What Does A Financial Analyst Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Financial Analysts

Financial Analysts conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

Salary
$96630
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Financial Analysts conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

  • Inform investment decisions by analyzing financial information to forecast business, industry, or economic conditions.
  • Prepare plans of action for investment, using financial analyses.
  • Evaluate and compare the relative quality of various securities in a given industry.
  • Recommend investments and investment timing to companies, investment firm staff, or the public.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Financial Analysts recommend investments and investment timing to companies, investment firm staff, or the public. They monitor fundamental economic, industrial, and corporate developments by analyzing information from financial publications and services, investment banking firms, government agencies, trade publications, company sources, or personal interviews.

A typical day for a Financial Analyst will also include:

  • Evaluate and compare the relative quality of various securities in a given industry.
  • Inform investment decisions by analyzing financial information to forecast business, industry, or economic conditions.
  • Monitor developments in the fields of industrial technology, business, finance, and economic theory.
  • Interpret data on price, yield, stability, future investment-risk trends, economic influences, and other factors affecting investment programs.
  • Prepare plans of action for investment, using financial analyses.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Financial Analysts also determine the prices at which securities should be syndicated and offered to the public. They may also present oral or written reports on general economic trends, individual corporations, and entire industries.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Financial Analysts collaborate with investment bankers to attract new corporate clients to securities firms. They might also purchase investments for companies in accordance with company policy.

In addition, they recommend investments and investment timing to companies, investment firm staff, or the public.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them interpret data on price, yield, stability, future investment-risk trends, economic influences, and other factors affecting investment programs.

To some Financial Analysts, it is also their responsibility to identify potential financial investments that are environmentally sound, considering issues such as carbon emissions and biodiversity.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Average

Is this job meaningful

Low

68% said they were satisfied with their job and 39% said they found their job meaningful.


I’m a Sr. Consultant, basically a financial analyst. My typical day My typical day varies depending on the time of the month and season of the year. I have some accounting-type duties at month-end and then I jump right in to reporting the monthly results. My job includes some accounting functions, building reports, analyzing data, … Read More


I am a financial analyst and my day revolves around collecting information and plotting them on spreadsheets and reports. I also get a deeper look at non-legal pertinent information about prospective deals. Preparing a plan of action based on my financial analysis, on the other hand, takes most of my time and days. Pros The … Read More


The Stock Dork

As a financial analyst, I can assure you that a single day’s routine cannot describe my professional life. My day at the office is stressful at times and the other times I enjoy it a lot because I have a lot to learn about, especially when I have to analyze the research and discuss the … Read More


Pros

Suitable for people who like to follow routines.

Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$96630 per year

Average hourly wage

$46 per hour

Entry-level Financial Analysts with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $48,760 to $63,670 per year or $23 to $31 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $159,560 $77
Senior (Top 25%) $112,460 $54
Median $83,660 $40
Junior (Bottom 25%) $63,670 $31
No experience (Bottom 10%) $48,760 $23

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Financial Analysts based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Other Investment Pools and Funds $132350 $63.63
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities $125040 $60.12
Support Activities for Mining $113530 $54.58
Software Publishers $110930 $53.33
Other Information Services $110150 $52.96
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing $108920 $52.37
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank $107470 $51.67
Oil and Gas Extraction $107320 $51.60
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing $106590 $51.25
Land Subdivision $106040 $50.98

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Financial Analysts work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Financial Analysts including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities 87530 $125040 $60.12
Management of Companies and Enterprises 54320 $94330 $45.35
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities 49770 $91300 $43.90
Federal Executive Branch 24150 $89280 $42.93
Insurance Carriers 19030 $93060 $44.74
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 18620 $96900 $46.59
Nondepository Credit Intermediation 18600 $87330 $41.99
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 15450 $75140 $36.12
Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services 12090 $102390 $49.23
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 9790 $94970 $45.66

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
0%

40 hours
11%

More than 40 hours
89%

Working schedule

98%

2%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
3%

Every day
97%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
5%

Every day
95%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
24%

Every day
76%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
11%

Once a year
9%

Once a month
35%

Once a week
42%

Every day
3%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
0%

Slightly competitive
14%

Moderately competitive
21%

Highly competitive
13%

Extremely competitive
52%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
12%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
88%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
95%

Once a year or more
5%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
92%

Once a year or more
8%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
96%

Once a year or more
4%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Hard
You will need a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require a Bachelor’s degree and several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. Similar careers include Database Administrators, Chemists, Art Directors, and Accountants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
0%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
0%

Associate’s Degree or similar
2%

Bachelor’s Degree
61%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
1%

Master’s Degree
35%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Public Finance

A program that prepares individuals to manage the financial assets and budgets of public sector organizations. Includes instruction in public trusts and investments; the laws and procedures used to plan, prepare and administer public agency budgets; and the preparation and analysis of public budget projections and policies.

Financial Risk Management

A program that focuses on the strategies used to define and manage acceptable financial risk for companies. Includes instruction in banking and bank regulations, derivative securities, interest rate and credit markets, financial engineering of systematic risk, and equity, bond, futures, and options markets.

Finance

A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, manage, and analyze the financial and monetary aspects and performance of business enterprises, banking institutions, or other organizations. Includes instruction in principles of accounting, financial instruments, capital planning, funds acquisition, asset and debt management, budgeting, financial analysis, and investments and portfolio management.


International Finance

A program that prepares individuals to manage international financial operations and related currency transactions. Includes instruction in international banking, international monetary and financial policy, money and capital markets, foreign exchange, risk analysis, and international cash flow operations.

Investments and Securities

A program that prepares individuals to manage assets placed in capital markets, and related technical operations. Includes instruction in security analysis, debt and equity analysis, investment strategies, securities markets, computer-assisted research, portfolio management, portfolio performance analysis, and applications to specific investment problems and business situations.

Accounting and Finance

An integrated or combined program in accounting and finance that prepares individuals to function as accountants and financial managers or analysts.


Accounting and Business/Management

An integrated or combined program in accounting and business administration/management that prepares individuals to function as accountants and business managers.

Financial Analytics

A program that focuses on financial big data modeling from algorithms to cloud-based data-driven financial technologies. Includes instruction in financial analytics, financial data processing, knowledge management, data visualization, effective decision communication, machine learning for finance, statistical inference and dynamic modeling on financial data, and project management.

Financial Mathematics

A program that focuses on the application of mathematics and statistics to the finance industry, including the development, critique, and use of various financial models. Includes instruction in probability theory, statistical analysis, numerical methods, computation and simulation methods, stochastic processes, economics, and financial markets and applications.


Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
0%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
3%

1 to 2 years
4%

2 to 4 years
32%

4 to 6 years
44%

6 to 8 years
4%

8 to 10 years
13%

Over 10 years
1%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
6%

1 month
2%

1 to 3 months
1%

3 to 6 months
27%

6 months to 1 year
21%

1 to 2 years
33%

2 to 4 years
10%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Organizer

People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.

The Builder
38%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
81%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
33%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
14%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
71%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
95%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
81%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
64%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
76%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
62%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
52%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
71%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


Don’t know which career to pursue?

Take the career quiz to find careers that match your personality type.

Take The Career Quiz