UK finance jobs outlook for H2 2025

UK finance jobs outlook for H2 2025: where demand is rising (and how to get hired)

Hiring across UK finance should gradually firm through Q3–Q4 as budgets unlock. FinTech and accountancy remain the most active; banking is selective but hiring into ops, change, data and financial crime; ESG/green finance continues to add roles. Below: sector trends, hot roles, skills to prioritise, and a Q3–Q4 action plan.

What changes in H2 (and why it matters)

The second half of the year typically brings:

• Budget release + project kick-offs (Q3): stalled headcount gets green-lit and backfills move.

• Delivery pressure (Q4): hiring favours candidates who can land quickly and show impact within 90 days.

• Holiday slowdowns (late July–Aug): pipelines keep moving—be interview-ready for early September surges.

Browse live roles: Meraki Vacancies

Sector outlook for H2 2025

FinTech

Expect steady hiring in product, engineering, cybersecurity, risk/compliance and data as firms scale payments, embedded finance and AI use-cases. Bonus points for cloud (AWS/Azure), API, and secure-by-design patterns.
Internal reads:

• Futureproof your fintech career: the skills employers want in H2

• How to navigate the competitive market for tech and finance talent

Accountancy

Demand stays solid in audit/assurance, financial reporting, technical accounting, transaction services, and ESG reporting. Hiring managers want value stories: process fixes, automation, and partnering impact—alongside ACA/ACCA.
Internal reads:

• Five Ways to Stand Out as a Chartered Accountant

• Top tips for building your audit career

Banking & Wealth

Selective but active in operations, change/transformation, data/MI, IT development, financial crime/AML, and wealth/private banking. Controls, prudential risk and conduct remain consistent hiring themes.
Internal read:

• How workforce planning makes for effective recruitment

Green finance & ESG

Continued growth in ESG analysis, climate risk, sustainability reporting and green products. The skills gap persists—H2 is a good window to upskill and pivot.
Internal read:

• Green finance jobs are in demand. The skills you need

Regional note: London leads volume, while Scotland and key hubs support change/data, audit/assurance, shared services and green finance.
Internal read:

• Scotland’s recruitment landscape: What’s driving hiring peaks in 2025?

Hot roles for H2

• FinTech: Product Manager, Software Engineer, Security Engineer, Data Analyst/Scientist, Risk/Compliance Manager.

• Accountancy: Audit/Assurance (all levels), Group Reporting, Technical Accountant, TS/Valuations, ESG Reporting Lead.

• Banking: Ops/Change Lead, Data/MI Lead, Financial Crime/AML, Regulatory Reporting, Wealth Advisory.

• ESG/Green: ESG Analyst, Climate Risk Specialist, Sustainability Reporting Manager, Green Finance Product Analyst.

Skills to prioritise now (fastest ROI in Q3–Q4)

Data & automation
Power BI/Looker, advanced Excel, process automation, data governance basics.
Internal read: Three ways to future-proof your career in 2025

Regulatory & risk
UK/EU regulatory awareness, financial crime/AML, prudential frameworks, SOX/controls, ESG disclosures.

Stakeholder impact
Clear value stories: cost saved, risk reduced, cycle time improved. Use STAR with metrics.

Tech fluency
Cloud fundamentals, secure development/ops in FinTech, finance systems (ERP/R2R/P2P) familiarity.

ESG literacy
Reporting frameworks and climate risk concepts relevant to your niche.

H2 action plan: month-by-month

July–Aug

• Refresh CV/LinkedIn with three quantified achievements per role.

• Short course sprints (data viz/automation or ESG reporting).

• Get pre-qualified with recruiters; line up September interviews.
  Internal read: Seven steps to developing your tech career in 2024

September–October (Q3/Q4 kick-off)

• Target firms announcing projects; apply within 72 hours of posting.

• Prep case studies & take-home tests ahead of time.

• Book interviews early in the week, morning slots (decision bias).

November–December

• If moving, aim for offers by mid-Nov (pre-freeze).

• If staying, secure 2026-facing project ownership for progression.

• Keep pipeline warm—many offers land in early Dec.

Talk to us: Contact Meraki

FAQs (H2 edition)

Is H2 better for moving than H1?
Often, yes. Q3 unlocks budgets and Q4 pushes delivery—both favour decisive hiring.

I’m in audit—move post–busy season or wait?
Start conversations now; many interviews cluster in September with fast turnarounds.

Which skills boost interviews fastest?
Data storytelling (dashboards that drive action), process automation, and ESG/controls experience.

Where do I find green finance roles?
Banks, asset/wealth managers, Big 4 and boutiques—use ESG/Climate/Green filters on Vacancies.