Financial Analyst
Uses numbers to help organisations decide where to put their money.
Why it may fit you
- Included to widen the options you have seen
Your evidence for this career
Based only on the experiences and strengths you have entered. Add more in My Evidence.
Strong evidence
Nothing here yet — two experiences showing the same skill will move it here.
Some evidence
Nothing here yet.
Evidence to build
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Presenting
- Numeracy
- Working with data
- Analysis
- Digital skills
- Attention to detail
- Commercial awareness
- Planning
What you may need to develop
Communication
Why it matters: Named in almost every job advert, and usually tested at interview.
Your current evidence: Limited evidence identified so far.
Ways to build this
- • Ask for written feedback after a presentation or piece of writing
- • Write a short summary of something technical for a general reader
Teamwork
Why it matters: Employers want a specific example, not the word itself.
Your current evidence: Limited evidence identified so far.
Ways to build this
- • Write up one team experience: your role, a disagreement, what you did
- • Join a team activity outside your course
Presenting
Why it matters: Being able to explain your work clearly is often what gets it noticed.
Your current evidence: Limited evidence identified so far.
Ways to build this
- • Volunteer to present your group's work
- • Record yourself explaining your project in two minutes and keep the notes
- • Join a society that involves speaking to a group
Numeracy
Why it matters: Confidence with numbers opens up more routes than people expect.
Your current evidence: Limited evidence identified so far.
Ways to build this
- • Complete a free numeracy or statistics refresher
- • Take responsibility for a small budget
What they do
Financial analysts build forecasts, review performance and explain what the numbers mean for decisions like hiring, investing or launching something new.
What your day could involve
- Updating a forecast model
- Checking why costs moved this month
- Preparing a summary for a manager
- Meeting a team to understand their budget
- Researching a market or competitor
Skills employers often look for
People skills
- • Communication
- • Teamwork
- • Presenting
Technical skills
- • Numeracy
- • Working with data
- • Analysis
- • Digital skills
Professional skills
- • Attention to detail
- • Commercial awareness
- • Planning
Qualifications
There is usually more than one way in. A degree is one route — not the only one.
Typical degree routes
- • Accounting and finance
- • Economics
- • Maths
- • Business
Apprenticeships
- • AAT accounting apprenticeship
- • Level 7 accountancy apprenticeship
Other routes in
- • Start in accounts payable and study part-time
Certifications worth exploring
Only worth doing if it helps you. Experience and evidence usually matter more than collecting certificates.
Useful now
- Excel modelling basics
The core daily tool — free tutorials are plentiful.
Useful later
- AAT, ACCA or CIMA
Employer-funded in many roles and raises earnings significantly.
Optional specialist
- CFA
Only relevant for investment-focused careers.
Organisations to Put on Your Radar
Examples to explore — illustrative, not job adverts or endorsements
Large employers
A retail bank or insurer
Financial services
Roles to look for: Graduate scheme, apprenticeship
Why explore it: Well-known school-leaver programmes.
Specialist organisations
An accountancy practice
Professional services
Roles to look for: Trainee accountant
Why explore it: Study support is usually included.
Public sector
A council or NHS finance team
Public sector
Roles to look for: Finance apprentice
Why explore it: Stable and community-focused.
Charities and NGOs
A national charity finance team
Third sector
Roles to look for: Finance assistant
Why explore it: Smaller teams, wider responsibility.
Start-ups and growing companies
A fintech company
Technology
Roles to look for: Finance analyst
Why explore it: Modern tools and quick growth.
Organisations in my region
A local employer's finance department
Varies by region
Roles to look for: Apprenticeships
Why explore it: Many hire AAT apprentices each year.
What should I look for on an employer's website?
- Graduate programmes — Structured schemes with training, usually opening a year before they start.
- Apprenticeships — Earn while you learn. Look for the level — Level 2 or 3 up to degree level.
- Internships — Paid experience over summer or a placement year. Often the main route into graduate roles.
- Insight days — One-day or one-week introductions, often for Year 12, 13 or first-year students.
- Volunteering — Many employers run volunteering days or support local projects you could join.
- Work experience — Short placements or shadowing. Ask directly — many are never advertised.
- Entry-level roles — Assistant, coordinator or support job titles are real doors into a career.