Financial Analysts

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Conduct quantitative analyses of information affecting investment programs of public or private institutions.

tasks jobzones knowledge skills abilities work_activities work_context interests work_styles work_values

Tasks

  • Collaborate with investment bankers to attract new corporate clients to securities firms.

  • Contact brokers and purchase investments for companies, according to company policy.

  • Monitor fundamental economic, industrial, and corporate developments through the analysis of information obtained from financial publications and services, investment banking firms, government agencies, trade publications, company sources, and personal interviews.

  • Present oral and written reports on general economic trends, individual corporations, and entire industries.

  • Interpret data affecting investment programs, such as price, yield, stability, future trends in investment risks, and economic influences.

  • Maintain knowledge and stay abreast of developments in the fields of industrial technology, business, finance, and economic theory.

  • Analyze financial information to produce forecasts of business, industry, and economic conditions for use in making investment decisions.

  • Assemble spreadsheets and draw charts and graphs used to illustrate technical reports, using computer.

  • Evaluate and compare the relative quality of various securities in a given industry.

  • Prepare plans of action for investment based on financial analyses.

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Job Zone

  • Name: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

  • Experience: A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

  • Education: Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

  • Job training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

  • Examples: Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, human resource managers, computer programmers, teachers, chemists, and police detectives.

  • Svp range: (7.0 to < 8.0)

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Knowledge

Browse Knowledge

  • Economics and Accounting
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

  • Mathematics
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

  • English Language
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • Administration and Management
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

  • Education and Training
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • Clerical
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

  • Customer and Personal Service
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

  • Computers and Electronics
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • Law and Government
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

  • Communications and Media
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

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Skills

Browse Skills

  • Management of Financial Resources
    Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.

  • Judgment and Decision Making
    Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

  • Active Learning
    Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

  • Monitoring
    Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

  • Reading Comprehension
    Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

  • Time Management
    Managing one's own time and the time of others.

  • Critical Thinking
    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

  • Complex Problem Solving
    Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

  • Active Listening
    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

  • Mathematics
    Using mathematics to solve problems.

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Abilities

Browse Abilities

  • Written Comprehension
    The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

  • Deductive Reasoning
    The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

  • Oral Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

  • Oral Comprehension
    The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

  • Written Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

  • Near Vision
    The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

  • Problem Sensitivity
    The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

  • Number Facility
    The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

  • Mathematical Reasoning
    The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

  • Inductive Reasoning
    The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

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Work Activities

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Work Context

  • Face-to-Face Discussions
    How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

  • Structured versus Unstructured Work
    To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

  • Electronic Mail
    How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
    How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

  • Telephone
    How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

  • Freedom to Make Decisions
    How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
    How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

  • Spend Time Sitting
    How much does this job require sitting?

  • Work With Work Group or Team
    How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

  • Contact With Others
    How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

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Interests

Browse Interests

  • Investigative
    Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

  • Conventional
    Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

  • Enterprising
    Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • Social
    Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

  • Realistic
    Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

  • Artistic
    Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

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Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail
    Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

  • Stress Tolerance
    Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

  • Dependability
    Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

  • Persistence
    Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

  • Integrity
    Job requires being honest and ethical.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility
    Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

  • Analytical Thinking
    Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

  • Initiative
    Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

  • Achievement/Effort
    Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

  • Cooperation
    Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

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Work Values

Browse Work Values

  • Autonomy
    Workers on this job plan their work with little supervision.

  • Compensation
    Workers on this job are paid well in comparison with other workers.

  • Ability Utilization
    Workers on this job make use of their individual abilities.

  • Working Conditions
    Workers on this job have good working conditions.

  • Independence-Mean Extent
    Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

  • Company Policies and Practices
    Workers on this job are treated fairly by the company.

  • Achievement-Mean Extent
    Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

  • Security
    Workers on this job have steady employment.

  • Recognition
    Workers on this job receive recognition for the work they do.

  • Social Status
    Workers on this job are looked up to by others in their company and their community.

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