So you want to become a financial analyst?

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These professionals track stocks, bonds, equities, and other financial instruments and make recommendations based on their research. They often work for banks, investment houses, stock brokerages, insurance agencies, or similar institutions. If you prioritize education, you can create a lucrative career in this industry, particularly if you enjoy high-risk, high-reward situations.

Learning how to become a financial analyst is the first step toward building that future. Although you can take many routes to a job in financial analysis, you'll enjoy more success if you know what potential employers will look for and how they choose the best candidates for open positions.

Financial Analyst Jobs

What Does a Financial Analyst Do?

Responsibilities

A financial analyst job description will vary depending on the employer. For instance, insurance companies have different needs than an investment bank. Some financial analysts make recommendations for private, in-house funds. In other words, your buying and selling suggestions are based on your employer's potential gains from those activities, and may deal with stocks, bonds, or other securities. However, financial analysts can also work for publications and businesses that make public recommendations.

Outside of investments, some financial analysts make observations and recommendations for a company's solvency. By analyzing financial documents and the current market, the analyst can help the business make critical decisions in terms of merchandising, budgeting, and forecasting.

Some of your key responsibilities as an investment financial analyst may include:

Reading major publications (such as the Wall Street Journal) to gather information about the current economic climate
Understanding and tracking both the macro- and micro-economy
Creating buy-side or sell-side recommendations for investments (e.g. to buy, strong buy, sell, strong sell, or hold)
Meeting with C-level executives and management teams to discuss investment strategies
Generating revenue by facilitating trades
Seeking information from third parties about the health or future of an investment vehicle
Executing trades on behalf of the employer or third parties, depending on the position
Inventing creative and lucrative approaches to buy-sell strategies
Becoming an expert on a particular sector or industry for investment purposes

Financial analysts who advise major corporations, nonprofits, and other entities have a different set of job responsibilities, which might involve:

Maximizing the cost of operations for a firm by analyzing the market and the business's needs
Maintaining extensive databases on a company's financial records for fast visualization and comparison
Identifying areas where the firm could save money or generate additional profit
Creating detailed financial models for analysis and comparison
Preparing financial reports for executives and stockholders
Seeking trends in the market and moving to capitalize on them
Coordinating with a firm's finance department or finance consultant to ensure cooperation
Comparing forecasted financial reports with actual reports to locate inconsistencies

Work Environment

Financial analysts bear tremendous responsibility for the financial performance of an investment or corporate firm. Consequently, this is a high-stress job that requires fast decision making and utmost confidence. Most financial analysts work in typical corporate offices. They often spend considerable time on the phone calling experts, other analysts, and prospective trading partners.

Some financial analysts also travel to meet with investment bankers, C-level executives, and other professionals in the industry. Many analysts live in major cities, such as New York City and Chicago, because they can find jobs in greater abundance. While some analysts telecommute or work freelancing positions, this is far less common.

Schedule

Approximately one-third of financial analysts work more than 40 hours every week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Additionally, the BLS reports that many analysts must take their work home with them, often to research information and data that can help them on subsequent business days.

What Qualifications Are Required to Be a Financial Analyst?

Education

A financial analyst needs a minimum of a bachelor's degree — preferably in a finance-related major, such as accounting, statistics, or economics. Analysts who want to enjoy greater opportunities for jobs and salaries might consider pursuing a master's degree in finance or a Master's of Business Administration (MBA). Advanced education makes these professionals more appealing to potential employers.

Additionally, many employers only hire financial analysts who have certifications from the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute. There are several programs designed to prepare analysts for the challenges they will face in the workplace. Analysts who plan to work in securities can also take their Series 7 and Series 63 exams to ensure they are prepared for any available position.

Experience

Many financial analysts find employment as soon as they graduate from an MBA or CFA program. According to Bloomberg, about 16 percent of managing directors at banks hold MBA degrees, while only 7 percent have CFA designations. The right educational path will depend on the job you intend to pursue.

However, you shouldn't need any experience outside of your education. As you gain traction in the industry, you'll enjoy increased salary potential, and you might get the chance to move up the corporate ladder, whether you have your eye on a coveted consultancy position or the C-suite.

According to Career Builder research, 25 percent of financial analysts have between six and 10 years of experience under their belts, while only 8 percent have between zero and two years of experience.

Skills

Financial analysts need a wide range of skill sets to compete effectively in this industry. They might include:

Financial modeling: Financial analysts must represent finance issues in modeling form, such as through the Sortino Ratio or similar models.
Financial analysis: Most analysts are tasked with breaking down complex financial issues into simpler components to better understand how they interrelate.
Data analysis: Much of this profession has moved into digital data, which means analysts must know how to read and interpret copious amounts of data, then distill it into actionable conclusions.
Marketing skills: A financial analyst must know how to convince others to follow his or her recommendations, whether they're made to the CFO of an organization or a group of investment bankers.
ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems: Financial analysts have to use ERPs for managing and automating finance-related tasks on the back end of a business.
Strategic thinking: Many financial analysts have to think through complex problems or situations and derive creative solutions for maximizing profit and improving market share.
Decision-making: A financial analyst often serves as the decision-maker in a firm for buying, selling, and holding securities, as well as serving a company's finances.
Math skills: Financial analysts must think quickly on their feet, which often means performing complex equations in their heads or calculating extensive financial projections on paper.
Attention to detail: If a financial analyst makes a mistake, he or she can lose significant money for his or her employer. Consequently, all financial analysts have to pay attention to the smallest details in financial reports and models.

Salary Expectations

Annual average salary for a Financial Analyst is $89,500.

However, the average salary potential varies depending on the specific job a financial analyst holds. For instance, those in securities, commodities, and related pursuits enjoy median wages of $94,450, while an annual average for a Insurance Analyst is $83,000.

Some financial analysts (such as those who work as fund managers) work largely by commission. They earn a portion of a fund's returns, which means their salaries depend on their ability to perform well in the market.

Typically a Financial Analyst earns between $50,000 and $180,000 (factors such as company size and industry play a role in determining an individual’s pay).

Job Outlook for Financial Analysts

Projected Growth

The BLS predicts that the financial analyst career will enjoy much faster growth than average, expanding by 12 percent through 2024. The complexity in the industry combined with the demand for finance experts will fuel this growth as companies and investment firms create new positions for these professionals and expand their finance departments.

In total, the BLS estimates that the U.S. market will add more than 32,000 jobs for financial analysts over the next decade, and the current job availability falls at around 277,000. This represents significant opportunities for recent graduates or prospective analysts, as well as for seasoned professionals.

Career Trajectory

A financial analyst's future depends largely on his or her ambitions. Some analysts continue to work the same jobs for their entire careers, managing funds or selling trading opportunities on the sell-side. Others rise to the C-suite, becoming chief financial officers, chief operating officers, or controllers. They also sometimes manage finance departments in major corporations, directing activities like buying and selling assets, creating financial forecasts, and making strategic investments.

Financial analysts can also find career opportunities in consulting. This broadens their income opportunities and allows them to work for themselves rather than for other people. They might consult with firms on a project basis or maintain full-time commitments, depending on the situation.

A career as a financial analyst offers financial security, as well as an exciting opportunity to shape the finance industry. If you're thinking about this career for your future, obtain the necessary education and start searching for lucrative financial analyst jobs.