From the ability to use advanced accounting software to having good interpersonal skills, remarkable financial analysts also need a combination of unique skills to their field to perform their job duties along with more generalized capabilities that can be an essential part of any career path they choose to specialize in, especially ones that require dealing with multidisciplinary teams.
Apart from the analytical skills, there are multiple other competencies that recruiters seek in a financial analyst. So, here are five of the most important financial analyst skills you either have or need to boost.
Strategic Thinking First
Starting with the obvious, the ability to forecast, plan, prioritize, rank, and recognize financial problems are all qualities of an effective financial analyst. Having these skills translates into the ability to strategically plan and analyze financial resources, markets, and products to help a client or a company make sound financial decisions.
A Financial Analyst that Reads People
Or in another slightly fancier term: profiling. This skill set refers to a soft skill that can be generalized for most career paths, however, it can prove to be a very crucial aspect of skill development in a financial career, especially when interacting with coworkers, clients, and particularly potential investors. The ability to read people is crucial because it helps build trust, credibility, and reliability with those you work with. Whether it’s during a meeting, when sending an email, non verbally communicating confidence, or speaking to an investor about important financial information, this skill is a must.
Adaptability and Resilience for What’s Coming
You might think these are the traits of a fighter but one’s ability to bounce back after facing adversity is an important skill in any workplace. This being said, in high-pressure situations, particularly in the finance sector, being able to cope with changing economic and financial circumstances on an international level is not for the faint of heart. Adapting to the changing data, numbers, stocks, financial models to adapt for each country, as well as clients’ ever-changing behavior will be an added value to the set of skills that will equip for better decision making in the long run.
In fact, having confidence in your ability to make tough decisions and carefully thinking about what you’re trying to achieve can prove valuable, particularly in financial roles that can have a huge impact on people’s investments, businesses’ financial goals, and the global market, in general, all while maintaining a high level of morality.
Ethics and Values at the Heart of a Financial Analyst
Not only is this a skill but also a duty to any financial analyst working with international corporations. Yes, ethical practices are good business after all, but they also hold each and every concerned member accountable for their actions.
Financial analysts have fiduciary duties toward their clients, duties that exceed those considered acceptable in other business relationships because of the trust placed in them. Loyalty is at the center of their relationship with their clients and which ultimately enhances the investor’s confidence in the capital markets, and in the reputation of investment research analysts, their firms, and financial markets. And handling such responsibilities can’t be easy, which is why continuously learning and staying up to date on the latest financial trends, updates, and modules is key.
Continuous Education
Supporting young professionals in managing the international finance landscape of today’s world is a top priority of EMLV business school in Paris. The MSc International Finance will enable a global understanding of international financial principles and train students to be proficient in the use of complex financial instruments. This programme welcomes students from all backgrounds and will cover practical and theoretical aspects of international finance.
The syllabus offers a holistic approach to international finance, covering theoretical principles, hands-on projects, and case studies, as well as test preparations for students to acquire a specific set of certifications and credentials:
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
- Financial Instruments Options
- Futures and Swaps
- Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
- Financial Markets
- Disruptive technology and blockchain
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
- Corporate Investments
- Corporate Finance
- International Financing
- Accounting
- Financial reporting
- Bloomberg test preparation
MANAGEMENT SKILLS
- Ethics, Skills, and Behavior
- Securities Law & Compliance
- Consultancy Management
- Management & Leadership
- Professional Skills & Employability Development
FINANCIAL OPERATIONS
- Financial Valuation
- Private Equity
- Mergers & Acquisitions Strategy
- Financial Engineering
- Business Plan
ASSET MANAGEMENT
- Portfolio Management & Analysis
- Portfolio Diversification
- Risk Management
- Cryptocurrencies & Digital currency
- Alternative Investments
Are you able to tick all the boxes for a successful career in finance?