Rochester Business Journal · 16 Oct, 11:05 · Finance briefing

RBJ presents the 2026 Power List for Banking and Finance

The Rochester Business Journal has published its 2026 Power List, identifying the most influential figures currently shaping the banking and finance sector within the local region.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

The Rochester Business Journal has published its 2026 Power List, identifying the most influential figures currently shaping the banking and finance sector within the local region. This annual publication highlights executives and leaders who have demonstrated significant impact through strategic decision-making, financial stewardship, and industry innovation. The list serves as a benchmark for professional achievement, recognising individuals who have driven growth and stability in a complex economic environment. For professionals in the region, it offers insight into the current hierarchy of influence and the specific contributions valued by the business community this year.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This publication signals which leadership qualities and strategic outcomes are currently rewarded in your sector. To advance, you must align your career trajectory with the demonstrated success of these recognised leaders. Focus on developing advanced financial modelling capabilities and robust risk management strategies, as these remain critical in volatile markets. Analyse the common threads among the listed professionals to identify emerging skill gaps in your own profile. Networking with these individuals should be a priority; seek mentorship opportunities to understand their decision-making frameworks. A smart professional will use this list to benchmark their own performance, ensuring their strategic contributions are visible and quantifiable. Prioritise continuous learning in regulatory compliance and digital transformation, as these areas increasingly define executive value in modern banking environments.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, AI in Banking, Financial Modeling and Risk Management Strategies — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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to benefit.

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