UK fintech firms are forecast to increase professional hiring by 32 percent in 2025, according to new research published by Morgan McKinley and Vacancysoft. The report highlights strategic growth in risk, compliance, and cybersecurity functions, despite subdued venture funding and elevated market volatility.
The expansion reflects a shift in the fintech sector’s priorities. As early-stage capital remains scarce and interest rates begin to ease, many firms are transitioning from high-growth scaling to targeted investments in infrastructure, governance, and resilience. Hiring growth is being led by regulatory obligations and digital risk mitigation, particularly in fraud prevention, financial crime compliance, and IT system hardening.
Risk and compliance roles are projected to increase by 29 percent over the year, with fraud-related positions expected to double and financial crime hiring up 50 percent. According to the report, this expansion stems from increased regulatory scrutiny across jurisdictions. Firms with cross-border exposure are responding to higher compliance burdens and are preparing for licensing regimes that require active governance structures.
Cybersecurity and technology-related roles are expected to see a 39 percent rise, particularly in engineering, IT management, and threat mitigation. London continues to lead demand for these roles, driven in part by the anticipated Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. As fintechs phase out legacy systems and respond to complex security requirements, they are prioritizing talent that can support long-term infrastructure upgrades.
Mark Astbury, Director at Morgan McKinley UK, commented, “Despite investor caution and geopolitical uncertainty, the UK’s fintech sector is powering ahead with one of its strongest hiring outlooks in recent years. A projected 32% rise in professional vacancies, led by London but echoed nationwide, signals a market shifting from rapid-fire scaling to more deliberate, strategic expansion, particularly across compliance, cybersecurity, and engineering.”
Astbury continued, “The data tells a clear story: despite subdued venture capital flows, demand for specialist talent remains robust. This isn’t a hype-driven rebound, it’s a grounded response to real-world pressures. Fintech firms are hiring to meet rising regulatory expectations as they grow, to counter increasingly sophisticated financial threats, and to build more resilient digital infrastructure. The surge in fraud risk and compliance roles, alongside double-digit growth in IT security and engineering, reflects an industry maturing in response to both opportunity and obligation. Looking ahead at the rest of 2025, the message is clear: fintech hiring is purposeful and focused. The shift from reactive to proactive talent acquisition is redefining how firms invest, not just in products, but in people.”
Deel, Wise, and Ebury to grow headcount by 40-120%
The report also outlines divergent hiring strategies across the market. While several companies, including Deel, Wise, and Ebury Partners, are set to grow headcount between 40 and 120 percent in 2025, others have adopted more cautious approaches due to cost concerns and tighter fundraising. However, across the board, strategic hiring remains a priority, with emphasis placed on high-impact roles in product development, cybersecurity, and compliance. Generalist roles, by contrast, are facing budget scrutiny.
Hiring patterns reflect evolving operational models as fintechs mature and navigate a more regulated environment. Firms now face heightened scrutiny not just from the Financial Conduct Authority but also from international regulators, especially those in the EU. This has prompted a reallocation of hiring resources towards functions that underpin governance readiness and systems resilience.
Data from the report shows that Deel expects to hire 675 professionals in 2025, up from 477 in 2024. Checkout is projected to grow from 590 to 660, while Wise will increase from 336 to 600. Radius, which led hiring in 2023 with 861 new roles, is forecast to reach 552 hires in 2025, while Teya expects a moderate decrease from 764 to 585.
As regulatory requirements become more granular, especially in areas like anti-money laundering and operational resilience, fintechs are turning to experienced talent with domain expertise. This signals a change in the sector’s employment profile, with demand now focused on building internal infrastructure, rather than external expansion alone.
Although broader macroeconomic headwinds persist, the report suggests that UK fintechs are repositioning themselves for sustainable growth. Talent investment is increasingly aligned with risk preparedness, system integrity, and governance, setting a new benchmark for how fintech employers respond to structural pressures in the global financial system.
