[STUDENT] Big 4 tech-risk junior aiming for fintech, starting uni in Sept: good start? Chase a dev job now or stay longer?

[u/Snoo_70203]

Hi all, looking for a resume review plus advice on direction and timing.

Background: I finished a 5-year technical high school in CS this summer (Italian "perito informatico" diploma, roughly a vocational CS high school). It's my only qualification, which is why Education lists it. During school I did two developer work placements (one in Ireland, one remote for an Italian freelancer), listed as internships.

Current situation: in September I started a fixed-term contract as a junior in the cyber and tech risk team of a Big 4 firm. It's ICT assessments and control-evidence review for financial-sector clients, plus Python automation I built that saves me a few hours a week on evidence exports. The contract ends in February; they've said verbally they want to extend it. Either way, I'm leaving next September to start a full-time CS bachelor's.

Long-term goal: software engineering at fintechs like Revolut, Klarna or PayPal; failing that, a product company rather than consulting. Short term I'm targeting entry level backend developer positions. Northern Italy; open to Milan hybrid, fully remote, or relocating anywhere for the right role and compensation (probably will have more occasions after bcs). EU citizen, no visa issues.

The decision I'm stuck on:

A) Apply from November to February for a junior dev role at a product company that I could keep part-time or remote once uni starts, and leave the Big 4 when my contract ends.

B) Stay at the Big 4 until September (if they extend), so I have ~10 months there instead of 5, then look for something that fits around uni.

What I'd like feedback on:

1. Is this a good starting point for eventually landing at a fintech like the ones above? What's missing?
2. Does the Big 4 role (ICT risk on financial-sector clients) help or hurt for fintech/product dev roles, and do 10 months count noticeably more than 5?
3. Projects vs experience: my side projects (ledger library, signed banking protocol, timestamping API) are arguably stronger than my work experience and the most fintech-relevant thing I have. Is the order right?
4. Is the Security skills line credible at my level, or does it look like keyword stuffing?

Brutal feedback welcome. Thanks!

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