Start your search to find your closest local or specialist agency
Reed's specialist financial services (FS) consultants secure you permanent and temporary staff across the financial services, banking, mortgages and actuarial markets. Our specialists are based strategically in financial centres across the UK, making us best placed to find your next hire, wherever you are.
First Floor, One Derby Square, Liverpool, Merseyside, L2 9QR
+ 62 other offices
Adecco provides support to candidates and employers on a temporary, permanent or contract basis; they recruit for a multitude of roles across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Suite 5, First Floor, Derby Square, Liverpool, Merseyside, L2 9QR
+ 57 other offices
Pay in Merseyside reflects a mix of high-volume banking operations and specialist advisory work, so rates vary across roles and boroughs. Entry-level banking and admin roles often sit around £22,000 to £28,000, with contact centre and customer operations typically £12 to £15 per hour on a temp basis. KYC and AML analysts tend to earn £30,000 to £40,000, with daily rates of £180 to £250 for contractors during remediation peaks. Financial analysts and management accountants are often paid £35,000 to £50,000, rising to £55,000 to £70,000 for senior analysts or finance managers in larger employers. Paraplanners in wealth management can earn between £30,000 and £45,000, while chartered financial planners often earn between £50,000 and £80,000, plus bonuses. Compliance managers and risk leads range from £45,000 to £70,000, depending on scope and FCA permissions. Typical recruitment fees for permanent hires run from 15% to 22% of base salary, with executive search using retained stages and a one-third model. Temp and contract margins reflect market demand, holiday pay, and AWR, so ask recruitment consultants for a clear breakdown of agency costs before signing off.
Recruiters and staffing agencies will look for A-level or degree entry for analyst and accounting pathways, with ACA, ACCA, or CIMA for finance roles. Wealth management firms value RQF Level 4 for advisers, with Level 6 or chartered status preferred for client-facing posts. Compliance and risk roles benefit from ICA, CISI, or specific AML certifications. Mortgage advisers need CeMAP. Payment and fintech teams value SQL or Python for data roles, plus product or project credentials such as PRINCE2 or Agile certifications, where relevant to operations oversight.
Liverpool city centre hosts professional services clusters in the business district around Moorfields and Old Hall Street, with strong rail links across Merseyrail. Wirral has insurance and back office hubs close to Birkenhead and the A41, while Sefton supports contact centres near retail parks and arterial roads. St Helens and Knowsley attract shared services and finance operations near the M62 corridor, which suits commuters from Warrington and Wigan. Proximity to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the port supports trade finance and logistics-related credit roles, which shape candidate pools across the north and south of the river.
Many local employers report a tight supply for AML, KYC, and quality assurance analysts during regulatory change. Strong demand for paraplanners and chartered advisers creates competition across private client firms. Credit risk, Treasury, and product control roles can be tough to fill outside Manchester, so agencies often widen searches across the North West. Pay compression at junior levels can slow attraction, while hybrid policies drive preference for city centre locations near Moorfields and Lime Street. Collaboration with financial services recruitment agencies helps balance speed with screening depth when compliance checks extend timelines.
Common roles include customer service advisor, personal banker, mortgage advisor, collections specialist, payments operations analyst, KYC analyst, paraplanner, financial planner, finance analyst, management accountant, credit risk analyst, Treasury analyst, compliance monitoring officer, and operations manager. Career paths often begin in contact centres or branch support, then move into specialist streams such as risk, product, or financial planning. Graduates rotate through FP and A, data insight, or audit, with senior moves into finance leadership, operations oversight, or regulated advice.
Most firms require clean references and DBS checks for sensitive posts, with tighter screening for client money or transaction-monitoring functions. SMCR shapes role design and accountability for senior managers and certified staff. Advisers must meet FCA fit and proper standards and maintain CPD. Data handling in payment operations must follow PCI DSS where card data is present, and GDPR applies across customer journeys. Recruitment agencies in this space factor in screening time when setting start dates, which helps employers plan onboarding.
Merseyside sees steady temperature requirements across customer operations, banking admin, and reconciliations, with spikes during change programmes or during peak trading. Contract roles cover KYC remediation, finance transformation, and system migrations, often on daily rates with hybrid working in the city centre. Permanent hiring covers stable lines in advice, finance, and compliance. Local recruiters help employers decide when to hire staff permanently and when to use contractors or temps to bridge gaps.
Retail banking, insurance services, wealth management, and payments make up much of the local job market, supported by accountancy and legal firms in the business district. Fintech start-ups cluster near the Baltic Triangle with product, operations, and data roles. Shared service centres and third-party administrators support volume operations in areas with strong commuter links. This mix suits agencies that can supply both high-volume teams and regulated specialists across Merseyside.
Regular pinch points include senior paraplanners, chartered financial planners with strong client books, credit risk modellers, product control analysts, and experienced AML investigators. Payments compliance and sanctions specialists can take time to secure. Working with financial services recruitment agencies that have mapped the North West candidate base shortens search time and improves retention by matching skills and culture fit.
Contingency recruitment works well for junior to mid-level roles and supports fast shortlists for interviews. Retained search is used for leadership roles or confidential replacements. Temp-to-perm options help test fit before committing, which can aid retention. Agree on service levels, rebates, and replacement terms upfront, and ask for market insight on pay rates to support offer decisions. Good recruitment agencies will share data on interview ratios, time-to-hire, and acceptance drivers, which can reduce agency costs over the year.
What salary does a KYC analyst earn in Merseyside?
Typical salaries range from £30,000 to £40,000, with higher rates for complex remediation or sanctions exposure.
How do local employers keep offers competitive?
Benchmark pay, confirm hybrid patterns, and move quickly from the second interview to an offer to reduce dropouts.
Do agencies cover both temporary and permanent roles?
Yes, most recruitment agencies cover temporary, permanent, and contract work in financial services.
What documents do candidates need for regulated advice roles?
Advisers need up-to-date statements of professional standing, RQF level credentials, references, and CPD records.
How can a jobseeker register with an agency in Merseyside?
Search for financial services recruitment agencies, submit a CV, confirm permissions, and agree on preferred roles and locations.
What are typical recruitment fees for permanent hires?
Many employment firms charge 15% to 22% of base salary, with executive search on a staged retainer.
Which areas attract the most finance roles locally?
Liverpool business district, parts of Wirral near good road links, and hubs along the M62 corridor see steady demand.
Are pay rates rising for contact centre roles?
Pay rates have trended upward for evening and weekend shifts, with premiums for experienced complaint handlers.
Do compliance roles require on-site working?
Many teams run hybrid models, with office days for training, calibration, and audits.
Can agencies help with retention after placement?
Yes, recruitment consultants can support onboarding check-ins, probation reviews, and pay benchmarking to reduce early attrition.