How To

How to Become a Financial Account Analyst

Contributor
By Rebecca O'Dell
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

Financial account analysts assess the financial situation of companies and recommend investment options for excess capital. They often work closely with the officials of a company to accurately gauge a company's financial situation. Financial analysts can also work for the business media, offering impartial analysis.

From Quick Guide: Financial Services Jobs
Difficulty: Challenging
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Get a bachelor's degree. In order to become a financial analyst, you definitely need to have a bachelor's degree, preferably in business with emphasis on accounting, finance or statistics.

  2. Step 2

    Get your MBA. Although it is not completely necessary to have an MBA, financial analysts face stiff competition. Often, having an MBA doesn't even give you an edge, it just puts you in the game to begin with.

  3. Step 3

    Develop your people skills while in school by working jobs that emphasis customer service. Learn how to make people feel at ease and trust your decision-making abilities.

  4. Step 4

    Keep up on the latest financial news and trends. In order to make the best investment and financial analysis, your knowledge needs to be constantly up-to-date to avoid risky mistakes. Also, you need to recognize that learning is a life-long endeavor, and you need to keep abreast of new theories and technology as well as the latest news.

Tips & Warnings
  • Take the Series 7 and Series 63 exams.
  • Participate in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), you must have a minimum of 3 years investment experience and hold a bachelor's degree.
  • This is a highly competitive field, and it's best to take as many accounting, economics, math and other business classes while an undergraduate and get an MBA.

Post a Comment

Post a Comment
  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This

Related Ads

Careers & Work
Kristen Fischer,

Meet Kristen Fischer eHow's Careers & Work Expert.

Get Free Careers & Work Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US

Demand Media
eHow_eHow Careers and Work