Investment Analyst Jobs

 

 

Investment analyst jobs require a strong financial background and a thorough understanding of the economy. An investment analyst is basically responsible for examining the performance of various companies, industries and market sectors, and presenting the conclusions to clients.

An investment analyst is also responsible for breaking down complicated financial information into understandable form through spreadsheets and other financial modeling tools. An analyst’s ultimate aim is to identify profitable investment opportunities for clients, who generally include stockbrokers, fund managers and traders.[br]

Investment Analyst Jobs: Types

Most investment analysts specialize in a particular sector, such as energy, telecommunications, financial services, retail and pharmaceuticals. Investment analysts can also be categorized according to their clientele:

·         Sell-side analysts: They work for private investors and fund managers by researching financial statements and annual reports of individual companies. Their aim is to find information on output, numbers of employees, profits and turnover, in order to assess the outlook of the company’s business and compare it with other companies.

·         Buy-side analysts: They look at investment prospects for investment banks, pension funds and insurance.[br]

Investment Analyst Jobs: Basic Requirements

There is no specific graduation requirement for investment analyst jobs. However, a degree in economics, math, accountancy or statistics is preferred. Postgraduate qualifications, such as globally-recognized Masters in business administration (MBA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), are increasingly becoming a norm for investment analyst jobs. However, individuals without a degree can start out in an administrative support role or a junior research position and gradually progress to the position of an analyst.

Most employers conduct an intensive on-the-job training process for new analysts. This helps in gaining a complete overview of their abilities. The training usually lasts for 6-12 months under a senior analyst or a team of analysts.

Some personal skill requirements for investment analyst jobs are:

·         Ability to work independently as well as in a team.

·         Good communication skills, written and verbal.

·         Superior quantitative skills.

·         Ability to perform well under pressure.

·         Responsible and trustworthy.

·         A keen interest in financial markets and global economy.

·         Good at forecasting trends and calculating risks.

 

Although investment analyst jobs can be stressful and demanding, the compensation is outstanding, which also includes substantial performance-based bonuses. Moreover, after a few successful years, investment analysts can move up to becoming company partners or vice-presidents.