Career Advice for a Financial Analyst

Financial analysts work through reports and financial information or prepare accounting reports for businesses. They research the markets, produce economic forecasts, and provide recommendations for future money management. Analysts can work for multiple companies as part of a financial consultancy or work for a business operating on analysis and forecasting for business management.

Quick Links

How to Become a Financial Analyst

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Financial Analyst

Should you wish to work as a Financial Analyst you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Financial Analyst

  • 2 or 3 A Levels
  • Degree in Economics, Accountancy or similar
  • Financial degree apprenticeship

Key Responsibilities for a Financial Analyst

  • Compiling financial reports and other business data
  • Analysing information to determine trends and possible issues
  • Researching financial market conditions
  • Preparing account and financial reports
  • Compiling projections based on market and business data
  • Evaluating capital and assets
  • Establishing profit plans and projections
  • Preparing financial models
  • Making forecasts and providing recommendations
  • Reporting findings to senior management

What to expect as a Financial Analyst

Financial analysts prepare accounting and financial reports based on business data and market forecasts. You will be working with large amounts of data and providing recommendations for financial goals. To be successful, you will need excellent knowledge of business finance and see trends in the market.

Recommended Financial Analyst Jobs

Loading Jobs...

How to get Financial Analyst Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Financial Analyst job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Financial Analyst application. If you have not held a Financial Analyst position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Financial Analyst role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Financial Analyst CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Financial Analyst application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Financial Analyst in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Financial Analyst 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Financial Analyst and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Financial Analyst experience.

How to get Financial Analyst Experience

What does it take to be a Financial Analyst? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Financial Analyst jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Financial Analyst through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Financial Analyst Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Financial Analyst part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Financial Analyst or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Financial Analyst freelance work

If you have impressive Financial Analyst qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.