UK fintechs are projected to increase professional hiring by 32% in 2025, according to the latest fintech report from Morgan McKinley and Vacancysoft.
Despite venture funding falling short of historical norms, particularly at early-stage levels, fintech employers are continuing to make strategic hires. This growth is driven by product expansion, operational scaling, and the maturation of several firms from start-up to post-revenue stages, influenced by regulatory changes, cyber reforms, and the potential renewal of UK-EU financial services.
Hiring in risk and compliance is expected to rise by 29% in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of growth. Notably, demand for financial crime professionals is projected to increase by 50%, with fraud-related roles anticipated to double. This trend highlights heightened regulatory scrutiny and operational complexity, especially for firms with cross-border exposure.
Technology-related hiring is also set to grow by 39%, with the highest demand in engineering, IT management, development, and cybersecurity. London remains the leading hub for hiring in this sector, spurred by the upcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. As fintechs transition from legacy systems and respond to rising compliance expectations, skills in system resilience and threat mitigation are highly sought after.
Hiring activity varies across the sector. Companies like FNZ, Wise, Deel, and Ebury Partners are experiencing significant growth, with headcount increases ranging from 40% to 120% as they capitalize on product momentum and international expansion. In contrast, some fintechs are taking a more cautious approach, scaling back hiring in light of cost pressures and a challenging fundraising environment. Nevertheless, firms are focusing on strategic hires, investing in high-impact roles in compliance, product engineering, and IT security, while maintaining stability in generalist functions.
Mark Astbury, director of Morgan McKinley UK, noted that “despite investor caution and geopolitical uncertainty, the UK’s fintech sector is advancing with one of its strongest hiring outlooks in recent years. A projected 32% rise in professional vacancies, primarily in London but mirrored nationally, indicates a market transitioning from rapid scaling to more deliberate, strategic expansion. This reflects a grounded response to real-world pressures rather than hype, with a notable surge in fraud risk and compliance roles, along with double-digit growth in IT security and engineering, demonstrating an industry maturing in response to both opportunity and obligation.”