Though finance is typically associated with crunching numbers and making strategic investments on behalf of clients, there are actually several types of IT jobs available in finance that might interest those with a more tech-centric way of thinking. These jobs are becoming increasingly important in an era when virtually all finance transactions are made using Internet-connected computers and other, more portable devices. IT professionals find themselves serving as the key intermediary between clients, investors, and complex software systems that manage cash flow and govern the nature of sophisticated trades and investment schedules. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those who wish to combine their love of finance with their skills in high-tech information systems, consider a few of the following unique jobs.
Finance Systems Manager
Perhaps the most common position sought in finance by those with an IT background is the role of the systems manager. Within a large finance organization, this job is central to daily operations. The systems manager will make sure that all computer systems and software applications are running properly, with the latest security and software updates to keep transitions going smoothly throughout the day. They’ll be responsible for monitoring real-time developments outside the financial firm, anticipating serious security flaws or viruses and stopping them before they make their way in. Finance systems managers will also oversee software upgrades, the creation of employee training manuals in order to properly teach the firm’s software, and education regarding new programs, threats, and system responsibilities.
Mobile Systems Specialists
Finance is no longer a position that lives exclusively in a storied Wall Street investment firm. Increasingly, major investment houses are going mobile or opting to conduct all meetings and transactions through website systems. Consider the success of E-Trade, which has done away with in-person consultations and instead relied on a web interface to put the power in the hands of individual investors. In this case, the IT expert’s job is to make sure that websites and mobile applications are performing properly. Even when the financial firm maintains a brick-and-mortar location, the Mobile Systems Specialist will need to make sure that mobile websites and smartphone applications are kept updated, in line with changing software standards, and secure enough to ward off major online threats.
Programming and Software Development
Many financial firms use software from a third-party vendor to run the operation, but an increasing number are opting for proprietary systems. These unique systems give the firm an edge, allowing them to create their own automated processes, algorithms, and advanced investment formulas for greater consumer success. The person in charge of creating these systems is typically an IT professional or someone with a computer science background. When commissioned by the financial firm, these individuals will integrate the firm’s algorithms and calculations into investor-facing software that is easy to use, highly secure, and able to produce results based on the type of investing strategy preferred by the client. After the software is finished, IT specialists will need to be available in order to update, develop, and deploy it. They’ll also need to make themselves available to answer questions from investors.
Related Resource: Become an Auditor
Plenty of IT Jobs Exist in the Financial Sector
The finance industry is growing by leaps and bounds, both in terms of actual hiring and technological needs. The types of IT jobs available in finance today are those that help firms expand into new arenas, with unique mobile or proprietary systems that enhance the natural course of investments over time.
