The demand for financial analysts is high due to increasing complexity of global markets. If you think you’ve got what it takes, learn how to get into this career.
Updated: 05 Sept 2025
Financial analysts help clients to make investment decisions based on research, so it’s a role with a lot of responsibilities. You’ll have to research and interpret economic data and present this to your clients. For this role, you’ll need high financial literacy, attention to detail and strong communication skills.
NEXT: Find financial analysis courses.
You’ll have a range of responsibilities which you might carry out daily, monthly, quarterly or annually depending on the task. Some of the tasks you’ll have to do include:
Using database software to organise information
Using analytical tools to interpret data
Building statistical and financial models
Making projections or forecasting
Making financial decision recommendations
Risk analysis
Presenting data to clients and colleagues
Keep up to date with economic news and worldwide events that could impact your business or clients.
It can be a very high-pressure role, as you’re making recommendations to clients for investment. You’ll have to work to tight deadlines, and you'll have to be able to explain complex financial concepts to clients who may not be as literate in the world of finance.
You’ll usually be working in an office in a team of other financial professionals. You’ll typically work around 40-hour weeks, but it may be necessary to work overtime to meet deadlines on some occasions.
You’ll need a range of skills to succeed as a financial analyst, including the following:
Analytical and problem-solving skills
Excellent communication
Numerical and accounting skills
Critical thinking
Pattern recognition skills
Competent with advanced software
Decision making skills
Financial literacy
Presentation and leadership skills
Ability to work to a deadline
As a junior financial analyst, you can expect to earn between £28,000 and £33,000. With more experience, your salary could increase up to around £80,000. Financial analysts based in London tend to earn more than those based elsewhere in the UK.
There’s no set route into financial analysis, but it’s a fairly competitive field, so employers will prefer to see a good degree or academic background.
Study a financial analysis degree
The most obvious choice for an aspiring financial analyst, a degree in financial analysis will teach you the skills you’ll need to succeed in your chosen field. Typically, these degrees take three years to complete, or four years if you add a foundation year or year in industry.
NEXT: Find financial analysis courses.
Study a related undergraduate degree
As well as studying financial analysis, you could opt to study a related subject such as economics, statistics, business, finance or accounting. Any one of these degrees will teach you a similar set of skills to a financial analysis degree and they’ll take the same amount of time to study as a financial analysis degree.
Degree apprenticeship
You may wish to get right into employment, and a degree apprenticeship allows you to do this. You’ll be working for an employer in a financial analysis environment whilst studying part-time at university. Your employer will pay you a salary as well as paying for your tuition. You can find Level 4, Level 6 or Level 7 apprenticeships. Level 4 is the equivalent of the first year of an undergraduate degree, Level 6 is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, and Level 7 is equivalent to a master’s degree.
Postgraduate degrees
A postgraduate degree isn’t required, but it can help you to stand out and it can also help you to further specialise. They take one year to complete full-time, or two years if you study part-time.
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