In recent years, advances in technology have created new opportunities across the financial services industry. For example, quantitative analysis, data science, and machine learning are just a few specialty areas that did not exist in finance a few short years ago. It is the professional who embraces these hiring trends – especially in regards to the latest technologies – who will have the most marketable skills.

“In an effort to streamline their processes and become more electronic, many employers are turning to tech savvy professionals to help their firm keep up-to-date with technological innovations,” says Ben Hartman, a Director within The Execu|Search Group’s Financial Services division. “This is something that top talent has recognized in recent years. While general excel and tech skills have always been in-demand, finance professionals really need to take these skills to the next level to be competitive in today’s market.”

Continue reading to learn more about the advanced excel and tech skills that will make you stand out against other finance professionals:

Advanced Excel Skills

While most financial professionals know how to use the standard functions in Excel, those needing to take a deeper dive into the data should possess more advanced knowledge of the program. If you want to take your career to the next level, knowing how to build macros, utilize the VLOOKUP function, and create a data model is key.

Visual Basic (VBA)

As finance and technology become inextricably linked, the demand for finance professionals with basic programming skills is at an all-time high. Since Visual Basic is a programming language that is often used to manipulate data – particularly within Excel – this is an excel skill that can set you apart from your competition.

Coding Languages

With firms utilizing data and algorithms to make more strategic decisions, advanced coding is becoming an increasingly sought-after skillset. Since there is currently a shortage of experienced finance professionals who possess this knowledge, many employers are turning to the tech industry to secure this skillset for their organization. To get a leg up on your increased competition, make the effort to familiarize yourself with coding languages such as Python, SQL, and C++.