Which profiles are in the highest demand in today’s finance sector?
What is the current situation of the finance sector? Which direction should professionals look in to find an opportunity in this field? The Covid-19 pandemic has shaken the economy at a global level and set new parameters in professional sectors. As would be expected, finance has not been immune from this transformation and so things that we once took for granted may well now be different.
Recently, EAE Business School held a series of talks entitled Conversations with Headhunters, which analysed the topic of employability focusing on various specific sectors, In the case of the finance sector, the expert leading the conference was Alejandro Ladrón, the Interim Management & Permanent Placement Expert at Spring Professional.
Would you like to know which profiles and skills are in the highest demand in the finance sector? Let’s find out!
Key sectors in the post-pandemic period
The so-called ‘new normal’ has had a huge impact on the professional world. As Ladrón explained, this impact has triggered a number of changes, such as the rise and growth of previously undervalued sectors, the flexibilization of work, an ever-increasing commitment to technology and a strong emphasis on retraining employees.
In response to this new reality, new sectors have gained economic weight, such as the energy sector. “The country is receiving a lot of investment from the EU for new energy projects, so there are lots of opportunities in this field”, explained Ladrón. “Things also seem to be happening in the health sector, where they are opening clinics and looking for executives and people to run these businesses”.
Moreover, the expert emphasized the cleaning and retail sectors. “The same is happening in the cleaning sector because the sanitation situation is gaining increasing strength at both a personal and industrial level”, she continued. “In terms of retail, there has been a decline in hospitality but we are still consuming from home, so these areas need profiles that adapt to this new structure”.
Profiles in the highest demand in finance
After discussing sectors, the expert focused on the profiles in the highest demand in the world of finance. “We have a tool that enables is to see companies that are contracting and in which sectors so that we can develop commercial strategies when approaching the market.
As we can see in the above graphic, 3.6% of the 120,000 vacant positions advertised are for financial profiles. “While 3.6% may not seem much, when we calculate it in terms of the total of 120,000, we realize that there are thousands of offers out there”, explained Ladrón. “It is an area with a lot of competition, but also lots of opportunities. Therefore, we have to create strategy, prepare and focus on making our added value stand out” she added.
“We have to adapt ourselves to the market, not the market to us”
The expert explained that the country is obviously undergoing a crisis and GDP is falling as a result. However, she emphasized that this is a global issue and, although there is a great deal of uncertainty, the recovery is expected to be fast.
She went on to state that financial management is the most sought-after profile within the world of finance. In addition, she explained that other profiles that are becoming increasingly important are those that focus on the analytical aspect of the balance sheet: the profit and loss account of organizations.
“Companies are not looking for staff figures, but rather businesspeople related to operations, who are results-oriented and have the vision for planning. Therefore, we have to adapt ourselves to the market, not the market to us”
Key Competences in the Post-Covid Age
Moreover, with the active participation of the audience, Ladrón emphasized that one of the most important factors is having a command of digital tools. “Being able to extract and cross-reference data is fundamental nowadays”, she stressed. “Just as we shifted from faxes to email, we now have to become profiles that, as well as operating in finance, also have a firm grasp of big data”.
Leadership, strategic vision and problem solving are other key skills required for finding opportunities in this challenging situation.