2026 MARKET PERSPECTIVE
The new part qualified finance professional
Insights into the changing expectations, skills gaps, and hiring trends affecting PQ finance teams across London's financial services sector.
WHAT'S INSIDE
The part qualified finance market
has reset
Part-qualified finance job titles might look familiar in 2026 – but the expectations behind them have moved on.
Hiring managers are no longer looking for strong technical delivery alone. They need people who can pilot systems, understand how decisions impact the wider business, and contribute to change as it happens.
This shift is reshaping how roles are scoped and, ultimately, which skill profiles are hired.
We’ve built this report based on what we’re seeing firsthand at JSS, using live hiring activity and ongoing conversations with leaders in London’s financial services industry.
Inside, we explore:
- Why the traditional PQ pathway is breaking down
- Where hiring demand is building in 2026
- What separates PQs getting offers from those who aren’t
- Current salary benchmarks across key roles
Role-by-role benchmarks
Graduate to QBE Finance Manager. Based on real placement data from the last 12 months.
Shifting skills profiles
Where employer expectations are outpacing traditional PQ pathways & what strong candidates look like now.
Live hiring dynamics
Demand trends, candidate priorities, and conditions impacting PQ hiring in London.
INSIGHTS BY
Harry Richards
Part Qualified Finance Specialist
Harry works with PQ finance professionals and hiring teams across London's financial services market, supporting businesses scaling fintechs to established banking and insurance institutions.
He has supported business at every stage, from building out first finance hires to strengthening established PQ functions.
For clients, Harry offers a well-connected view of where demand is building and how hiring expectations are changing. For candidates, he takes a considered approach, focused on roles that build long-term capability.
THE NEW PQ FINANCE PROFESSIONAL | 2026 MARKET PERSPECTIVE
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