Financial analyst
Also called: FP&A analyst, Equity analyst
Studies financial data to value companies, plan budgets and guide investment decisions.
What the work is
Financial analysts help organisations and investors decide where money should go. In companies they build budgets and forecasts and analyse costs. In banks, broking firms and funds they study companies, build valuation models and recommend investments. Equity research, credit analysis and corporate finance are common specialisations.
Strong Excel and modelling skills, accounting knowledge and the CFA or an MBA in finance help most.
A typical week
- Build financial models in Excel
- Analyse company results and industry trends
- Prepare budgets, forecasts and variance reports
- Write research notes and present recommendations
It suits people who
- Like numbers, business and markets
- Are analytical and detail-minded
- Can explain their reasoning
Your path to get there
School (Class 8-10)
- Commerce with Maths, or Science with Maths
Class 11-12
- B.Com, BBA, BMS, Economics or B.TechCUET-UG and IPMAT
College or fresher
- Learn financial modelling and valuation in Excel
- Clear CFA Level I or take an MBA (Finance) through CAT or XAT
- Intern in a bank, broking firm or company finance team
Working or switching
- Accountants, engineers and analysts move in through CFA or an MBA
- Start with a skills refresh of 6 to 12 weeks: one short course and one TalentMeter assessment to show where you stand today.
- Use returnship and second-career programmes; many large employers in India run them for people back after a break.
- Explain the gap in one honest line on your CV and LinkedIn, and list what you did in it (caregiving, freelancing, courses, volunteering).
- Contract, part-time and freelance roles are a common way back in; they turn into full-time offers often.
Exams and certifications
| Name | What it is for | When |
|---|---|---|
| CFA Level I, II and III ↗ | Investment analysis qualification | Several windows a year |
| CAT, XAT, CMAT ↗ | MBA in finance | After graduation |
| NISM certifications ↗ | Securities market roles (required for some jobs) | Any time |
Exam names, eligibility and dates change. Always check the official website for this year's notice.
Job market
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