Financial Technology: 2026 Talent Insights

The pace of change in financial technology accelerated significantly in 2025. With AI adoption rising, infrastructure investment growing, and firms expanding into new European locations, hiring strategies are evolving fast.

In this video, Kirsty Tutton, Director at Selby Jennings, shares key hiring insights from across the financial technology sector and offers practical guidance for firms and professionals navigating 2026. Read a summary of her insights below too.

 

What changed in financial technology hiring in 2025, and how did that impact the market?

"AI dominated the financial technology agenda in 2025. From hedge funds to enterprise platforms, firms invested heavily in AI capabilities, driving demand for AI engineers, machine learning engineers, and data engineers. But success didn’t just come from hiring top tech talent. It relied on strong data infrastructure, which became a critical differentiator for early adopters.

"Meanwhile, several companies moved to expand their footprint beyond traditional hubs. European cities like Warsaw and Krakow saw increased hiring activity, as firms looked to tap into new talent pools outside of saturated locations like London.

"Hiring processes also evolved. Stricter interview structures became more common, particularly for technical roles. Simultaneously, some firms moved back to in-office working models, with a return to five-day office attendance becoming more frequent. Non-compete and notice periods also lengthened, particularly at hedge funds and competitive trading firms."

What should financial technology firms and professionals prioritise in 2026?

"Now is the time to focus on infrastructure and pipelines. Firms planning for 2026 should continue investing in their data architecture to support scalable AI deployment. Without robust infrastructure, productivity gains from AI will remain limited.

"From a talent perspective, early pipeline development is essential, especially when targeting candidates from competitor hedge funds or financial technology firms. Restrictions on notice periods and non-competes are growing longer, so forward planning is key to onboarding talent in a timely manner.

"Hiring strategies also need to broaden. Talent outside of London is increasingly viable, particularly in high-growth tech hubs across Europe. Expanding your search radius can improve speed, access, and sometimes cost-efficiency.

"Finally, streamlining interview processes remains important. As the competition for AI and software engineering talent increases, firms with faster, more focused hiring journeys are more likely to secure high-quality candidates."

How is AI impacting roles in financial technology?

"AI is no longer siloed to specific projects, it’s becoming embedded into every role across the sector. Software engineers, product managers, and data teams are all expected to interact with or build AI-powered tools.

"Importantly, AI is not just about replacing tasks. It’s about boosting productivity. The most successful firms are using AI to improve development cycles, automate operational work, and generate new value from existing data.

"In 2026, demand will continue to rise for AI engineers, machine learning specialists, and data engineers, particularly those who can integrate models into live trading and decision-making environments. As AI becomes foundational across the sector, technical fluency will be critical for both current and emerging talent."

To discuss your hiring plans for 2026 or explore current financial technology opportunities, request a call back or browse open roles.