Finance Jobs in Denver: How to Find Them and Get the Offer

Historically, finance has been seen as an East Coast industry. For decades, New York City has served as the epicenter of American banking and investment activity. While the Big Apple remains the country’s largest financial hub, several other cities are growing their own financial services sectors. Plenty of current and aspiring finance professionals now look west of Wall Street to advance their careers. In terms of employment opportunities in finance, few places can compare to Denver, Colorado.

At the state level, Colorado is an appealing destination for financial firms. A friendly tax structure has attracted giants such as U.S. Bank, Charles Schwab, and Wells Fargo. Though Denver is more expensive than some other parts of the state, doing business in the Mile High City costs a lot less than in New York or San Francisco.

Compared to those hubs, staffing in Denver can seem like a bargain, with lower housing prices translating to more reasonable salaries. Though Colorado finance professionals earn a great living, their salaries stretch much farther than those of colleagues in America’s priciest places.

With this cost calculus in mind, financial companies both large and small are quickly expanding their Denver operations. In 2019 alone, Fidelity, Bank of America, and Partners Group announced plans to add hundreds of new workers to their respective Denver teams. Several fintech disruptors are also building out their Denver strongholds, including RobinHood and Gusto.

As if these opportunities weren’t enticing enough, Denver is consistently rated as one of America’s best places to live. Offering the cultural appeal of a major city and an unmatched array of outdoor adventures, Denver can make other financial hubs seem distinctly second-rate.

If you’re a financial services professional — or would like to become one — Denver may seem like the perfect place to further your career, but how can you find openings in the city’s financial sector? More importantly, how can you get an edge on the competition and actually get hired? Those questions are exactly what this article is about.

First, we’ll describe Denver’s financial sector in more detail, covering emerging opportunities and the workforce you’ll be up against. Then, we’ll give you some specific tips for finding open finance positions in the Denver area, and some concrete advice for landing a great gig. By the time this article is over, you’ll be fully prepared to start your search.

Ready for essential insights about getting a job in Denver’s flourishing finance sector? You won’t want to miss what we have to share.

If you’re a financial services professional — or would like to become one — Denver may seem like the perfect place to further your career, but how can you find openings in the city’s financial sector? More importantly, how can you get an edge on the competition and actually get hired? Those questions are exactly what this article is about.

First, we’ll describe Denver’s financial sector in more detail, covering emerging opportunities and the workforce you’ll be up against. Then, we’ll give you some specific tips for finding open finance positions in the Denver area, and some concrete advice for landing a great gig. By the time this article is over, you’ll be fully prepared to start your search.

Ready for essential insights about getting a job in Denver’s flourishing finance sector? You won’t want to miss what we have to share.

For some time, the Metro Denver area has had a significant financial services presence: The region is home to roughly 14,800 companies in the finance sector, some with deep roots in the Mile-high City and Colorado more generally. But recent years have brought intense and sustained growth to the area, with thousands of new finance jobs added since the depths of the Great Recessions.

Just consider this striking set of statistics: In November of 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 90,900 finance workers in the Denver metropolitan statistical area. By November of 2019, the agency estimated that there were 114,500. That surge represents an increase of nearly 26 percent in financial services employment in less than a decade.

Furthermore, Denver’s financial services sector is remarkably diversified: Companies specializing in banking, investments, and insurance have all helped propel employment growth. Accordingly, finance professionals with varied interests and experience can find promising employers.

In addition to Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, and Bank of America, Denver’s banking industry includes a number of other notable players, such as Alpine Bank and CoBank. Charles Schwab and Fidelity are key companies in the local investment scene. The venerable Western Union Company has been based in Denver for over 150 years, and recently built a new headquarters to accommodate a local workforce of 1,300.

For those more inclined to the startup lifestyle, Denver is also an emerging hub for the fintech sector. Given the city’s growing reputation as a major tech hotbed, this exciting field is a natural fit for Denver’s talent base. The arrival of investing app RobinHood is the latest indication of Denver’s promising fintech future: The company intends to add nearly 800 new positions over the next few years.

Does all this opportunity sound incredibly appealing? Unfortunately, plenty of other people feel the same. Denver’s population has increased by leaps and bounds as of late, making it one of America’s fastest-growing cities. There are plenty of recent arrivals looking for good jobs, not to mention candidates who still live elsewhere but are eager to relocate.

Additionally, many universities and colleges are located either in and around Denver. In particular, Colorado’s public university system produces tens of thousands of new grads each year. As a result, and thanks to well-educated transplants, Denver is one of the country’s best educated cities. As you compete for local finance positions, therefore, you can bet your competition will have impressive educational credentials.

By the same token, don’t let a strong local workforce scare you away. With the right approach, you’ll have a great shot at earning a place of your own within Denver’s growing financial sector. Before you start applying, however, you’ll need to know how to identify appealing openings – preferably ahead of other candidates.

If you’re seeking out opportunities in Denver’s finance sector, you’ll need to be strategic in conducting your search. Here are some helpful tips for approaching the process in the most productive way possible.

The financial services sector encompasses a wide range of activities, some of which have relatively little to do with each other. As we noted earlier, Denver is home to companies operating in several distinct areas of the financial world. Accordingly, you’ll need to structure your search to reflect your interests, skills, and experience. If you indiscriminately apply to every open finance opportunity, you could waste precious time and effort.

Are you inclined to the brass tax analysis involved in banking services? Do you have the impeccable credentials and competitive fire required for roles in investment services? This kind of question should guide your search, but also determine how you market yourself as a candidate. Don’t just be someone interested in finance generally; be a focused professional attracted to specific areas and roles within the broader industry.

Denver’s population may be growing quickly, but the city is still quite small compared to America’s other financial centers. With roughly 716,500 residents according to the latest Census data, the city’s scale lends itself to personal connections. If you know someone in Denver’s financial sector, they may be a key conduit to professional opportunities – or at least some helpful introductions.

That being said, networking is a subtle art, especially in a competitive realm such as finance. You want to build substantive connections, not just have a series of transactional encounters.

If someone you know works in Denver’s financial industry, ask for an opportunity to meet and learn about their work. Make the goals and time frame clear, so they know they’re not in for an endless interview, and prepare informed questions in advance. You’ll leave with helpful information, a strengthened relationship, and possibly an ally in your job search.

Moreover, if you meet someone who might be able to help you in your hunt, ask them if they would mind you reaching out at a later date. This conversation primes them for later conversations, so there’s continuity between your first encounter and subsequent contact.

LinkedIn is obviously a crucial tool in the job hunter’s arsenal, as well as a means for financial firms to engage with qualified candidates. By taking some time to make your LinkedIn as polished as possible, you can make a favorable digital impression in Denver’s financial world.

First and foremost, too many job seekers neglect to complete their headline and summary sections or fill them in with generic, forgettable content. Make an effort to make yours impressive and distinctive. If you’re hoping to break into finance from a related field, these sections are a great way to frame your experience in terms of your financial acumen.

Additionally, you should engage with finance-related content and conversations on the platform. Doing so is a great way to demonstrate your facility with finance concepts, but also to strengthen existing connections.

We all know the pain of disorganized job search sites. You scroll endlessly through job listings that may or may not reflect your aspirations. Some postings are in the wrong city, while others are months old. Using these platforms can add hours to your search because you’ll need to shift through lots of irrelevant junk to find a few interesting options.

Joblist makes it easy to avoid these frustrations. Our platform uses AI and other advanced algorithms to curate listings from an array of job boards, so you’ll never miss the perfect possibility. To save you time, our search filters let you target specific cities, industries, and professions that interest you. You can even sign up for email alerts, so we’ll let you know immediately when a new listing matches your search criteria.

Once you find great opportunities in Denver’s finance industry, you’ll need to present yourself in the best possible light to beat out other candidates. Here are a few tips to help you make a powerful impression on hiring managers across the Mile High City.

As we’ve discussed, there’s a lot to like about a finance career in Denver, but companies aren’t interested in your broader aspirations. They want to see your specific interest in advancing their goals. In order to make a case for how you’ll contribute, you’ll need to form a detailed understanding of their operations, including the nature of their services and investment positions.

Thankfully, financial entities regularly make information about their strategy and assets public, either in public disclosures or in reports to investors. If you don’t understand some aspect of the firm’s work or portfolio, research the subject in more detail. Doing this homework in advance will boost your confidence and show a hiring manager how serious you are.

Finance has a reputation for cold, cutthroat competition, but much of the field revolves around interpersonal skills. From dealing with clients or investors to collaborating with colleagues, success in finance demands an array of “soft skills.”

Moreover, the people evaluating your application are looking for a team member they can rely on. If you’re personable, humble, and self-aware, you’ll probably strike them as a welcome addition to their staff. Don’t be afraid to be authentic and human. If you landed an interview, they probably believe you’re smart already.

More than most fields, finance requires a working knowledge of major domestic and international developments. Accordingly, firms may test your knowledge of current events in interviews. Do yourself a favor and study up on the top political and economic stories unfolding around the time of your interview. Even if you’re usually tuned into U.S. news, broaden your typical repertoire to include international stories.

More specifically, be sure to learn about developments in places or industries in which the company has a vested interest. Even if you aren’t explicitly quizzed, you might have an opportunity to share an impressive factoid or two.

Most finance professionals are all too familiar with certain software applications. Spend any time in the field, and you’re bound to build lots of Excel spreadsheets, but if you’re transitioning in from another industry, or it's simply been a while, make an effort to get up to speed in any applications you’re likely to use in the position in question. YouTube tutorials are a great place to start, and you can find free online skills assessments to make sure you’re up to snuff.

Finance and tech are continually converging, especially as AI becomes integral to an increasing number of financial activities. Particularly in Denver’s fintech scene, coding and data science skills can set you apart from applicants with a pure focus on finance. Some of these capabilities can be mastered in a brief certification course, or via a brief coding boot camp. The time and money invested in these programs could be a worthy investment, helping your resume catch the eye of recruiters and earn the respect of hiring managers.

We hope the information and advice we’ve offered here help you hunt down a great position in Denver’s thriving finance industry. Sure, the competition will be considerable, and you may need to persevere through some uncertainty and disappointment. As Denver’s profile increases in the world of American finance, new opportunities will abound as well. If you apply the tips included in this article, you’ll have a considerable edge on the other candidates out there.

If you’ve enjoyed this article, we’d love to support your job search in other ways as well. At Joblist, we aim to make finding a new position as painless as possible, saving you valuable time along your job search journey. Check out our listings today and see how our platform can help you actualize your professional ambitions.