Imperial College London
London, United Kingdom
QS #2Merit scholarships
Computing · Electrical & Electronic Engineering · Mathematics
- Tuition
- Est. £38,000–£50,000 per year for international students
- Deadline
- Typically late January
All careers
Finance
Financial Analyst
Evaluates companies, investments and budgets to guide financial decisions.
What this career is
Financial analysts assess financial data to help companies and investors make decisions — valuing businesses, forecasting performance, managing budgets or recommending investments. Roles range from corporate finance to equity research and investment banking.
What professionals do
- Build and update financial models and forecasts
- Analyse financial statements and industry trends
- Prepare reports and investment recommendations
- Support budgeting, planning and performance tracking
Outlook: Competitive at top firms; strong modelling skills and internships are the main differentiators.
Official occupation data
- Financial and Investment Analysts$102,740
- Financial Quantitative Analysts$81,100
- Credit Analysts$83,510
- Personal Financial Advisors$105,070
Tasks, skills, US pay and job growth from O*NET and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Key skills
Financial modelling
analyticalCore to investment banking, equity research, corporate finance and many consulting cases.
Start with
- · Learn the three financial statements and how they link
- · Build a simple DCF valuation
Accounting fundamentals
analyticalAccounting is the language of business; it underpins finance, consulting and entrepreneurship.
Start with
- · Learn the accounting equation and double-entry
- · Read an annual report of a company you know
Excel & spreadsheets
technicalFinance, consulting and business roles rely on spreadsheets daily for analysis and communication.
Start with
- · Learn lookups, pivot tables and charts
- · Rebuild a simple budget or financial statement
Statistics
analyticalStatistics helps you avoid misleading conclusions and is required for data, economics and research roles.
Start with
- · Cover descriptive statistics, distributions and hypothesis tests
- · Run a simple A/B test analysis
Writing & argument
communicationEssays, research reports, policy memos and scholarship applications all depend on strong writing.
Start with
- · Write a one-page memo each week
- · Enter an essay competition
Public speaking
communicationInterviews, pitches, Model UN and leadership roles all reward clear spoken communication.
Start with
- · Join a debate or Model UN club
- · Present a project in under five minutes
Education paths
- 1Bachelor's in finance, accounting, economics or mathematics
- 2Professional qualifications such as CFA or ACCA
- 3Master's in finance for some investment roles
Universities strong in Finance & Accounting
The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
QS #11Merit scholarships
BBA (Finance) · BEcon & Finance · Bachelor of Laws
- Tuition
- Est. HK$180,000+ per year for non-local students
- Deadline
- Main rounds typically from autumn into January
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA, United States
QS #15Limited need-based aid
Wharton Economics · Huntsman Program in International Studies & Business · Computer Science
- Tuition
- Est. above $60,000 per year before aid
- Deadline
- Typically 1 November
Typical entry-level roles
Financial Analyst (FP&A)Investment Banking AnalystEquity Research AssociateCredit Analyst
Build your profile
Recommended extracurriculars
- · Investment or finance society
- · Stock-pitch competitions
- · CFA Research Challenge
- · Managing a mock portfolio
Recommended competitions
PrizesIn person
- Location
- Local, regional and global rounds
- Deadline
- Typically autumn, through your local CFA society
PrizesHybrid
- Location
- Campus rounds worldwide; global final varies
- Deadline
- Campus programmes typically run from autumn to winter
Recommended internships & programmes
PaidIn person
- Location
- Washington, DC and country offices
- Deadline
- Usually two windows per year (around December–January and October–November)
Certifications that help
Data & AI
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)
Microsoft
Model, visualise and analyse data with Power BI.
- Cost
- Exam fee varies by country
- Time
- 6–10 weeks part-time
Finance & Accounting
CFA® Program (Level I)
CFA Institute
The leading credential for investment analysis and portfolio management.
- Cost
- One-time enrollment fee + exam fee (see CFA Institute); scholarships available
- Time
- About 300 hours of study per level
Finance & Accounting
ACCA Qualification
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
A globally recognised chartered accountancy qualification.
- Cost
- Registration, annual and per-exam fees — see ACCA for your country
- Time
- 2–4 years alongside work/study
Finance & Accounting
Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC)
Bloomberg
Economics, currencies, fixed income and equities through Bloomberg data.
- Cost
- Often free through your university's Bloomberg terminal access
- Time
- 8–10 hours