How is AI Changing Hiring in the Finance Sector?

Research from KPMG suggests that recruitment is set to increase for the financial sector in 2026, with 55% of firms planning to hire more staff. 

Within that number, 57% of finance leaders shared that acquiring AI capabilities is their biggest focus in 2026

More specifically, financial firms are looking for talent with experience in risk management, behavioural science and legal backgrounds to help manage ethical AI adoption, as companies shift their focus to how employees are using the technology, according to KPMG.

Discussing these findings, Karim Haji, Global and UK Head of Financial Services at KPMG, says: “AI is no longer just a productivity tool, it is actively shaping who firms hire and who they don’t.

“We’re already seeing a rise in ethical AI leadership roles going to people with expertise in behavioural and social science, law or psychology rather than purely technical or risk-based experience, this is helping firms design AI that is not only valuable, but safe, ethical and trustworthy.”

AI adoption in the financial sector

As AI begins to play a more central role in organisations across industries, finance leaders have reportedly been the slowest across the C-suite to adopt the technology. 

A 2025 Spendesk report found that AI adoption in the finance sector has been slow, with 61% of teams having not yet implemented AI into their workflows. 

The report suggests that hesitation stems from concerns that the return on investment may not be significant enough, particularly as nearly a third of respondents cite a lack of skills or training in AI technology as a limiting factor. 

Companies that are implementing AI are likely to see significant increases in workplace productivity – such as Goldman Sachs, which announced its ‘OneGS 3.0’ AI-driven strategic vision in October 2025. 

Aiming to improve AI-led productivity across the business, the banking firm is focusing on upskilling employees as part of an initiative to improve AI literacy, while also seeking to hire new talent with the agility to adapt to new workflows. 

Going forward, the company anticipates that AI will reshape the way businesses operate, creating further growth opportunities within the financial sector. 

Speaking on the Goldman Sachs Exchanges podcast, David Solomon, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, says: “Technology has been disrupting jobs, changing the way people work, destroying jobs and forcing us as a vibrant economy to create new jobs for decades.” 

Implementing AI in business practices

As AI becomes more embedded in the way companies work, the focus is shifting from just having the technology to ensuring employees are correctly using it, according to the survey.

Leanne Allen, Head of AI Advisory at KPMG, says of the report: “What I’m seeing is that there’s a huge pressure, and this goes across all sectors, to adopt AI.

“There are cost pressures, the need to drive efficiencies … and there’s still that fear in terms of job displacement."

Her belief is that, going forward, employees may be “monitored and measured for how much AI they’re using throughout the day."

While the report recommends that organisations should employ robust governance processes to manage human and behavioural risks with AI, it does not believe employees should be entirely responsible for their own AI output. 

Leanne says: “You shouldn’t put all that pressure onto a human because of the level of anxiety which could lead to non-adoption of AI.”