a certification to land a great FinTech job — but having the right ones can help you stand out, especially in a competitive market.
Here are the credentials and skillsets we most often see on successful candidate profiles:
Project and Delivery Methodologies:
- Agile/Scrum (PSM, CSM)
- SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)
- Prince2 or PMP
- Lean Six Sigma
Domain Knowledge:
- ICA certifications for compliance roles
- CAMS for AML/KYC-related projects
- CFA Level 1 for asset and wealth management environments
- ISO 20022 or PSD2 understanding for payments specialists
Soft Skills (equally important):
- Stakeholder communication
- Decision-making under pressure
- Negotiating conflicting priorities
- Translating technical and regulatory requirements for business teams
You can develop many of these through on-the-job experience, but online platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy also offer affordable upskilling options tailored to FinTech.
If you’re targeting a specific role or vertical, ask your recruiter what employers are prioritising. We’re always happy to guide your development strategy.
FinTech Delivery Careers in London, New York and Belfast
We recruit globally, but our core hiring markets are London, New York, and Belfast, and each has its own strengths and unique opportunities.
London
- Largest market for FinTech talent in Europe
- Huge demand across payments, challenger banks, and open banking
- Strong contract and permanent markets
New York
- High demand in investment banking and asset management delivery teams
- Focused on hiring Delivery Managers, BAs, and PMs with regulatory knowledge
- Higher salaries but often longer hiring processes
Belfast
- Fast-growing delivery hub due to nearshore investment from UK and US firms
- Great opportunity for perm professionals looking to work on global projects
- Strong sense of team culture and lower cost of living
Wherever you’re based or looking to move, we can help match your ambitions with opportunities in the right geography.
Want to Work in FinTech but Don’t Have Experience Yet?
Not from a FinTech background? That shouldn’t stop you.
Here's how to make yourself FinTech-ready:
- Highlight transformation and delivery experience in any sector — financial, retail, SaaS, public sector
- Learn key FinTech trends (e.g. ISO 20022, PSD2, AI in finance) and mention them in interviews
- Understand financial compliance and risk basics if you’re moving from outside the industry
- Build a profile on LinkedIn showcasing relevant delivery accomplishments
- Speak to a recruiter who understands the FinTech hiring landscape (yes, us)
We regularly place professionals transitioning from other tech or consultancy roles into FinTech, especially where strong delivery track records and transferable skills are evident.
What It’s Like Working in FinTech vs Other Industries
If you’re coming from banking, consultancy, public sector, or another corporate environment, FinTech will likely feel very different, in mostly good ways.
Here’s what candidates tell us they experience when they make the move:
- Faster pace: Decision-making cycles are shorter. You’ll go from planning to execution in weeks, not months.
- Broader exposure: In leaner teams, you’re closer to the tech, the users, and the strategy. No more working in silos.
- More innovation: You’ll often work with emerging technologies like real-time payments, AI-powered onboarding, or blockchain solutions.
- Flatter structures: Less hierarchy means more autonomy, but also more responsibility.
- Higher expectations: In return for flexibility and speed, FinTechs expect high performance, adaptability, and ownership.
If you’re used to structured delivery frameworks and big programme governance, FinTech may feel chaotic at first. But for many professionals, it’s a refreshing change, and a great place to grow.
Questions FinTech Employees Ask Us All the Time
Q: What salary can I expect as a Delivery Manager in FinTech?
A: In London and New York, permanent salaries range from £80k–£130k ($120k–$180k), depending on experience. Day rates for contractors can range from £500 to £800+
Q: What are the most in-demand skills for FinTech BAs right now?
A: Requirements gathering, stakeholder management, regulatory knowledge (KYC/AML), and experience with Agile delivery environments.
Q: Can I switch from Product Owner to Product Manager in FinTech?
A: Yes, many companies encourage internal career development, especially if you can demonstrate a commercial and strategic mindset alongside agile execution skills.
Q: How long do FinTech contract roles typically last?
A: Most start at 3–6 months but frequently extend for 12+ months, especially on complex transformation programmes.
Why Work with Harrington Starr, a Financial Tech Recruitment Agency?
As a specialist FinTech recruitment business, we:
- Understand the complexities of project delivery and change hiring
- Work with top-tier FinTech firms across buy-side, sell-side, SaaS, and scale-ups
- Offer both permanent and contract roles across New York, London, and Belfast
- Know how to position your experience to match the needs of each employer
- Give real advice, not generic feedback
Our consultants specialise in change and transformation, and we take pride in connecting outstanding delivery talent with opportunities that genuinely move careers forward.
The Future of FinTech Delivery Belongs to the Prepared
FinTech is moving faster than ever, and with that comes pressure to deliver, not just ideas, but real change.
If you’re someone who can guide teams through ambiguity, streamline delivery processes, and make transformation stick, the market needs you. Now’s the time to sharpen your CV, explore new opportunities, and join a business where your skills make a lasting impact.
Start Your Next FinTech Career with Harrington Starr
Looking for your next role as a Delivery Manager, Business Analyst, or transformation leader? Explore our live jobs, or reach out for a confidential career chat.
We’re here to help you find not just your next job, but your next opportunity to make a difference.
