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Financial Analyst

Occupation Information table
Overview: Financial analysts conduct statistical analysis of data affecting investments and business operations of institutions such as banks, insurance companies, brokerage houses and industrial companies. They predict profitability of investments, pricing and marketing practices.
Duties: On a daily basis, financial analysts interpret how national and international events such as politics, technology, money exchange rates, etc. can influence the prices of stocks and bonds or business transactions.

They make recommendations to clients as to which specific bonds and stocks to buy or sell based on predictions of financial status or earnings of those bonds and stocks.

If employed by a large business organization, he/she makes recommendations for pricing and marketing strategy to optomize both market share and profits for the organization.

They estimate what price or financial index measure (such as the Dow Index) certain stocks or bonds their clients should sell or buy. They recommend specific mixes of financial investment to clients.
Degree(s): A.A. Liberal Arts and Sciences 
A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences (Mathematics and Science) 
A.A.S. Accounting 
A.A.S. Management: Marketing Concentration 
A.S. Business Administration (Accounting and Marketing) 
Job Outlook: Employment in this field is projected to grow 9% to 13% from 2018 to 2028, which is faster than the average projected growth for all occupations.
Starting Salary: Bonuses are awarded based on performance success. Chief financial officers have much higer earning potential in the largest firms than in small firms.
Salary Range (National Average): $40,000 to $45,000
Green: Green Career
Education Level: Typically, a Bachelor’s Degree from a 4-year college (some are 5 years) is required to be considered for this occupation.
Additional Training/Education: For starting positions a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or business administration coupled with computer skills is the appropriate educational background. A master's degree is becoming increasingly more important. Professional certification is accomplished by passing three examinations in order to be designated as a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Recommended Skills:
  • Weighing out the options in a situation or a problem and logically choosing the best course of action.
  • Paying attention to what other people are saying, and taking time to understand the points being made.
  • Determining how much money is required to get a job done, allocating those monies, and then accounting for all expenditures.
  • Allocating and budgeting your time for different tasks so that things get done when needed.
  • Using mathematics and/or statistics to solve problems.
  • Ability to identify a problem, review related information, develop and evaluate options, and implement a solution.
  • The ability to understand complex written paragraphs, instructions, or reports.
  • Using logic to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Recommended Values:
  • Having a routine job where the duties are very predictable and not likely to change over a long period of time.
  • Gaining the respect of others by the nature and/or level of responsibility of your work.
  • Being able to decide on how to get something done without significant direction from someone else.
  • Having a level of income that will afford you with luxuries, and which will allow you to become financially independent.
 

* National data collected by the Department of Labor in 2014 with projections through 2024. For New York green job information .

* For New York salary data information .

* For New York green job information .

Understanding acquiring positions in this field may be enhanced through continuing academic study (i.e. earning a baccalaureate or a master's degree) and/or work experience in the field, Queensborough Community College has established transfer agreements with other institutions for students who wish to further pursue their educational goals. Students are highly encouraged to meet with one of our Career Services to fully understand the opportunities available through study in their degree program.