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Financial Analyst
Business & FinanceYou build financial models in Excel that predict the future — except they never actually predict the future. You'll analyze revenue forecasts, build DCFs with 47 tabs, and present numbers to executives who will ask you to 'make them look better.' Your life is spreadsheets, earnings calls, and coffee that's never strong enough.
Salary Range
Low
$55k
Median
$85k
High
$140k
10-Year Growth
faster than average
US Workers
325K
Education
Bachelor's in Finance, Accounting, or Economics (CFA for advancement)
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Financial modeling in Excel (DCF, LBO, M&A)
- ▸Bloomberg Terminal and Capital IQ
- ▸Financial statement analysis (10-K, 10-Q)
- ▸SQL for financial data extraction
- ▸Budgeting and forecasting tools
- ▸Data visualization (Tableau, Power BI)
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Analytical thinking
- ▸Attention to detail
- ▸Clear presentation of findings
- ▸Intellectual curiosity
- ▸Time management under deadlines
Learn the skills
Courses and certifications to get you job-ready
Financial modeling in Excel (DCF, LBO, M&A)
Bloomberg Terminal and Capital IQ
SQL for financial data extraction
What you'll actually do
- 01Build financial models in Excel that have more tabs than a browser during a research binge
- 02Analyze quarterly earnings and figure out why actual results never match the forecast
- 03Present findings to management and watch them cherry-pick the numbers they like
- 04Create variance analyses explaining why revenue was off by 12% using phrases like 'market headwinds'
- 05Pull data from 6 different systems that never agree with each other
- 06Stay late during earnings season because Wall Street doesn't care about your dinner plans
Related Shifts
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