Finance / Banking jobs for non Finnish speaker [Helsinki]

[dbrit]

Hi all,

I'm planning on moving to Helsinki with my Finnish girlfriend after both spending the past 7 years in the UK (where I'm from). I have spent the last 6 years working for a large U.S commercial bank in various roles such as operations, due diligence, and most recently as an Account Manager. I do have a University education, but it's in a totally unrelated field.

So, I'm wondering if there's ANY possibility of finding a similar role in Helsinki? Bearing in mind that I have no formal education in this field, only experience........ and unfortunately no Finnish language skills!

What do you think?

[wolf80]

Short answer: No Finnish skill = no chance. Finnish skills at a professional level = very small chance.

Sorry to say, but without the language it is almost impossible finding a job at a professional level outside of IT at the moment. With the current ecomomy you have at least a hundred a hundred Finnish applicants for almost any job offer you can find.

Where in Finland are you moving to?

[Rosamunda]

If the bank you are currently working for in London has a Finnish subsidiary, then I suggest you ask the same questions there. Find an HR contact person and send them an email. I think there are possibly a few very niche jobs available even for non-Finnish speaking candidates but you would have to have some unique experience or expertise and a lot of luck.

You could also try PwC, KPMG, EY and Accenture - they all have big offices in Helsinki.

As far as the big corporations go, a lot of the finance work is done in shared service centres in the Baltics these days. I think UPM still has its finance operations in Finland but they are based in Tampere.

Within the banking and insurance sector, Swedish is as much an asset as English: most of the big Nordic players are Swedish. Finnish would be needed for any customer-interface job though.

[leisl]

If you can get a direct transfer. Then maybe. If not, there are jobs you could do. But you will never get them. Because someone else will have more skills than you. (Finnish.)

What is your degree in. Maybe you could do a masters in English. While learning Finnish. That will easily take care of your first four years.

[dbrit]

Thanks everyone for your input, seems like my chances are slim at best.

Unfortunately my firm doesn't have any presence in Finland, otherwise I would absolutely try for a transfer. I know that a number of other banks do have offices in Helsinki, but I'm sure there would be qualified people locally to fill those positions. Anyway I'll still give it a shot on the off chance that my experience could get me an interview at least.

[rinso]

Anyway I'll still give it a shot on the off chance that my experience could get me an interview at least.

Your best bet is to get an introduction through your girlfriends family. If you can get a foot in the door that way, at least you can present yourself.

[anonfinn]

deleted

[Pursuivant]

There are niche jobs, but it kind of depends in what kind of a niche you are now, and if you have "transferrable skills" or experience that fits another niche if your niche is unobtainable. Lets say you won't be getting a floor job, but "upstairs" where the commoners don't bring the sand in the foyer theres definitely chances. Networking, as said, is one of the keys in Finland. So, there are possibilities... probabilities then again... you're the one with the maths

[anonfinn]

deleted

[tjawatts]

If you have any experience in compliance then there are probably loads of jobs at the moment.

It is possible to get a job in a bank (I did). But as said it probably wouldnt be client facing.

T