Financial Services Recruitment Insights: Q&A with Jenni Lunt, Principal Consultant at Fintelligent

Hiring in the Financial Services sector has never been more competitive. With top professionals often receiving multiple offers within days, employers need speed, precision, and industry expertise to secure the right talent.

At Fintelligent, we specialise in connecting outstanding candidates with leading Financial Services employers. Few people know this space better than Jenni Lunt, our Principal Consultant, who has built a reputation for rapid, high-quality placements that deliver real impact.

In this Q&A, Jenni shares her insights on the current market, from record-fast placements to the most in-demand roles and what both employers and candidates need to succeed in today’s landscape.

Recent Recruitment Success in Financial Services

Q: What’s been your most successful placement this quarter in terms of speed or impact?

“One standout placement was turned around in just three days. I picked up the role via LinkedIn at the start of the week, quickly identified a strong candidate, and secured an interview almost immediately.

By the end of the week, the candidate had an offer — above the original salary range. For the client, it meant securing top talent quickly before competitors could react, and for the candidate, it meant a fantastic opportunity with improved terms. That’s the kind of win-win we aim for.”

Key takeaway:

Speed matters. Employers who move quickly are far more likely to secure top candidates.

Average Time-to-Hire in Today’s Market

Q: On average, how long does it take you to fill a role in the Financial Services market right now?

“On average, it takes around one week from CV submission to offer stage. Compared to the wider industry, where time-to-hire can stretch to several weeks. This is significantly quicker and a metric I strive towards achieving with all of the clients I work in partnership with”.

The Financial Services recruitment market moves at pace. Quality candidates don’t stay on the market for long, so both clients and recruiters have to act fast.”

Fintelligent average time-to-hire: 1 week
Typical industry average: Several weeks

Placement Success Rates: Quality Over Quantity

Q: What’s the current placement success rate for Financial Services roles you’ve worked on over the past six months?

“Over the past six months, my success rate has averaged 1.2 to 1.3 placements per three CVs submitted. In other words, for every three candidates I put forward, at least one typically receives an offer.

When I’m recruiting for multiple roles within the same team or organisation, this success rate is even higher. That’s because I spend a lot of time upfront really understanding both the client’s needs and the candidate’s fit. It’s not about sending a pile of CVs to tick a box, it’s about sending the profiles of candidates who have a strong culture to the business.”

Key metric:

Placement success rate: 1 offer per 3 CVs submitted

Most In-Demand Financial Services Roles in 2025

Q: What are the most in-demand Financial Services roles you’ve placed recently, and why are they trending?

“We’ve seen particularly strong demand for Case Managers and Collections Advisors this year. As the market picks up, there’s been a clear knock-on effect in areas linked to customer debt, affordability, and financial support.

Companies are strengthening these teams to support both compliance and customer service, so the demand for skilled professionals in these areas is higher than ever. It’s a fortunate position for candidates who are working within these roles but are looking to change employers”

Trending roles right now:

Candidate Market Competitiveness

Q: How competitive is the Financial Services candidate market right now?

“It’s extremely competitive. Quality candidates often have multiple offers on the table at the same time. Employers who hesitate (or fail to sell the opportunity well) will risk losing out on the best talent. It’s my responsibility to advise clients on the best approach for selling their role”.

The employers winning the war for talent are those who:

Move quickly from CV submission to interview
Communicate clearly and regularly
Present strong, compelling offers that reflect market conditions”

Bottom line: If you don’t act fast, someone else will.

What This Means for Employers and Job Seekers

For employers:

Speed and decisiveness are critical
Sell your opportunity just as much as candidates sell themselves
Partnering with a specialist recruiter helps you tap into hidden networks and move quickly

For job seekers: