Returning to financial services after a career detour into teaching, looking for advice

Hi everyone, I’d appreciate some perspective from people who working in Australian financial services, particularly anyone who has hired or made a similar career transition.

I have around six years of asset management experience in my home country, spanning international investment operations and credit analysis. My international operations work included products with underlying investments in Australia, alongside other markets. I later moved into a role with more senior responsibilities supporting portfolio managers with research. I hold a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Finance from an Australian university.

Following significant pay cuts and consolidation in the industry back home, I decided to return to Australia. I completed a teaching qualification and subsequently worked as a secondary school teacher. While studying, I also looked for part-time finance work, but found it difficult to secure an opportunity with my student visa. I’m now a PR with unrestricted work rights.

That experience changed what I’m looking for in a career. I place more value on stability and long-term development, and I’m mainly targeting operations, client services, investment/adviser support and financial planning support roles.

I’m comfortable taking a step back in seniority to build local industry experience. Some initial screening feedback, though, has focused on whether I’m overqualified, why I moved into teaching, and why I now want a middle- or back-office role.

I’d be grateful for any thoughts on a few things:

1. Does this direction make sense given my background, or would you suggest narrowing my focus?

2. How would you address those screening concerns while showing that this is a considered, long-term career choice?

3. If you’ve returned to finance after a career detour, what helped you get back in?

4. Which practical skills or areas of Australian industry knowledge would be most useful to build for the roles I’m targeting?

Thanks for reading. I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences you’re comfortable sharing. :)