Financial Analyst

Career Overview

Financial analysts research financial information and market trends to help businesses and individuals make informed financial and investment decisions. They analyze financial statements, investments, markets, and economic conditions; evaluate risk and performance; and prepare reports and recommendations.

Education

A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, business, mathematics, statistics, or a related field is typically required. Some financial analysts pursue professional certifications or graduate degrees to advance into specialized or senior roles.

Future Outlook

Financial analysts should continue to be needed as organizations and investors require professionals who can evaluate financial data, identify investment opportunities, assess risk, and interpret increasingly complex markets. Growing volumes of financial data, emerging markets, financial technology, and demand for evidence-based financial decisions are expected to support opportunities in this career. Current projections indicate employment growth faster than the average for all occupations.

Work Environment

Financial analysts typically work in professional office environments within financial services, investment firms, banks, insurance companies, corporations, and other organizations. They spend much of their time analyzing data, preparing reports, researching markets, and communicating financial recommendations. Most work full time, and some roles involve additional hours during important deadlines or periods of market activity.

Recommended High School Courses

Business
Public Speaking
Finance
Economics
Accounting
Computer Applications
Sociology
Statistics

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Schools

Abilene Christian Univers...

Adelphi University

Alabama State University

Albion College

Alfred State College

Alfred University

Alvernia University

American Intercontinental...

American International Co...

American University

Angelo State University

Appalachian State Univers...

Arcadia University

Arizona State University

Arkansas Tech University

Asbury University

Assumption College

Augustana University

Ave Maria University

Azusa Pacific University

Babson College

Baker College Online

Bard College

Barry University

Baruch College (cuny)

Baylor University

Bellevue University

Belmont University

Bemidji State University

Bentley University

Berea College

Berkeley College Online

Berkeley College- Nyc Mid...

Bethel University

Bethel University (indian...

Birmingham Southern Colle...

Bob Jones University

Boston College

Boston University

Bowling Green State Unive...

Bradley University

Brenau University

Brigham Young University

Bryan College

Cal Poly Pomona

California Lutheran Unive...

Canisius College

Christopher Newport Unive...

City University Of Seattl...

Claremont Mckenna College

Coastal Carolina Universi...

Desales University

Drexel University

East Carolina University

East Stroudsburg Universi...

East Tennessee State Univ...

Eastern Illinois Universi...

Eastern Michigan Universi...

Eastern Washington Univer...

Elizabethtown College

Elon University

Embry-riddle Aeronautical...

Evangel University

Everett Community College

Fairfield University

Fairleigh Dickinson Unive...

Fairmont State University

Faulkner University

Fayetteville State Univer...

Ferris State University

Flagler College

Florida Atlantic Universi...

Florida Gulf Coast Univer...

Florida Institute Of Tech...

Florida International Uni...

Florida State College At...

Florida State University

Framingham State Universi...

Georgetown University

Lake Forest College

Lehigh University

New York University

Ohio State University-mai...

Southern Methodist Univer...

Suny Plattsburgh

Trinity University- San A...

Tulane University

University Of California-...

University Of Georgia

University Of Illinois At...

University Of Notre Dame

University Of Pennsylvani...

University Of Southern Ca...

University Of Texas- Aust...

University Of Wisconsin-...

Villanova University

Wake Forest University

Washington University- St...

Algoma University- Bra...

Algoma University- Sau...

Assiniboine Community...

Athabasca University

Bishop's University

Capilano University- L...

Cdi College- Anjou Cam...

Cdi College- Laval Cam...

Cdi College- Longueuil...

Cdi College- Montreal...

Cdi College- North Yor...

Cdi College- Pointe-cl...

Cdi College- Scarborou...

Credit Institute Of Ca...

Douglas College- Coqui...

Douglas College- New W...

Fanshawe College- Lond...

George Brown College-...

King's University Coll...

Lakehead University- O...

Lakehead University- T...

Macewan University- Ci...

St. Clair College

Trinity Western Univer...

Université Laval

Université Sainte-anne

University Canada West

York University- Keele...

York University- Glendon...

Potential Scholarships

5 Strong Scholarship

Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:

Low End:

$62,000.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$101,000.00 /yr

High End:

$181,000.00 /yr

Related Careers

Market Research Analyst

Training & Development Specialist

Personal Financial Advisor

Training & Development Specialist

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.