FinTech

FinTech is a broad term that covers companies ranging from payment processors to digital banks to algorithmic lending platforms. What they share is a focus on using data and technology to deliver financial services faster, cheaper, or more accessibly than traditional institutions.

The daily work varies a lot by company and role. Data scientists build models to detect fraud, predict defaults, or personalise products. Data analysts track product metrics and support business decisions. Risk and compliance teams make sure the company meets regulatory requirements. Engineers build the infrastructure that keeps the product running. At smaller FinTech companies, roles tend to overlap and the work is less specialised than at a large bank.

The main tools are Python and SQL for data work, and cloud platforms like AWS or Google Cloud for infrastructure. The pace is faster than in traditional finance, and products are iterated on quickly. Regulatory knowledge matters more than it might appear from the outside, since FinTech companies operate under financial regulation even if they do not look like traditional banks.

In the Netherlands, the sector includes payment companies, digital lenders, and insurtech firms. The AFM and DNB supervise FinTech companies depending on the type of financial service they provide. The sector connects to Banking and the broader Financial sector, and roles overlap with Data Scientist, Data Engineer, and Risk Manager roles.