Financial Analyst Business & Administration Professionals
SaveWhat Does a Financial Analyst Do?
Financial analysts conduct economic research and elicit valuable analyses on financial matters such as profitability, liquidity, solvency, and asset management. They provide recommendations on financial matters for decision-making processes. Financial analysts work in both the public and the private sector.
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Where Do I Start?
Business Processes
Processes which an organisation applies to improve efficiency, set new objectives and reach goals in a profitable and timely manner.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Financial Analyst
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialBusiness Processes knowledge
Processes which an organisation applies to improve efficiency, set new objectives and reach goals in a profitable and timely manner.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAccounting knowledge
The documentation and processing of data regarding financial activities.
Recommended Books
3 books -
EssentialFinancial Management knowledge
The field of finance that concerns the practical process analysis and tools for designating financial resources. It encompasses the structure of businesses, the investment sources, and the value increase of …
Recommended Books
2 books -
EssentialMicroeconomics knowledge
The economic field that studies the behaviour and interactions between specific actors of the economy, namely consumers and firms. It is the field that analyses the decision-making process of individuals …
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EssentialEconomics knowledge
Economic principles and practices, financial and commodity markets, banking and the analysis of financial data.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialMacroeconomics knowledge
The economic field that studies the performance and behaviour of all the sectors of an economy aggregated. This field evaluates the financial performance of a country and considers indicator such …
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialStatistics knowledge
The study of statistical theory, methods and practices such as collection, organisation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. It deals with all aspects of data including the planning of data …
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAdvise On Financial Matters skill
Consult, advise, and propose solutions with regards to financial management such as acquiring new assets, incurring in investments, and tax efficiency methods.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialConsider Economic Criteria In Decision Making skill
Develop proposals and take appropriate decisions taking into account economic criteria.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialCreate A Financial Report skill
Finalise project accounting. Prepare an actual budget, compare the discrepancy between the planned and actual budget, and draw final conclusions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialInterpret Financial Statements skill
Read, understand, and interpret the key lines and indicators in financial statements. Extract the most important information from financial statements depending on the needs and integrate this information in the …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOffer Financial Services skill
Provide a broad range of financial services to clients such as assistance with financial products, financial planning, insurances, money and investment management.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPerform Business Analysis skill
Evaluate the condition of a business on its own and in relation to the competitive business domain, performing research, placing data in context of the business' needs and determining areas …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPerform Business Research skill
Search and collect information relevant for the development of businesses in different fields ranging from legal, accounting, finance, up to commercial matters.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPrepare Financial Projections skill
Gather financial data, exert analyses, and come up with financial projections for small and big businesses.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 19 displayed)
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OptionalStock Market knowledge
The market in which shares of publicly held companies are issued and traded.
Recommended Books
2 books -
OptionalFinancial Forecasting knowledge
The tool used in performing fiscal financial management to identify revenue trends and estimated financial conditions.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalMergers And Acquisitions knowledge
The process of joining together separate companies and relatively equal in size, and the purchase of a smaller company by a bigger one. The financial deals, the legal implications, and …
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OptionalPublic Offering knowledge
The elements comprised in public offerings of companies in the stock market such as determining the initial public offering (IPO), the type of security, and the timing to launch it …
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalCost Management knowledge
The process of planning, monitoring and adjusting the expenses and revenues of a business in order to achieve cost efficiency and capability.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalFinancial Products knowledge
The different types of instruments that apply to the management of cash flow that are available on the market, such as shares, bonds, options or funds.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalCost Metrics knowledge
Know various routing protocols to calculate itineraries; compare different possible routes and determine the most efficient one. Understand topological and link-state databases.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalAdvise On Tax Planning skill
Advise on appropriate strategies to include taxes in the overall financial plan in order to reduce the tax load. Advise on questions related to tax legislation and provide advise on …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAnalyse Financial Performance Of A Company skill
Based on accounts, records, financial statements and external information of the market, analyse the performance of the company in financial matters in order to identify improvement actions that could increase …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAnalyse Financial Risk skill
Identify and analyse risks that could impact an organisation or individual financially, such as credit and market risks, and propose solutions to cover against those risks.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAssess Financial Viability skill
Revise and analyse financial information and requirements of projects such as their budget appraisal, expected turnover, and risk assessment for determining the benefits and costs of the project. Assess if …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCreate A Financial Plan skill
Develop a financial plan according to financial and client regulations, including an investor profile, financial advice, and negotiation and transaction plans.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDevelop Investment Portfolio skill
Create an investment portfolio for a customer that includes an insurance policy or multiple policies to cover specific risks, such as financial risks, assistance, reinsurance, industrial risks or natural and …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMonitor Stock Market skill
Observe and analyse the stock market and its trends on a daily basis to gather up-to-date information in order to develop investment strategies.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProvide Cost Benefit Analysis Reports skill
Prepare, compile and communicate reports with broken down cost analysis on the proposal and budget plans of the company. Analyse the financial or social costs and benefits of a project …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEnsure Compliance With Disclosure Criteria Of Accounting Information skill
Revise the accounting information of the company to make sure it meets the commonly agreed criteria for its disclosure such as understandability, relevance, consistency, comparability, reliability, and objectivity.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalExplain Financial Technicalities To Clients skill
Explain all details of financial products in plain words to clients, including financial terms and all costs.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalHandle Mergers And Acquisitions skill
Handle the negotiation of financial deals and the legal implications involved in the purchase of a company by another or in the merging to separate companies.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMonitor Loan Portfolio skill
Control the ongoing credit commitments in order to detect anomalies related to the schedules, refinancing, approval limits etc., and to identify improper disbursements.
Course recommendations coming soon.