Why project management in financial services and fintech deserves more attention

When I browse blog pages from respected project management communities, I see great case studies from construction, infrastructure and sustainability. But one sector feels consistently underrepresented: financial services and fintech.

That surprised me — because in my work within both large banks and fast-moving fintech startups, I’ve seen first-hand how critical the project managers role is. These are environments that are deeply regulated, highly complex and constantly evolving. Project professionals here are not just facilitators — they're strategic partners who ensure change is delivered effectively, securely and often under intense scrutiny.

This blog is part of an effort to bridge that visibility gap. If you're a project professional from a different industry, I hope this post gives you a window into the unique challenges and rewards of managing projects in financial services. And if you’re already working in this space, I hope this series helps you feel more seen, connected and encourages you to share your own story.

Let’s bring more of these voices into the conversation. 

Having worked in PMO and delivery teams across both large banks and fintech start-ups, I’ve seen how project managers are the glue that holds together change programmes. Whether it’s adapting to new regulations, delivering a product update, or upgrading legacy systems, project professionals are there — often quietly keeping things on track.

Yet we rarely hear these stories.

These sectors are in the middle of a profound transformation. Traditional banks are undergoing massive digital overhauls. Startups are launching agile, customer-first solutions. Regulators are pushing for real-time reporting, tighter data governance and better risk controls. All of this demands coordinated execution — and that’s where project managers shine.

In my own journey, I’ve worked on both ends of this spectrum: 

• At large financial institutions, I’ve helped deliver regulatory transformation projects under tight timelines. 
• At fintech firms, I’ve been part of small teams launching new products and features, where speed and flexibility are everything. 

In both environments, the challenges are real. You’re juggling compliance, tech, legal and user needs. You’re managing stakeholders who speak different 'languages’ —from engineering to audit. You’re expected to deliver quickly, with minimal errors, in highly regulated markets.

One thing that surprised me early on is how underrepresented this work is in project management conversations. I never saw case studies from capital markets or retail banking in my university lectures or even professional networks. That lack of visibility is partly what inspired me to start this blog series.

It’s time to bring project managers in financial services and fintech into the spotlight—not just as task trackers, but as navigators of risk, drivers of change and connectors of cross-functional teams.

Let me share a real-world example from my experience at a Tier 1 global bank where our team significantly reduced reporting errors and regulatory risk in the capital markets space. By combining Excel-based data validation, domain expertise and cross-functional collaboration, we updated key systems with new regulatory attributes and aligned compliance reporting with the latest regulatory changes. It was a complex project, but a powerful demonstration of how applying core project management principles — like structured planning, stakeholder alignment and risk control — can lead to tangible outcomes. Despite working in a highly secure, confidential environment with limited access to advanced tools, our team used focused project coordination and best practices to deliver meaningful results.

This kind of structured delivery, often led by project managers in financial services, plays a crucial role in navigating complexity, meeting regulatory expectations and ensuring project success.

Financial services and fintech may not always seem like obvious topics for project management blogs — but they should be. These sectors are full of high-impact, high-stakes initiatives and project professionals are essential to keeping them on course.

Whether you're from banking, investment, or a tech-driven startup, your work matters nd sharing it can help build a stronger, more diverse community. If you're a project manager from another industry, hopefully this gives you new appreciation for what your peers in financial services/fintech face daily. And if you’re working in financial services and have ever wondered where your stories fit in — this is the place.

Let’s start sharing more of these experiences. Let’s learn from each other.

Call to action: Have you worked on change initiatives in banks, investment firms, or fintechs? What challenges did your teams face—and how did project management help? Join the conversation in the comments.

 

You may also be interested in:

• Join the conversation at The Community
• What is stakeholder engagement?
• Develop your risk management skills at APM Learning