AI integration and job security take centre stage in finance recruitment: Hays

Job seekers also expect a 10% pay rise when switching roles.

Artificial intelligence (AI) integration is shaping Singapore’s banking and finance hiring landscape in 2026, as employers seek candidates who can embed AI into workflows to enhance efficiency in research and trading, according to a Hays report.

Hiring continues across front-, middle-, and back-office roles despite the relocation of some functions to global service hubs.

Financial professionals are prioritising job security and organisational resilience over compensation, with candidates expecting at least a 10% salary increase when changing roles.

Market activity is concentrated in capital markets, quantitative trading, and digital assets, the report noted.

Firms applying for Digital Payment Token licences from the Monetary Authority of Singapore are driving demand for compliance and risk talent with crypto expertise.

Hedge funds are hiring for research and algorithm development, whilst high-frequency trading and quantitative firms continue to offer premium compensation for candidates with AI and modelling capabilities.

Employers increasingly require hybrid skill sets that combine technical fluency with financial acumen, the report added.

In back-office operations, treasury directors earn over $200,000, whilst securities services vice presidents receive between $120,000 and $180,000.

Know Your Client and onboarding managers—from assistant vice presidents to directors—earn between $84,000 and over $180,000.

In retail banking, sales managers command at least $180,000, whilst branch managers earn between $50,000 and $75,000, and tellers receive $30,000 to $40,000.