In the financial service industry, the most desired career is as a Financial Analyst. They work in a wide range of industries. It is one of the popular jobs because of some great benefits and high earning potential. Some of the popular activities of financial analysts are:
Gathering data
Organizing information
Analyzing historical results
Making forecasts and projections
Making recommendations and
Generating Excel models, presentations, and reports
They are generally from business, finance, or accounting majors backgrounds. Other than the academic background, they are numbers-driven individuals who are comfortable interpreting data.
Financial Analyst is also called
securities analyst
research analyst
investment analyst
equity analyst
rating analyst
What does a Financial Analyst Do?
Depending on the organization they work, their seniority, etc. financial analyst has many duties and responsibilities. They predict future expenditures to help in preparing budgets for new projects. They are expected to deliver regular reports using financial data and work together with the entire finance team.
Gather data and information to analyze. For example, stock price information, industry research, etc.
Evaluate current and historical data.
Organize information. To sort the numbers by data, or by adding formulas, using formatting style so that it is easy to read and understand.
Study economic and business trends.
Manage the organization’s assets successfully.
Provide decision-makers with the information they need to increase revenue.
Study a company’s financial statements to determine its value.
Prepare written reports.
Meet with investors to explain recommendations.
As part of their responsibilities, financial analysts work on budget, revenue, and cost modeling for corporates. They will research and analyze financial information so that the company can make good decisions, keep track of its finances.
In short financial analysts:
Gather data
Organize information
Analyze results
Make forecasts
Build Excel models
Make presentations
Give reports
Who can become Financial Analysts?
There are multiple skills that an employer looks for in a financial analyst. One important among them is to have analytical skills.
Expert-level analytical skills
Strategic thinking
Research Skills
Leadership Skills
Decision making
Attention to detail
Great presentation skills
Ability to influence and persuade
Knowledge of ERP systems and related technologies
Strong understanding of Sarbanes-Oxley
Excellent time management and organizational ability
Ability to multitask and meet constant deadlines
Willingness to work long hours, when necessary
Technology Knowledge
For financial analysts, technical skills are important. Many companies look for people who have strong Structured Query Language (SQL) knowledge. They also should know about other computer programs like Python, SAS, and R.
Mathematical skills
The financial analyst job is mainly focused on numbers. They should have a general knowledge of accounting. This may include-
accounting principles
standards and techniques
basic knowledge of accounting programs and
the mathematical formulas etc.
Organizational Skills
They should know soft skills, i.e. to be able to organize records, information, numbers, and financial data of an organization.
Analytical skills
This includes the ability to plan, prioritize and recognize financial problems.
Scope of Financial Analysts in India and Abroad
Financial analyst as a job position is considered one of the leading careers in India. According to reports, over 70,000 financial analyst jobs are available.
With the required qualifications individuals can work with the following clients, helping these companies make investment decisions
Financial institutions
Multinational banks
Public sector organizations e.g. Railways, corporate sector, etc.
Reserve Bank of India
Pension funds
Mutual funds
Industrial & Development Bank of India
Finance and leasing companies
Insurance companies
Salary of Financial Analyst in India
In India, the fresher salary (average) with less than a year’s experience is ₹313,149 PA. With 5 to 9 years of experience, the salary can increase to ₹574,432 PA. For people with 10 to 19 years of experience, the average salary is around ₹981,857 PA.
A career as a financial analyst abroad is a lucrative job with high earnings. They can work in finance companies like-
Wells Fargo Bank
Bank Of America
Technology Credit Union
National City Bank
PNC Bank
CitiMartgage.Inc
National Association
Also besides the above-mentioned corporations, financial analysts can work in stock exchange like:
NASDAQ
New York Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
Tokyo Stock Exchange
Tokyo Stock Exchange etc.
Job Profiles
In financial analysts also there are many sub-categories of job roles.
Qualification Required
To be a financial analyst, at the entry-level individuals need to qualify for a Bachelor's degree in business Administration or Finance. A Master’s degree in these specializations will help a great deal at the fresher’s level.
Top institutes offer Charter Financial Analysis courses. They can also pursue B.Com/M.Com or can go for MBA in finance. Some management institutes offer diploma courses in financial management. Some of the reputed institutes offering financial analysis are:
SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai
Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar
ICFAI Business School, Pune
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management, Mumbai
International Management Institute, New Delhi
ICFAI Business School, Bangalore
ICFAI Business School, Ahmedabad
ICFAI Business School, Chennai
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