Key facts
- Finance hiring in London rose 10% year-on-year in the first half of 2025.
- UK-wide finance vacancies are forecast to rise 11% year-on-year.
- London is expected to account for nearly half of the UK's finance vacancies.
- Banking operations hiring climbed 38% year-on-year, driven by digital demand.
- IT roles in accounting and consulting increased 39% year-on-year.
- Barclays finance vacancies increased 55% year-on-year, while HSBC declined 49%.
Data compiled by recruitment firm Morgan McKinley suggests that UK banking job vacancies are set to rise by 11% year-on-year in 2025, with London expected to account for nearly half of the national share. Finance hiring in the capital increased by 10% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, signaling renewed confidence in the sector.
The report, produced in conjunction with Vacancysoft, indicates that demand for IT roles in accounting and consulting has surged by 39% year-on-year, while banking operations hiring climbed 38% year-on-year, driven by digital transformation and operational needs. Executive management hiring also saw a significant increase of 66%.
However, traditional accountancy roles dipped by 4%, and consulting roles remained flat, suggesting a shift towards technology-driven functions. In the banking sector, while overall finance vacancies increased by 8% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, IT hiring rose 16% year-on-year, focusing on automation, cybersecurity, and infrastructure.
Leading financial institutions have shown divergent hiring trends. JPMorgan saw a 22% increase in roles, while Barclays boosted hiring by 55% after a quieter 2024. Conversely, HSBC scaled back hiring by 49% year-on-year due to cost-cutting efforts.