Finance
How to become a Financial Analyst
From accountant or analyst: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.
- Time to get there
- 2–4 years
- Typical pay
- $72k–$98k
- Starting from
- Accountant or analyst
Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from accountant or analyst and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.
See financial analyst jobs open nowThe route
Get a finance or economics degree
Accounting works too — you need to read statements fluently.
Course that covers thisAccounting Fundamentals: From Zero to HeroUdemy · around $19.99Master Excel modelling
Three-statement models built from scratch. This is what the interview tests.
Course that covers thisLearn Business and Financial ModelingUdemy · around $19.99Learn to work with data
SQL and a BI tool increasingly separate analysts from spreadsheet operators.
Course that covers thisMaster SQL - Core Database Skills Practice ExamUdemy · around $19.99Consider the CFA
Three levels over several years. Worth it for investment work, less so for corporate FP&A.
CFA
- Browse jobs now
Destination
Financial Analyst
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