Infrastructure

Infrastructure is the spider’s web of networks, databases, servers, hardware, software and portable devices that holds up every modern business in finance and beyond. Just imagine the size of some global companies and the complex systems that hold them all together, allowing them to easily connect with people and do business across the globe within an instant…the mind boggles!

With client satisfaction, timely communications and transactions, security of information and ultimately profits relying on the smooth running of these myriad systems, it’s little wonder there are a vast amount of technology opportunities with infrastructure focuses to keep the business and finance world afloat.

Keeping everything running

In-house technology infrastructure analysts, infrastructure architects and systems engineers design, maintain and fix the operations, networks and frameworks that are used to connect people and processes within an organisation. They can form part of back office operations within a financial organisation.

These guys have to be speedy problem solvers to deal with any crashes and get systems up and running again as quickly as possible if something goes wrong. Systems also have to suit the overall business strategy, so as well as being technical whizzes with knowledge of different coding languages, infrastructure experts also have to be able to work well with business strategists and external technology consultants whenever there is a change in plan, or a shakeup such as a merger or acquisition which calls for changes to current networks and system.

Infrastructure managers lead the engineering teams and oversee projects and apply their extensive technical expertise to ensure they are implemented correctly and meet all requirements.

Infrastructure needs top techie brains

These roles are highly technical and the work is very fast paced…it’s a whole world away from the snoozing, almost endearingly grumpy IT assistants you may have encountered at school or in your weekend office job!  Think again on the size of the majority of businesses in the financial world… all with their own specific technologies and networks to master and spanning across global offices. There are a heck of a lot of bases to cover!

It’s safe to assume that if you have neither love for, nor love of technology, then is area isn’t going to be for you. If you struggle as much as your Grandma on Facebook when it comes to the techie side of life and don’t know your Python from your C++ then it’s time to explore other areas of finance – sharpish! If, however, you live and breathe technology and, crucially, have a technical degree, then this could be just the thing!

Salaries can be generous in technology infrastructure given the technical complexity of tasks and that little point that you are keeping the show running!