What is the state of financial-services hiring right now?

Financial services is hiring at the senior, qualified end of the market. In the sector, recruitment was generally for Regulatory Qualification Framework (RQF) 6 and above roles, rather than RQF 3 to 5 GOV.UK - Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report. In plain terms, RQF 6+ means degree-level and professional qualifications, so employers are competing for people with deep expertise rather than entry-level staff.

That matters now because buy now, pay later credit is moving into formal regulation. As these products come under tighter supervision, lenders and the firms that serve them need people who can read the rules, build the controls and sign off the decisions. The result is a run on experienced talent that most teams did not have to plan for a year or two ago.

Which lending roles are opening up under the new rules?

The pull is strongest at the qualified end, matching the RQF 6+ pattern seen across the sector GOV.UK - Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report. Four areas are moving fastest, and they tend to work together.

• Compliance and regulatory specialists who translate new buy now, pay later rules into day-to-day policy and controls.
• Credit risk analysts who model repayment behaviour and set lending criteria.
• Affordability and underwriting specialists who assess whether a customer can genuinely repay.
• Collections and customer outcomes roles focused on treating people fairly when repayments slip.

These are not interchangeable hires. A strong compliance lead needs credit risk colleagues who can turn principles into numbers, and affordability specialists who apply them to real applications. When you hire one without the others, the work stalls.

How do you hire well in financial services?

Start by being specific about the qualification level you actually need. With demand concentrated at RQF 6 and above GOV.UK - Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report, a vague brief wastes weeks and loses good people to faster movers. Define the regulatory knowledge, the technical skill and the softer judgement the role needs before you open it.

Then move quickly and communicate clearly. Qualified finance professionals are in demand, so a slow or silent process costs you offers. Keep your interview stages tight, give honest feedback, and be ready to describe how the role connects to the firm's wider response to regulation. People at this level want to know the work matters.

Finally, build for the team, not just the seat. Map how a new compliance, credit risk or affordability hire fits the people already in place, so your controls hold together rather than leaving gaps between functions.

Where does an AI recruitment agent fit in your hiring?

We can help you find these specialists fast. Our recruitment agent manages recruitment end to end for 8% on a successful hire, with no monthly fee and no upfront cost. If you are building a lending, compliance or credit risk team for the new rules, start a role with Reed.ai today and see your shortlist.

Sources

• GOV.UK - Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report