Featuring insights from Leon Bosco – APAC Product, Pre-Sales, Solutions Consulting Senior Consultant at EC1 Partners.
From discussions with candidates actively looking at the APAC fintech market, a common perception emerges: hiring seems stagnant. But that’s misleading.
While sheer volume may be lower than in past post-pandemic expansion phases, firms are now prioritising high-impact, cross-functional hires over filling seats. The focus is on professionals who influence outcomes, drive adoption, and embed themselves into broader business strategy.
Leon Bosco explains, “We’ve seen firms hiring selectively, prioritising candidates who bridge commercial, technical, and product domains. One well-placed hire can deliver more value than several less-focused hires. The market isn’t quiet. It’s strategic.”
High-Demand Product & Pre-Sales Roles
Across APAC, the shift toward strategic hiring is reflected in the roles in greatest demand:
- Product Managers with expertise in payments, embedded finance, lending tech, and digital assets.
- Solution Consultants / Pre-Sales Engineers who translate client needs into product solutions, bridging technical and commercial discussions.
- Sales professionals with technical fluency who can articulate complex fintech solutions to clients.
Market statistics show top APAC hubs—Singapore, Hong Kong, and Sydney—expanded fintech talent by 61% in 2024. Technical sales talent remains among the hardest to fill (FinTech Talent Report 2023).
Leon adds, “Candidates who operate across product, pre-sales, and implementation are highly prized. It’s not just about functional expertise—it’s about measurable business impact. The right hire can transform adoption and client success.”
Shifts in Hiring Practices
Hiring is more deliberate and outcome-focused than previous years:
- Fewer, higher-impact, cross-functional hires are prioritised.
- Product and pre-sales professionals engage early. Shaping solution architecture, onboarding, and client rollout.
- Cross-functional backgrounds spanning product, sales, and client success are essential.
- Contract and interim professionals plug expertise gaps in fast-scaling segments like digital assets and AI.
Leon notes, “Hiring managers now evaluate candidates on the business outcomes they can deliver, not just the role they fill. Strategic hires influence client adoption and revenue from day one.”
Measuring Impact, Not Just Headcount
Firms now track hires by tangible outcomes:
- Shortened sales cycles and onboarding time.
- Improved product adoption and client usage metrics.
- Client retention and expansion (upsells and renewals).
- Cross-functional collaboration across product, sales, and implementation.
APAC fintechs report a 30% faster onboarding time after a strategic, high-impact hire. With average tenure at just 1.7 years, retention and productivity gains are critical (LinkedIn).
Leon comments, “Product managers or pre-sales engineers aren’t just ‘in the seat’; they’re expected to influence revenue, adoption, and client satisfaction. It’s about measurable impact across the business.”
Skills Driving Strategic Results
The market is prioritising rare, versatile talent:
- Product and pre-sales professionals with deep domain knowledge and commercial/technical fluency
- Expertise in digital assets/crypto, AI-driven platforms, and RegTech.
- Ability to guide clients through integrations while aligning with strategic product roadmaps.
Leon observes, “The rare blend of domain expertise, commercial acumen, and client-facing experience truly sets candidates apart. These are multiplier hires. They accelerate adoption and revenue beyond their individual contribution.”
Looking Ahead to 2026
Key trends shaping APAC product and pre-sales hiring include:
- Regional leadership roles with multi-market APAC exposure.
- Cross-border and localisation experience as APAC integrates more global products (FintechNews.sg).
- Hybrid fintech/traditional finance backgrounds are increasingly valued.
- Data-driven KPIs such as time-to-value and client success metrics.
- Multiplier hires: versatile professionals who boost team adoption and client outcomes (GoConsensus).
Leon adds, “As APAC scales global products, candidates with hybrid skill sets and multi-market experience will be the most impactful. Firms are looking for talent that can execute across borders and functions.”
Candidate FAQ – APAC Product & Pre-Sales
- Most in-demand roles: Product Managers (payments, embedded finance, digital assets), Solution Consultants, Pre-Sales Engineers, Sales professionals with technical fluency.
- Beyond headcount: Success measured by adoption, sales cycle, client growth, and collaboration.
- Hardest-to-find skills: Technical, domain, and commercial fluency – especially in digital assets, AI, and RegTech.
- How to stand out: Demonstrate tangible outcomes, cross-functional impact, and strategic influence.
- Most strategic markets: Singapore (regional HQ), Sydney (embedded finance & neobanking), Hong Kong/China (digital assets), ASEAN (payments, remittances) (Digital Defynd).
Further Compliance & Risk Intel & Support
If you’re considering a move in APAC fintech, now is the time to position yourself as a high-impact, cross-functional professional. For current market insights or strategic career advice, reach out to Leon. Understanding local nuances, measurable impact, and domain fluency is key to landing, and thriving in, roles that deliver tangible results, and our team have the business connections that can help.
APAC Team
Co-Founder & Head of APAC (Sales & Fintech Leadership)
Senior Consultant (Product, Pre-Sales, Solutions Consulting Specialist)
Head of Technology & Data Search (Technology, Data, and Product Specialist)
Senior Consultant (Legal Risk & Compliance Specialist)
