Heightened ECP activity drives demand for banking and finance talent in Greater China

As a result of heightened EPC activity, both Asian and European banks across the country have been seeing a greater need to service State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and Private-Owned Enterprises (POEs) in the infrastructure, power, and energy fields, according to recruitment experts Hays.

“The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a project that is perhaps unprecedented in ambition and scope in the modern era, Greater China is looking externally to the development of its neighbours as a way of simultaneously encouraging its own productivity. Industries along the length and breadth of the ‘road’ – and beyond – are looking into ways of taking advantage of the vast profits that the scheme may produce. And at the heart of all of this, is the banking sector,” says Simon Lance, Managing Director at Hays Greater China.

“Corporate Institution Banking (CIB) Relationship managers and Export Finance Manager with experience in dealing with such clientele are therefore extremely sought after. Candidates with banking product knowledge of export finance, DCM, cash management, trade finance, and syndication loan are all the more coveted by employers,” says Simon Lance, Managing Director at Hays Greater China.

Skills and expertise in demand in China’s banking & finance industry include:

- Corporate Institution Banking (CIB) Relationship

- Export Finance

- Cash management

The global recruitment firm also notes that be that as it may, the banking talent pool within Greater China remains small, and employers are in a heated rivalry to attract and secure top candidates in the market.

“In particular, there is also a notable trend of medium-sized regional, Asian financial intuitions ramping up their efforts to venture into new client portfolios, thereby requiring candidates with strong business development capabilities,” adds Simon.

“Such a unique mix of skillset and experience may be even more so a challenge to obtain as most talent would have had experience in the bigger players which may already be more mature in the market.”

“Along with possessing adroit technical aptitude, candidates in this field must also possess a strong network with SOE and POE clients from the aforementioned industries. In particular, candidates from China Policy banks, such as the China export and import banks, would have strong connections with SOE and POE clients in these fields, making them ideal talent to drive new client acquisition plans.”