Check upcoming open days and book your place

Financial analysts help clients to make investment decisions based on research, so it’s a role with a lot of responsibilities. You’ll have to research and interpret economic data and present this to your clients. For this role, you’ll need high financial literacy, attention to detail and strong communication skills. 

Find financial analysis courses.

What does a financial analyst do? 

You’ll have a range of responsibilities which you might carry out daily, monthly, quarterly or annually depending on the task. Some of the tasks you’ll have to do include: 

• Using database software to organise information 
• Using analytical tools to interpret data 
• Building statistical and financial models 
• Making projections or forecasting 
• Making financial decision recommendations 
• Risk analysis 
• Presenting data to clients and colleagues 
• Keep up to date with economic news and worldwide events that could impact your business or clients. 

What’s it like to work as a financial analyst? 

It can be a very high-pressure role, as you’re making recommendations to clients for investment. You’ll have to work to tight deadlines, and you'll have to be able to explain complex financial concepts to clients who may not be as literate in the world of finance. 

You’ll usually be working in an office enivronment, in a team of other financial professionals. You’ll typically work around 40-hour weeks, but it may be necessary to work overtime to meet deadlines on some occasions. 

What skills do you need to be a financial analyst? 

You’ll need a range of skills to succeed as a financial analyst, including the following: 

• Analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Excellent communication 
• Numerical and accounting skills 
• Critical thinking 
• Pattern recognition skills 
• Competent with advanced software 
• Decision making skills 
• Financial literacy 
• Presentation and leadership skills 
• Ability to work to a deadline 

How much does a financial analyst earn? 

As a junior financial analyst, you can expect to earn between £28,000 and £33,000. With more experience, your salary could increase up to around £80,000. Financial analysts based in London tend to earn more than those based elsewhere in the UK.  

How to become a financial analyst 

There’s no set route into financial analysis, but it’s a fairly competitive field, so employers will prefer to see a good degree or academic background. 

Study a financial analysis degree 

The most obvious choice for an aspiring financial analyst, a degree in financial analysis will teach you the skills you’ll need to succeed in your chosen field. Typically, these degrees take three years to complete, or four years if you add a foundation year or year in industry. 

Find financial analysis courses.

Study a related undergraduate degree 

As well as studying financial analysis, you could opt to study a related subject such as economics, statistics, business, finance or accounting. Any one of these degrees will teach you a similar set of skills to a financial analysis degree and they’ll take the same amount of time to study as a financial analysis degree. 

Degree apprenticeship 

You may wish to get right into employment, and a degree apprenticeship allows you to do this. You’ll be working for an employer in a financial analysis environment whilst studying part-time at university. Your employer will pay you a salary as well as paying for your tuition. You can find Level 4, Level 6 or Level 7 apprenticeships. Level 4 is the equivalent of the first year of an undergraduate degree, Level 6 is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, and Level 7 is equivalent to a master’s degree. 

Postgraduate degrees 

A postgraduate degree isn’t required, but it can help you to stand out and it can also help you to further specialise. They take one year to complete full-time, or two years if you study part-time.