The Future of Work in Finance: Skills for the Next Generation

The financial landscape is rapidly evolving. The skills needed to succeed in finance are changing as artificial intelligence gains strength and the global economy shifts its focus to sustainability. A career that was once primarily concerned with spreadsheets and reporting is increasingly branching out into fields including environmental responsibility, digital systems, and data analysis.

This article explores six key skill areas that are becoming essential for the next generation of finance professionals. It draws on recent reports and industry research to offer clear guidance to individuals and organisations looking to prepare for what’s ahead.

1. Macro Context: Finance in Transition

The role of finance is no longer limited to bookkeeping and reporting. Finance teams are expected to understand how technology, regulation, and strategy come together. According to a World Economic Forum report, by the end of the decade, about half of the fundamental skills required in today's employment would have changed. This calls for knowledge of new tools, adaptability, and cross-departmental thinking in the finance industry.

The CFA Institute also emphasises the value of cybersecurity, sustainability, and data handling abilities. The field now involves more than simply statistics; it involves making wise choices in a changing world.

2. Six Critical Skill Domains for the Future of Finance

1)    Digital & Data Fluency

Forecasting, budgeting, and reconciliation are among the tasks that are increasingly being automated. This means that those working in finance should concentrate more on understanding and interpreting data. Proficiency in Python, SQL, or visualisation software such as Tableau is becoming more and more valuable.

2)    Fintech & DeFi Literacy

It is increasingly required of finance professionals to be proficient in emerging technology like blockchain. In today’s world, it is not enough to rely on traditional financial knowledge.  It is becoming crucial to comprehend the workings of decentralised finance (DeFi) and Financial technology (Fintech) and how it may affect operations and compliance. One one hand, adoption Fintech not only improves customer services but also encourage banks on giving out loans to startups. On the other hand, DeFi, reduces banks controls of the banking systems as well as forces banks to explore blockchain solutions.

3)    Cybersecurity & Regulatory Resilience

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue - it poses a strategic threat. For instance, in November 2023, the U.S. arm of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) suffered a ransomware attack that disrupted U.S. Treasury market trades and led to SEC scrutiny due to failure in maintaining accurate transaction records during the incident.

Moreover, across the industry, ransomware incidents targeting financial institutions surged by 140% in 2023, with 66% involving actual data theft. These breaches can lead to operational paralysis, regulatory penalties, and long-term reputational damage - especially when financial records or client data are compromised.

Finance professionals now need to understand encryption, regulatory frameworks like GDPR and SOC 2, and collaborate with cybersecurity teams to safeguard systems and maintain reporting continuity.

4)    ESG & Sustainability Strategy

ESG considerations now directly influence financial performance. ESG stands for environmental, social and governance, which means, that it studies the sustainability practices that a firm adopts. Firms that score highly on ESG indices frequently benefit from:

• Lower cost of capital via green bond issuance at reduced interest rates

• Broader investor appeal, especially from institutional funds with sustainability mandates

• Stronger brand equity, leading to customer loyalty and reputational resilience

  
  

Finance professionals must therefore apply ESG inputs - such as carbon footprints and governance ratings - into financial analysis, investor presentations, and valuation models, turning sustainability into quantifiable business value.

5)    Human-Centric Leadership

As the finance industry becomes more digitalised and globalized, managing teams across locations and collaborating via digital tools are becoming more and more common. These days, effective leadership calls for empathy, effective communication, and the capacity to foster team growth in a dynamic workplace.

6)    Continuous Learning & Agility

One of the most crucial skills in finance nowadays is the ability to pick things up fast and adjust to new rules and instruments that are introduced on a regular basis. To keep skills current, certifications, courses, and even informal learning are essential.

3. Building Skills: A Strategy for Firms

Training is currently seen by an increasing number of businesses as their most crucial labour strategy. According to BCG, leading organisations dedicate 0.5% to 1.5% of annual revenue to upskilling - translating to $150M+ per year for large firms.

A survey of 1,215 companies showed that 40% reported a positive Return on Learning Investment (ROLI), while only 4% experienced a negative return.

Key Actions:

• Launch internal programmes that allow employees to rotate across different areas.

• Work with education providers to deliver short courses or certificates in relevant subjects.

• Make skill growth part of regular reviews and team goals.

Table: Consulting-focused Learning and Development Benchmarks

Metric	Observed Value/Benchmark
% of annual revenue on L&D	0.5%-1.5% (~$150M+ for large firms)
Firms dedicating $300-400M	Not uncommon for global consultancies
Positive ROLI from reskilling programs	~40% of surveyed companies
Negative ROLI	~4%

4. Use Cases & Emerging Models

Leading universities are already adapting. They now offer modules on AI, DeFi, and ESG within their finance programmes. This reflects a growing recognition that technical and strategic literacy is essential for modern finance roles. For example, students at institutions like Cambridge Judge and HEC Paris can now take electives in sustainable finance or blockchain applications within corporate finance.

On the industry side, consulting firms are leading the way in structured reskilling:

BCG U – Reskilling Case Study

BCG offers a global learning ecosystem called “BCG U”, which includes accelerators focused on Digital, AI, Climate, and Sustainability. These programs are tailored for professionals transitioning into future-focused roles.

In collaboration with Singapore’s SkillsFuture initiative, BCG launched the RISE (Rapid Immersive Skill Enhancement) programme. It trained over 2,000 mid-career professionals in its first year, with the goal of reaching 8,000 by 2025. Participants receive project-based learning, mentorship, and certifications - many move into strategic or ESG-focused finance roles post-training.

Technology firms are also supporting finance departments with upskilling. For instance, cloud analytics platforms are helping risk teams deploy real-time dashboards and automated reporting tools, freeing up capacity for strategic work like scenario planning.

Together, these examples show how academia, consultancies, and tech partners are shaping finance’s next generation of talent.

5. Challenges & Risk Mitigation

Organisations face some real hurdles in preparing for these changes:

• Old systems and outdated ways of working

• Limited budgets for training

• Resistance to new career paths

  
  

To overcome these, firms can:

• Start with small training initiatives and build them over time

• Measure progress using clear skill assessments

• Get leadership involved in setting the tone for change

Conclusion

Finance is no longer just about accuracy and reporting. It’s about understanding the bigger picture - how money, technology, people, and the planet all connect. As new challenges and tools emerge, finance professionals must stay curious, flexible, and committed to growth.

Organisations that build their teams with these ideas in mind will not only perform better but also become more attractive places to work. And individuals who focus on the skills outlined in this article will be better prepared for a future that is anything but predictable.

References

BCG. (2023–2025). Organizational development & reskilling reports. https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/five-ways-to-make-the-most-of-reskilling-investments

BlackFog. (2023). Ransomware attacks on financial institutions. https://www.blackfog.com/ransomware-attacks-on-financial-institutions-2023

CFA Institute. (2024). Future skills for finance professionals. https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/insights/articles/future-skills-for-finance-professionals

Financial Times. (2025). AI in finance education. https://www.ft.com/content/c35ce925-d7b3-4920-a431-c4ca1aa33503

Reuters. (2023). ICBC cyberattack coverage. https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/sec-settles-with-icbc-unit-over-ransomware-attack-imposes-no-fine-2024-12-02

World Economic Forum. (2025). The future of jobs report. https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/