When you first start out in financial services, there’s a tendency to target front office roles. After all, these are traditionally where the big bonuses, exit options and, ultimately, respect of your peers are more available.
But what about job security? Assuming you’ve been working in financial services for more than a couple of years, the chances are that any front office investment banker will have been subject to at least one round of redundancies. What’s more, bankers are seeking alternatives – everything from private equity and fund management, to start-ups – as bonuses dry up and new job opportunities become scarcer.
There’s a lot to be said, therefore, for seemingly less exciting jobs that nonetheless offer big salaries and, importantly, an element of job security. We’ve scoured the most recent salary surveys of recruiters Robert Half, Robert Walters and Hudson to give you a list of jobs that reach six-figures within five years and are currently in demand around the world. Figures have been converted into US$ for ease of comparison. These figures are base salary only
Project manager, front office change management projects, London, up to $249k
Data scientist, San Francisco, $150-350k
Trade finance sales, Dubai, $110-278k
Quantitative risk analyst, London, up to $100-174k
Qualified lawyer (1 year post-qualified), wealth management, London, up to $142.1k
Qualified actuary (0-3 years’ experience), London, $133.7-167.2k
Business analyst, compliance, London, up to $158k
Cross-product settlements, New York, up to $150k
Regulatory accountant, newly qualified to three years’ experience, London, up to $131.2k
Investor relations, hedge funds, Hong Kong, 3-5 years’ experience, up to $130k
Sales, cash management, Hong Kong, 3-5 years’ experience, up to $130k
Credit risk modelling, 3-5 years’ experience, London, up to $125k
Liquidity risk management, London, 3-5 years’ experience, up to $125k
Information security officer, London, up to $129k
Compliance, product advisory, London, up to $125.3k
Relationship manager, corporate banking, Hong Kong, 3-5 years’ experience, up to $116k
Applications/product support analyst, London, $112-128k
Audit/business services, insurance, London, $100-125k
Compliance, regulatory affairs, London, $117k
Quantitative risk analyst, 3-5 years’ experience, London, up to $116.5k
Market risk management, 3-5 years’ experience, London, up to $116.5k
Management accountant, Dubai, up to $108.8k
Fund accountant, NQ to three years’ experience, London, up to $105k
IT risk and compliance, Singapore, up to $102k
Mark risk management, analyst, New York, up to $100k
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