With 20 of the world's top 25 financial services companies and 17 of the top 20 global banking institutions located in the IFSC, the area is also the 9-5 home of tens of thousands of workers as a result.
Across Ireland, over 400 financial services companies have a presence, according to data from A&L Goodbody, which says “It is unsurprising that the country has emerged as a growing international fintech hub”.
Despite some recent layoffs, the Irish financial services sector is in good shape. According to data from Statista, the Irish market's largest segment this year is set to be digital investment, with a total transaction value of $516.7m. In 2024, the digital assets segment is expected to show a revenue growth of 32%.
So, If you’d like to develop your career at your existing employer, or are considering a job move, here is what you need to know.
1. Set clear career goals
If money has been your prime motivator as you work your way up the ladder, you may not have paused to think about how you could curate your career progression in a more thoughtful and strategic way.
Think SMART: set goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). These could include obtaining additional professional certifications within the next two to three years to get you to the next level.
You could also consider increasing your knowledge and skills in a specific area of finance, such as risk management or mergers and acquisitions, by attending relevant training programs or completing online courses over the next six to 12 months.
Defining what you want to achieve and setting a time-frame can help you to achieve your goals.
2. Consider a new sector
For those working in corporate finance, investment banking or financial services for example, tech is a brave new frontier. From crypto to DeFi, the world of finance is changing faster than ever.
Opportunities for those with existing finance skills exist in peer-to-peer lending, digital banks, blockchain, personal finance management apps and much more.
And, as fintech continues to evolve, there will likely be new opportunities for professionals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets. For example, the Dublin soonicorn Fonoa, a digital tax automation service, raised $60m late last year.
3. Network and attend industry events
Networking is vital for career progression, and building a strong professional network can deliver you a host of benefits such as being top of mind when it comes to new career opportunities, the ability to talk to your peers for career advice, and gain access to valuable sources for industry insights, trends, and forthcoming developments.
Joining your school or college’s alumni networks, relevant professional bodies and connecting with other finance professionals on LinkedIn can all help.
Be intentional about your networking to get the most out of it: commit to attending at least two industry conferences or events each year, or set a goal to connect professionally with at least five new professionals in the industry annually.
4. Develop soft skills
You may have the relevant technical skills you need to do your job as well as important domain knowledge, but how are your soft skills?
If you want to step up into management and from there into C-suite roles, it’s crucial to cultivate your soft skills. They are especially important in financial services when it comes to leadership development.
Developing––and demonstrating––skills around aspects such as effective communication, emotional intelligence and empathy, creative thinking and problem solving, teamwork and collaboration, as well as critical thinking and more, will help you accelerate your career.
5. Seek out opportunities
If you’re feeling less than enthusiastic about your current role, it’s not so surprising: Recent research from Gallup and HR tech unicorn Workhuman found that three in 10 Irish employees said that they felt burnt out “very often” or “always”.
One way to re-engage with work is to look for opportunities within your organisation or industry to take on new responsibilities or projects that can help you develop new skills and gain valuable experience.
Or, you could consider a job move to a company where there is good growth potential as well as learning and development opportunities. The IFSC Job Board is filled with great roles to discover, like the five opportunities below, all currently hiring.
- Corporate Finance Manager at Morgan McKinley
- Financial Accounting Manager (Hybrid), at Deloitte
- Senior Auditor II - Liquidity and Capital Management at BNY Mellon
- Investment Control Manager at Irish Life
- Manager, Test Automation (Financials) at Workday
For thousands more career opportunities right across the financial services sector, check out the IFSC Job Board
By Kirstie McDermott
