As a Financial Analyst, you need to qualify for several responsibilities and requirements that also embrace the functions of a financial advisor. In fact, the case is all the more applicable if you want to be a CFA or Chartered Financial Analyst. A CFA is the person who guides the investors of the best trades and professions in aiding them with their portfolios as well as using their skills for training and preparing them for future situations. Indeed, you have to agree, this is an interesting job by all means.
Your school education should be more than enough for providing you with a firm and strong base. The key subjects in this arena for the Financial Analyst job constitute accounting, math, and economics. You are also required to have good analytical skills if you are to be in this profession.
As a Chartered Financial Analyst you are required to obtain a certified degree from a college. The course is 4 years and mainly concerns the fields of finance, business majors or accounting. There are also a few Financial Analysts who continue to move to graduate school as well as earn a degree in MBA while there are others among them who choose to enter the work force.
Computer skills comprise an important skill set for the Financial Analysts as the analyst often has to deal with the spreadsheets and database programs. A thorough understanding of the spreadsheet is a must as figures can be worked upon in a better way in these. The database programs that require interpretation must also be understood as should the word processing programs. The Financial Analysts also require making a presentation of their jobs and this is why they need to have sound knowledge in Microsoft Power Point. Strong written as well as verbal skills are also a must as you need to communicate your ideas and opinions to others in an effective manner. This will help you make important decisions.
If you are planning to be a Chartered Financial Analyst, a proper training and background is always helpful. Look on the internet for the different kinds of trainings and programs that are conducted by local colleges or organizations in this field and once you enroll, it is going to be helpful in the long run.
It is a good idea to be employed with organizations as it helps sharpen your thoughts and ideas, and focus on dealing better with the problems. Getting a letter of recommendation from your employers will help you get a job with a better brand. You can also come up with some prospective references of Financial Analysts.
Financial Analysts can go for their job with the least amount of hesitation as it helps you create instant credibility as well as respect from your colleagues, employers as well as clients. The prospects are also good and rewarding as you gain the competitive advantage of gaining both experience and expertise.
The salary range for the Financial Analyst job is from $270,000 to $480,000. The median range is $61,000.
In the end, it feels good to be a Financial Analyst as you require an in depth knowledge and understanding of the global network. It also helps if you qualify for the Chartered Financial Analyst test as it adds to your credibility and expands your prospects of landing a better job. The Financial Analyst job is a dynamic one and applicants who want to land in a Chartered Financial Analyst job are required to have 3 years of experience in the field of investment as well as pass the CFA test.
