A rise in business and finance industries demand the advancement of professionals in financial markets. There is a steady increase in jobs in the financial sector. The total revenue in the Finance segment in the USA is expected to grow at CAGR 7.10% in 2022-2026.
Now is the right time to tap into the field of financial analytics. Someone with the right skills and degrees might still be unsure about the demands of a career as a financial analyst. Read on to learn more about choosing the best financial analysis course suited to your needs.
Who is a Financial Analyst?
A financial analyst assesses their company’s performance based on financial expenditure, tools, assets and other related fields. They are crucial in maintaining the company’s positive financial exposure and hence, structuring financial planning. To do so, they predict future financial trends and push the company’s financial growth into the model prepared to avoid incurring losses.
What does a Financial Analyst do?
While it may sound easy, a financial analyst’s role is more than just predicting financial trends and generating reports. Here is a broad (and not exhaustive) list of the work of a financial analyst:
- Gathering past data on the financial trends through reports/ initial stakeholder meetings.
- Generating current financial reports.
- Organising the information and looking for loopholes, if any.
- Analysing any previously erroneous loss and implementing a new plan henceforth.
- Making newer predictions and forecasts of the current trends of the Finance industry.
- Meetings with stakeholders and acquainting them with the company's new financial model.
Steps to become a Financial Analyst
Once acquainted with the job role, a candidate needs to straighten their goals by getting proper financial analyst training. Here are some relevant ways through which one can learn financial analysis:
Get a relevant Bachelor’s degree
A relevant bachelor’s degree is the first step towards your goal of making a career as a financial analyst. Fields like Economics and Statistics are good, but a more direct and targeted bachelor’s in Finance (with specialisations as needed) gives a better edge.
Internships and experience-building
While pursuing the degree, students need to participate in internships that provide job-like exposure and give an idea about the Finance industry. The internships and other related academic co-curricular activities simultaneously provide experience and look great on your resume.
Increase your skills: Higher studies and certifications
In addition to a bachelor’s degree and certifications, many aspirants have to clear national examinations like the CFA or prove their mettle in extremely competitive job examinations and interviews. It is hence always a good option to obtain a master’s degree or be certified in other diploma courses before you sit for examinations. This helps one learn financial analysis deeply and prepares them better for any upcoming opportunities. If you are unsure about a master’s degree, online short-term courses are a great way to begin higher studies.
What should a good Financial Analyst course include?
With the prerequisites and other skills ensured, it is time to choose a course best fitted for financial analyst training. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind while choosing a good financial analyst course:
Connected to the Industry
Any good financial analysis course should provide adequate internship opportunities or otherwise pave the way for entering into the job market or has connections to the job market. Placements through such courses should be an integral part of its outreach. Therefore, teaching students job-relevant skills should be a part of the curriculum.
Comprehensive learning
The content structure of the course should include a 360-degree worldview by covering the basics and specialised papers on Finance. It should be practical and allow space for theory learning blended with a practical application via a student’s critical and creative faculties.
Affordability and accessibility
The course should be affordable. Online courses are a better fit in terms of expenditure. They can also be accessed anywhere and anytime. Online courses are great for students who want to learn at their speed as well as for working professionals intending to amp up their degrees and certification skills.
Structured syllabus
Any good financial analysis course should include a structured syllabus: it should include the basics of Accounting and Financial Modelling, Valuation and other Corporate Strategies. The syllabus should also include capstone projects or equivalent projects at the end as a means of assessment and other introductory courses to job readiness within the financial market.
Career paths
The course should open up multiple career paths. In your career as a financial analyst, the specialised domains that open up are financial planning lead, equity research analyst, finance manager, chief financial officer, business evaluation analyst, finance project manager and so on.
Conclusion
With the career demands set to grow only higher, perfecting financial analyst training is key now. The Financial Analysis Prodegree course by Imarticus is a great financial analysis course in this domain. Conducted in collaboration with the financial firm KPMG in India, this 180-hour online course delves into the topics of core Finance. Powerful syllabus taught by renowned KPMG faculty ensures live learning, job-relevant skills and impressive industry certifications.
Book your seats now, or visit Imarticus Learning for more information.
