Hiring in financial services has shifted towards experience. Recent government analysis found that in the financial services sector, recruitment was generally for Regulatory Qualification Framework (RQF) 6+ roles, rather than RQF 3 to 5 the GOV.UK Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report (2026). In plain terms, RQF 6+ maps to degree-level and above. Employers are reaching for people who already hold deep, regulated expertise.
That matters for insurers. Underwriting, claims leadership, actuarial work and compliance all sit at that senior end. When the roles you most need to fill are qualified and specialist, the people who fill them have choices. And one of the first things experienced professionals weigh up is how, and when, they work.
Look at the pattern behind the data. If recruitment in financial services skews towards RQF 6+ roles rather than RQF 3 to 5 the GOV.UK Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report (2026), then insurers are competing hardest for a smaller, more experienced talent pool. These are often people mid-career, balancing family, study for further qualifications, or caring responsibilities.
Flexible hours are how insurers answer that. When the scarce skill is senior and regulated, the terms of the job become part of the pitch. Flexibility signals trust in a professional who manages their own workload, and it widens the pool to people who cannot, or will not, commit to fixed nine-to-five patterns. The shape of open roles tells you flexibility is no longer a perk. It's a hiring tool.
Start by being precise about the qualification you actually need. With recruitment concentrated at RQF 6+ in the sector the GOV.UK Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report (2026), a vague brief wastes everyone's time. Define the regulated knowledge the role requires, then separate the must-haves from the nice-to-haves so you don't screen out strong people over a detail.
Speed and clarity win. When you know exactly who you need and you treat flexibility as part of the offer, you turn a tight market into an advantage.
This is where we come in. Reed.ai searches a database of 15 million candidates to surface experienced insurance professionals who match your brief, including the flexible-working terms you offer. Our recruitment agent manages recruitment end to end for 8% on a successful hire, with no monthly fee and no upfront cost. Ready to see your shortlist? Tell us about the role and let's start matching.
