We sat down with Christian Kahl, former Financial Engineer at Commerzbank and now SVP at FINCAD (now Numerix), to talk about career shifts, capital markets, and what it’s really like moving from banking to FinTech.
Did you know early on that you wanted to move into FinTech?
Not at all. At first, I didn’t even realise FinTech was the direction I wanted to go in. But over time, I started to see more exciting opportunities emerging in the space. I’ve always been driven by learning and growth, and FinTech offered both. I also enjoyed being close to clients — and I knew that shifting into FinTech would open up access to the full spectrum of capital markets firms.
Did you do much research before making the move?
Looking back — not enough. At the time, I thought I had done plenty of research. But after eight years in the industry, I realise I had barely scratched the surface. I probably only understood about 10% of the FinTech ecosystem before I joined. That said, moving into a new space is always an opportunity to learn, and that’s exactly what I wanted.
How did you find the role at FINCAD?
I was recruited through a headhunter. Ironically, if I had been looking at my own CV back then, I might’ve hesitated to make the hire. My experience was very technical, and I had no background in software companies. But that’s the thing — mindset and drive matter more than ticking every box.
What preparation did you do to succeed at a smaller firm like FINCAD?
Coming from a big institution, you might expect a big shift. But honestly, it didn’t feel like that. Trading floors are often made up of small, focused teams — so in many ways, it felt similar. What carried over most was the ability to deliver under pressure.
What’s the biggest difference between Commerzbank and FINCAD?
It comes down to how revenue is generated. In a sell-side front office role, it’s all about trading revenue. In FinTech, it’s about recurring software revenue — which drives the company’s valuation. At a FinTech company, the focus is on building and scaling software efficiently. That shift in mindset makes all the difference.
