Investment analyst

Investment analyst job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Whilst fund managers are responsible for making decisions about investments, it is investment analysts who have the responsibility of providing information and recommendations that enable such decisions to be made.

Typical tasks include:

• researching companies
• making informed recommendations
• keeping detailed knowledge about the UK economy and financial markets up-to-date
• interpreting complicated financial information
• analysing company accounts, profit and loss sheets and cash flow information
• regularly meeting with company managers to discuss financial matters
• writing financial research summaries
• regularly meeting with fund managers
• using specialist media sources to gain information about current financial news.

Investment work provides high levels of responsibility, good promotional opportunities and impressive financial rewards for the most successful employees.

Typical employers of investment analysts

• investment banks
• investment management companies
• stockbrokers
• institutional investors
• life assurance companies
• charities
• banks
• large businesses.

Vacancies are advertised by careers services, specialist recruitment agencies, via the internet, in newspapers including The Financial Times and The London Evening Standard, and in publications such as Business Week, The London Financial News, Investors Chronicle, The Economist, and The Banker. Undertaking sector and company research, attending presentations, networking and speculative applications are essential. Early applications for vacancies are advisable.

Qualifications and training required

A degree (2.1 or higher) is usually required for entry into the profession. Qualifications in business studies, management, statistics, finance, mathematics, accounting or economics can be helpful, as can an MBA or similar professional qualification. Relevant paid or voluntary experience gained via job shadowing, vacation work and placements (often known as internships) can be particularly beneficial.

Key skills for investment analysts

• ambition
• confidence
• determination
• motivation
• time management skills
• ability to work effectively under pressure
• IT skills
• analytical skills
• team-working skills
• numerical skills
• problem-solving skills
• communication skills.